SyFy wrapped up the first season of Face Off this week and also announced a second season. It was an interesting concept, and it was nice to see the zombie-themed episode with guest judge Greg Nicotero, but there is plenty of room for improvement. I was having a conversation about all the changes I’d make after watching the finale, and as it is a slow news day, I figured I'd just write it all down and hopefully someone at SyFy is reading the site today.
For those that haven't seen Face Off, it follows the basic reality competition formula and features 12 special effects makeup artists competing for $100,000. In each episode they are given a challenge, are judged, and at least one contestant is eliminated. Here's what I'd like to see changed in season two:
1. Mini-Challenges Every Episode: Some of the episodes had a “foundation” challenge given to the contestants that lasted 10-15 minutes, along with a main “spotlight” challenge and judging session that took up the remaining time. Other episodes only had a main challenge and judging session. Each Face Off episode is 60 minutes (45 w/o commercials), and without the mini-challenges, the show really drags on. Including one or two mini-challenges every episode will add variety and keep viewer interest.
2. Less Engineered Drama: I have no problem when legitimate fights break out and they want to include them in the episode, but after the first couple of episodes, extra time was dedicated to relationship drama between Connor, Megan, and Jo, instead of focusing on the competition or giving time to mini-challenges. The way certain shots were edited and the time spent on the relationship drama was annoying and appeared to be engineered or more severe than it was in reality. Drama related to the competition can be interesting. Taking time away from the competition to focus on relationship drama is annoying.
3. More Horror Icons: I know who Greg Nicotero is, zombie and horror fanatics know who Greg Nicotero is, but the average viewer has no idea who he is, and he was arguably the most recognizable guest featured. I know the show was on a tight budget in the first season, but there are so many horror celebrities out there right now that don't charge a fortune and are regularly on the convention circuit. Bring in Robert Englund, Bruce Campbell, Doug Bradley, and especially Tom Savini. They are available, they are recognizable, and even if the guest isn't an effects expert, they are sure to entertain the audience and be able to bring something extra to the show. I also don’t think it would be terribly difficult to convince a horror director or actor to show up to promote their film and take part in a challenge. Having more celebrity appearances helps with promotion and brings in more horror fans.
4. More Prizes: Whoever won a mini-challenge had first choice of theme or model for the main challenge. The problem was that some of contestants realized that it wasn’t worth it to spend the time and effort on the mini-challenges. If the contestant won the main challenge, they were able to consult with the judges on who to remove from the show. Giving more incentive to win the challenge will make the contestants try their best. Featuring their creation on an episode of a TV show or giving them coverage in a horror magazine is a nice incentive and there are virtually endless prize ideas.
5. New Locations: I understand the contestants need the workshop, but I think it would be nice to change up the location of the main challenge. Putting them on a TV show or indie movie set or having them make a creation for a haunted attraction shakes up the show and keeps the audience from getting bored.
For all the people who watch reality shows, there are just as many (or more) who dislike them, and it isn’t difficult to understand why. Many of these shows follow the exact same formula, and in some cases, it is easy to spot engineered scenes and drama. While I was entertained watching the first season, Face Off doesn't really try to deviate from the standard reality formula and doesn't do much to set itself apart or market itself to the horror crowd. The five changes above will attract more horror fans and make the show interesting to those who don’t normally like watching reality TV.
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