Posted by Miva in News, TV | 0 Comments
Nik Wallenda Reality Show Cancelled
If you’re like us, and thought that Nik Wallenda crossing Niagara Falls was a bit of a sham, you’re not alone. While the challenge seemed like it would be a monumental feat, the fact that he was attached to a rope and harness made the walk seem a little pointless. While it was impressive that he was successful in crossing the falls, anyone could have taken the challenge with little to no risk in the event of failure. Nevertheless, the crossing did manage to bring in over 13 million viewers to ABC, making the program the highest rated show in that spot for more than 5 years.
With the success of the crossing, The Science Channel entered into an agreement with Nik to produce a reality show, documenting the behind the scenes look at Wallenda’s crossing, along with other tight rope crossings that were done in the past. Unfortunately, the show ended up taking a back seat in The Science Network’s priorities. The show had little advertising and promotion, and was renamed from Life on Wire to Nik Wallenda: Beyond Niagara”. The lacklustre response towards the show was unveiled on July 2nd, when The Science Channel announced that they would be cancelling the series. It seems that Nik Wallenda’s 15 minutes of fame are coming to an end.
Currently, Wallenda is performing at the Silver Dollar City theme park in Missouri. According to Nik, he believes that cancelling the show in America was a mistake, and he plans to undertake a similar project overseas where it appears that the interest in his profession has yet to subside. Wallenda is also in discussion with ABC regarding a second live televised tight rope crossing, this time over the Grand Canyon. If that televised crossing moves forward, we’ll have a clear insight into whether America is still fascinated by Wallenda and his sport.
In other related news, the original crossing was said to have brought thousands of dollars to both the American and Canadian cities of Niagara Falls. The tourism board in Niagara Falls, NY has stated that the performance has reignited interest in the world wonder, and has resulted in thousands of additional visitors already. Thats great news for a city with one of the highest unemployment rates in America.
We are wishing the best for Nik and hoping to see his crossing of the Grand Canyon, but this time without a safety tether.
