Reality TV Meets Politics

Drawing on the success of shows like FOX's American Idol and NBC's America’s Got Talent, reality TV producer Mark Burnett has teamed up with popular online peer-to-peer social netorking site MySpace to create a television show that seeks out the best new political voice for the youth of America. In the show, titled Independent, contestants are challenged to tackle issues in order to display their political ideals and beliefs. The show's viewers then offer reviews and present more challenges to the contestants by either calling in to the show or through their MySpace pages.

The winner of the show will get $1 million to be put towards either their own 2008 presidential campaign bid or to give to an organization centered on issues relevant to the nation’s youth.

Burnett hopes that Independent will help “to discover in a big way what America really thinks and bring to light the issues that are closest to those who now finally have a chance to be heard."

Though not yet picked up by a network, the creators hope to begin airing the show sometime in early 2008.