From the creator of America’s Most Smartest Model comes yet another radically inappropriate television show. Michael Flutie has been representing models and other celebrities for almost 30 years now. He has even been pitching the premise for this show since 2006, until E! finally picked it up earlier this year. He claims to be “passionate” about the business of modeling, and insists that he does indeed also focus on inner beauty, rather than bust and waistlines.

In the reality series, cities across America from Dallas, to Salt Lake City, to San Francisco are scouted for models to compete in the competition, the top prize being a modeling contract in New York. (Go figure.) This is where the truly outrageous material begins. A model is thrown out because she is 29. Another model, after she is thoroughly measured on camera, is told that her butt is too big. This is the part of the show that just clearly reinforces everything that is, arguably, wrong with the modeling industry today.

Scouted is also the newest competitor for Top Model. It also will be competing for a more favorable legacy than other modeling reality shows that have failed to be successful in the past decade, America’s Most Smartest Model being a perfect example. The premise of having a modeling show that highlights contestants’ faults is nothing new, as the modeling industry is known for crushing self-esteem and body images across the nation, both directly and indirectly. However, audiences seem to like the perverted thrill of watching attractive young men and women being told they are too fat, too short, too old, or just plain too unattractive to be a model.

Flutie said of the viewers of the show, “I can only hope that there’s an audience that likes a Cinderella story because this is what this show is about.” This is a clearly fabricated statement, as every conscious American knows that a “Cinderella story” is the last thing that the modeling industry stands for. Many commentators agree that Top Model has been so successful because it acknowledges and embraces its own quirks, with Tyra Banks beautifully choreographing the stampede of crazy that is the show. Only time will tell if Scouted’s slanted view of modeling as a fairy tale will make it to Season Two, but my conjecture is that it will not. The business of modeling is cutthroat and superficial; nothing more is to be expected of Scouted.

Why haven’t there been any new episodes? The last new episode ran on October 13, 2008. Considering that the show was still a ratings smash, why haven’t there been any new episodes in over a year? Is Dr. 90210 cancelled?

According to the plastic surgery message boards, rumor has it that the producers of the show simply have been occupied with other projects. Dr. 90210 has not been canceled… it’s just on an extended hiatus. Whether that’s true or not, it’s hard to say since E! Networks haven’t said much about it.

Are there any other similar shows currently on the air? Except for maybe a random ten o’clock news clip about how to get rid of bags under eyes, right now there’s not a whole lot on TV about cosmetic surgery. Discovery Health and TLC will sometimes run a special about plastic surgery, but currently there are no regular series on any network. If you’re itching for the return of Dr. 90210, it might not hurt to write E! and let them know how you feel.