Reality TV and Mormons

America’s Next Top Mormon

As reality shows dominate television, they're plucking contestants from an unlikely pew.

By Sally Atkinson | Newsweek Web Exclusive

May 6, 2008 | Updated: 3:33 p.m. ET May 6, 2008

... Mormons have colonized reality TV as if they'd been assigned there by Brigham Young himself. They've won "The Biggest Loser," "The Rebel Billionaire" and "Survivor" (along with two second-place finishes on "Survivor"). These days you can't turn on "So You Think You Can Dance" or "Dancing With the Stars" without seeing at least one, and often several, members of the church. And they're closing in on the biggest reality TV prize of all: cherub-faced Mormon David Archuleta is one of four finalists left on "American Idol," and his chances just soared following the elimination last week of Brooke White. White is Mormon too, and now that she's off the show, the two of them won't have to split the faithful's vote anymore...

Read article in its entirety here... very interesting