TVSquad

Some of the better reality shows are the ones that give us a behind-the-scenes look at a business or industry. Think A&E's Airline or even TLC's Little People, Big World. Because even though they are now labeled as "reality shows," they're more documentaries.

Last week, Vogue agreed to be filmed by A&E cameras as they put together the big September issue of the magazine. Vogue is the one headed by Anna Wintour, the inspiration for both the Meryl Streep character in The Devil Wears Prada and the mysterious woman on Ugly Betty. I'm surprised Wintour is letting them film there, but then again I was surprised that she was sitting in Roger Federer's seats at the U.S. Open.

Marie Claire might do a show too, and they've already started video podcasts at their site (starting next Tuesday), and FOX has a TV version of The Devil Wears Prada coming up.

I have no idea if these shows will be any good, but I'll take them over shows where people are fired by some moron or a show where contestants eat bugs. Though if some of the thin models actually ate bugs it might do some good.

The feature film The Devil Wears Prada, based on the chick lit novel of the same name by Lauren Weisberger, is being adapted yet again, this time for television. Robin Schiff, who has written for such shows as Party of Five, Almost Perfect, Grosse Pointe and The Bad Girl's Guide will serve as writer and producer for the TV series, which will use some elements from the film but will also differ from the film and book in several ways. Neither Weisberger not David Frankel, the film's director, will be involved with the TV version. The show is currently in development, and there's no word yet on when it will air. I figure as long as they're adapting the hell out of this concept they might as well continue and develop it into a Broadway musical, a radio play, and finally, a pamphlet they stick under people's windshield wipers. The point is to wring as much cash as possible out of an idea. That's how this business works.