''The Assistant'' is a

reality television show Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...

that

parodied A parody, also known as a spoof, a satire, a send-up, a take-off, a lampoon, a play on (something), or a caricature, is a creative work designed to imitate, comment on, and/or mock its subject by means of satiric or ironic imitation. Often its subj ...

other reality shows such as ''

The Apprentice ''The Apprentice'' is a Reality competition, reality talent game show franchise originally aired in 2004 in the United States. Created by U.S.-based British producer Mark Burnett, the show depicts contestants from around the country with variou ...

'', '' The Bachelor'', ''

The Bachelorette A bachelorette is an unmarried woman. Bachelorette may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Bachelorette'', a reality television dating show part of ''The Bachelor'' franchise with numerous versions: ** ''The Bachelorette'' (American TV ser ...

'', '' Survivor'', ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...

'', and ''

Fear Factor ''Fear Factor'' is an American stunt/ dare game show that first aired on NBC from 2001 to 2006 and was initially hosted by comedian and UFC commentator Joe Rogan. The show was adapted by Endemol USA from the original Dutch series titled ''Now or ...

''. Its eight episodes originally aired on

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

. It featured

comedian A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing Amusement is the state of experiencing humorous and entertaining events or situations while the person or a ...

Andy Dick Andrew Roane Dick (born Andrew Thomlinson; December 21, 1965) is an American comedian, actor, musician, and television and film producer. Known professionally as a comic, his first regular television role was on the short-lived but influential ...

's search for a new personal assistant. The beginning of the first episode parodied ''The Bachelor'', with the twelve contestants arriving in limousines, and Dick waiting outside to greet them with his maid and butler. A "rose ceremony" immediately followed, and one contestant was eliminated. Dick assigned the Hollywood hopefuls to some absurd tasks such as pretending to be him in an interview with a Japanese television station, bringing him coffee by traversing on a beam over a swimming pool, breaking up with his girlfriend, and attempting to get him a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

. Contestants were usually "clipped" in elimination ceremonies parodying those on other reality series. Like some other programs, ''The Assistant'' also included double elimination episodes and brought back fired candidates. Driving home Dick's message that they were starting from the bottom, candidates slept in Dick's garage. He also woke them with a flashing, siren-generating alarm, was prone to tantrums, and griped that, "This reality show is ruining my life!" Andy Dick actually had a relationship with one of the contestants on the show. Andy and Sarah Beckworth dated for a while after the show's end. The end of the relationship led to a breach of contract lawsuit with MTV which prohibited relationships with the contestants. Though the show was satire, the twelve contestants were real and the winner,

Melissa Ordway Melissa Pam Gaston (née Ordway; born March 31, 1983) is an American actress and model. She has been featured in campaigns by a number of major brands including Skechers, Old Navy, David's Bridal, Anchor Blue and Tillys. She is best known for p ...

, was awarded several prizes including a job at MTV. The runner-up was Mark, who had been fired, but was brought back in the seventh episode. The show was not renewed after its first season.

Contestants eliminated and reality show parodied

''(in reverse order of elimination)'' *

(Winner) * Mark Rogers ** ''

'' theme, Eliminated Episode 4 (brought back Episode 7) ** Eliminated Episode 8 * Tanika Kennedy ** ''

'' theme, Eliminated Episode 7 * Mykell Wilson ** ''

'' theme, Eliminated Episode 6 * Colin Blake ** ''

'' theme, Eliminated Episode 6 * Anna Enger ** Unaware, surprise lie detector test, Eliminated Episode 5 * Stefani Fischer ** ''

The Amazing Race ''The Amazing Race'' is an adventure reality game show franchise in which teams of two people race around the world in competition with other teams. The ''Race'' is split into legs, with teams tasked to deduce clues, navigate themselves in forei ...

'' theme, Eliminated Episode 5 * Ebony Costain ** ''Survivor'' theme, Eliminated Episode 3 * Nikeda Stanback ** ''

Who Wants to be a Millionaire ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' (often informally called ''Millionaire'') is an international television game show franchise of British origin, created by David Briggs, Mike Whitehill and Steven Knight. In its format, currently owned and ...

'' theme, Eliminated Episode 1 (brought back Episode 3) ** ''Survivor'' theme, Eliminated Episode 3 * Sarah Beckworth ** ''

America's Next Top Model ''America's Next Top Model'' (abbreviated ''ANTM'' and ''Top Model'') is an American reality television series and interactive competition in which a number of aspiring models compete for the title of "America's Next Top Model" and a chance to b ...

'' theme, Eliminated Episode 2 * Jeff Jimenez ** ''

'' theme, Eliminated Episode 2 * Andrew Sturgis (Andrew Rodgman) ** '' The Bachelor'' theme, Eliminated Episode 1

References

External links

*
''The Assistant''
on mtv.com

at Andy Dick's website

on USA Today {{DEFAULTSORT:Assistant 2004 American television series debuts 2004 American television series endings 2000s American reality television series MTV reality television series Reality television series parodies