TVSquad

I guess NBC is getting the last laugh. Sort of. Well, not really. Nevertheless, when they first launched The Singing Bee in 2007, the FOX copycat machine was in full effect. In fact, NBC had to push up the premiere of Bee to try and get an edge on FOX's Don't Forget the Lyrics. But while Lyrics has been canceled, Bee is still going strong. Just not on NBC.

Actually, by broadcast network standards, it's still doing horrible, but its 1.5 million viewer debut back in June on CMT was enough to make it the highest-rated series debut ever on the network. CMT is so excited with The Singing Bee, they've asked for 20 more installments. The show went country when it switched to CMT, dumping Joey Fatone in favor of Melissa Peterman (Reba) as host, and focusing more on the sad, sad lyrics that make up country music.

If I were NBC, I'd go ahead and get excited about this. Sure, they canceled the show and it was performing horribly for them. But by doing so, they created a big hit for CMT. And they can still claim that their show outlasted FOX's copycat. Sort of. Well, not really.

With the latest seasons of Survivor, The Amazing Race, and American Idol wrapping up, fans patiently have to wait until the fall or spring 2010 for their favorite shows to return. But why wait? Several reality TV shows debut in the summer both as lighter fare than fall shows and a way to test for target audiences.

If one recalls, several summer reality TV shows have eventually moved to prime real estate in the fall or spring. If rumors are true the summer favorite So You Think You Can Dance will be the next to move, airing in the summer and fall.

Here are some alternatives for your favorite reality TV shows.

If you thought The Singing Bee was bad, wait till you get a load of this. TLC is premiering it's new show The Singing Office at the end of June. The show will be hosted by ex-*NSYNCer Joey Fatone and ex-Spice Girl Mel B. Each week, Joey and Mel B. will surprise a different office and hold an impromptu audition. From each location, they will recruit a team of five for the next round of competiton. Once formed, the teams will go to "boot camp" as the hosts coach the teams on both their performance quality and their singing. Finally, the teams will compete on stage for a shot at $50,000.

Joseph recently emailed us in response to our The Singing Bee Vs. Don't Forget The Lyrics article to ask: I would like to know how you apply to be a contestant. I watch the show all the time. Thank you!

Back in March, TV Squadder Joel Keller provided us with a list of sites where we could find details on how to apply for various reality and game shows. Since then, a new crop of game and reality shows made its way to a small screen near us. Bee and Lyrics are two of the most popular new games shows that premiered over the summer.

I did a little digging and found out how Joseph, and everyone else, can apply for Bee and Lyrics.

This week, two networks premiered game shows that are really similar. NBC launched The Singing Bee while FOX premiered Don't Forget the Lyrics. Which one will last longer? Will both tank? Or maybe both will survive thanks to their lead in: America's Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance, respectively.

Now that both premieres aired it's time to decide if you'll be a singing bee or you'll try to not forget the lyrics.

Are you ready to sing like a bee? NBC hopes you are as starting on Tuesday, July 10, the network will air The Singing Bee. In a press release sent earlier today, the network confirms that Joey Fatone will host this sing-along variety game show.

Fatone is best known for having been a member of *NSYNC. However, he recently made his way on the TV map by finishing second in the most recent installment of ABC's Dancing with the Stars.