Producers considering MTV reality show for Schlitterbahn

How could the truth about young workers habits be good PR for the park? Is this just any publicity is good publicity?

That's exactly what I was thinking, Neuski. I live just down the road from Schlitterbahn, and I cringe at the thought of MTV coming to town and turning New Braunfels into Laguna Beach. Reality shows hardly ever show people in a good light, because normal people behaving normally doesn't translate into good ratings. Do the owners of Schlitterbahn really want their workers' personal lives (and their personal dramas) being broadcast nationally? What happens when they inevitably follow some 18-year-old employee to a party where there's alcohol and drugs? Is this the image Schlitterbahn wants people to have of their lifeguards?

And I can't imagine they would want to do this for publicity. I mean, who comes to Texas in summer? Honestly, it's bloody hot here.

I never really thought about the two points that you both brought up. At first I thought that it would make good tv only because I happen to know how much drama actually goes on. In fact I've been around it at a waterpark for over 3 years now. I don't think you want people to see your employees partying, and doing crazy things, and then show them going to work the next day, saving peoples lives.

As far as worker's not wanting to be in the show...its MTV, and your talking about high school aged kids. So, you won't have any problems getting willing people to be on the show.

No publicity is bad publicity. Yeah they make trash TV but that = $$$$$$ for the park

This idea is stupid on Schlitterbahn's part. That's like saying....we'll do a show on what's happening behind the scenes at your local mcdonalds, then we'll show it to you as you wait in line for your Big Mac. So that way you can see it dropped on the ground, or cooked wrong before you eat it.

I'm sure Schlitterbahn wouldn't do it unless they had some say in the final cut. If not, yikes.

I hate reality (sp) shows but I'd watch this.

^^ Agree totally. Jeff Siebert is involved in this, and the park WILL be presented in a positive light.

That being said, the lifeguards at Schlitter-bomb were teh hott...BIGTIME! :)

I'll just wait for the episode that shows the employees partying and giggling about peeing on the waterslides and I'll look at my friends and say: Fork over that fifty bucks!

It's going to be a bomb. Anybody can tell. They're going to do a pilot and realize their mistake. I mean...they're basically taking the Laguna Beach formula of coming-of-age teenage drama BUT subtracting the wealth, snob-factor, Southern California trendiness, and beach. Seriously though. Who the hell is going to watch a central-Texas based teen reality series called "Waterpark." I'll tell you. Not enough to keep the show up and afloat.

Uhh...not so fast. Chicks in swimsuits just might work. ;)

^ MTV better make sure the "chicks" on this show have the body for it. Teens aren't going to tune in to a show with troll-bodied life guards with meaningless waterpark employee drama. However, actual trolls in swimsuits may carry a higher rating than the proposed series. Think about that, MTV. ;)

I worked at GL for 5 seasons, and with what happened on a day to day basis I always thought it would make for interesting TV. I am surprised that MTV is considering a park most mainstream America probably hasn't heard of. I wonder if the park approached them...

That's not true. I've seen plenty about the park on the Travel Channel and Discovery Channel. Besides, most communities have water parks. So even if the audience doesn't know about SB, they could relate.

*** This post was edited by janfrederick 8/30/2006 5:15:45 PM ***

This sounds pretty cool. When I was on my Disney World internship and subsequent seasonal work, we always thought that some sort of Real World: Vista Way would be a great way to show what its really like to work and live down there.

i was thinkin about the same thing, i wanted MTV to film a reality show at KW, but i know KW would not want this kind of publicity. Here's how it would have been...

22 strangers....picked to work on some rides...have their lives taped...and find out what happens...when people start getting drunk...and start getting real....THE REAL KENNYWOOD: 506

Man at KW we have some real drama on our ride crews, that would be some gooood entertainment. But KW would not be up for that, i know it. that would be so funny if we could do that though.