Snooki Money

Usually when I attend conferences for work, I'm too involved in meetings to find the time to go to any of the speeches or panel discussions, even when they involve personal musical heroes like William Shatner. The exception is an annual event here in DC devoted to non-fiction programming called the Realscreen Summit. As non-scripted programs increasingly dominate TV schedules, even on channels that once prided themselves on quality dramas, it's fascinating to hear how the network programmers perceive themselves, their televised progeny and their industry in general.

At this year's event, perhaps the most fascinating panel was called "The Rights War". In the course of an hour the panel's moderator prodded programming executives with increasingly awkward questions about the equitability of the financial model in which virtually all rights go to the networks footing the bill for the production.

With some justification, the network people maintained that, as the party taking on the risk, it was reasonable that their company would see most of the reward. At the same time, they conceded that there were legitimate questions about how to "monetize success" for the minority of programs that actually make a lot of money for the broadcasters.

Buzzwords aside, it was apparent this applied not just for the networks and producers but also those in front of the cameras. As is the way with discussions of reality TV talent, it wasn't long before they evoked the cast of MTV's Jersey Shore, specifically the one and only Snooki.

Apparently, rising reality stars now want what is called "Snooki money", referring to the quantum leap in salary the annoyance formerly known as Nicole Polizzi received between Jersey Shore's first and second seasons. Sticking with their theme of how to monetize success appropriately, one panel member pointed out that the try to make cast members appreciate that if it wasn't for them being on the shows in question they wouldn't be getting money for appearance fees and other sources. This is, of course, a sensible argument - except for one thing. The personalities likely to embrace reality show fame don't seem like the type overflowing self-awareness needed to appreciate that logic. And so, as networks and producers fight their ongoing rights war, the quest for "Snooki money" continues.