# Miss America Pageant on the rocks. What can it do to be interesting & popular again? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728 "2005-08-26T14:17:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/1 "2005-08-26T14:17:41Z")
Per the link below the Miss America Pageant is in dire shape. They lost their TV contract, and now they can’t afford their Atlantic City lease. The poor Miss America Pageant is one big hard luck story lately. What can they do to besome popular again? What needs to go? What needs to stay? What would make the pagent interesting again? Tests of strength and skill? Changeups on outfits? Banning silicone? What’s the kind of Miss America Pagent _you_ would watch? [There she goes! Miss America to pick up stakes Organizers say 84-year-old pageant can no longer afford Atlantic City](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9075603/) > [@](#): > > Loss of TV contract sealed fate > McMaster, who took over the ailing nonprofit that runs Miss America in 2004, earlier in the day said the loss of millions of dollars in revenue from the pageant’s TV contract had forced the organization’s hand. > > “I don’t think survivability is out there if we stay in Atlantic City,” he said. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/2 "2005-08-26T14:23:45Z")
Let Maxim magazine take over the pagent. Add in some fear factor stunts and have the audience vote like Idol. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/3 "2005-08-26T14:24:53Z")
I don’t know that we need a Miss America Pageant, but to make it interesting to me, it would have to be blatantly sexual or involve some kind of athletic skill. I’ll watch a fitness pageant over Miss America any day, for example, because those women typically do some amazing things during the floor exercies. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/4 "2005-08-26T14:36:54Z")
This is a terrible reply, I apologize in advance. MAP is hopelessly dated now. It would take thongs to get back the Male 16-35 year old viewer now. Even that might not work. ---
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/5 "2005-08-26T14:38:30Z")
What caused the decline in ratings? ---
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/6 "2005-08-26T14:39:33Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Let Maxim magazine take over the pagent. > > Add in some fear factor stunts and have the audience vote like Idol. I like the Maxim and fear factor idea. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/7 "2005-08-26T14:44:14Z")
I say let it die. It’s an archaic ritual. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/8 "2005-08-26T15:06:59Z")
It is an archaic ritual. Based on beauty and body shaping ( which are a combination of the luck of the draw and genetics.) in order to win money for scholarship. What kind of role model is that for girls to have some bland bardie doll with legs up to here talk about a cause-du-jour? Let it die. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/9 "2005-08-26T15:14:16Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > It is an archaic ritual. > > Let it die. Oh, it’s been too much of a cash cow for them to just let it die. I expect it to go through several iterations as it’s bought by this or that org, each one attempting to revive it with some twist that will be more of a screaming embarassment to its current titleholders. Might wind up being bought out by a porn outfit. Kinda the logical end of the line. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/10 "2005-08-26T15:17:13Z")
Nudity. Nudity and oil-wrestling. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/11 "2005-08-26T15:23:26Z")
Like boring olympic sports (chess, badminton, curling), I think the competition would be improved immensely if you combined it with boxing or some other full-contact sport. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/12 "2005-08-26T15:45:34Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Based on beauty and body shaping ( which are a combination of the luck of the draw and genetics.) in order to win money for scholarship. The interview is 40 percent, talent is 30 percent, swimsuit is 10 percent, evening gown is 10 percent, and there are two questions, both worth five percent each of your total score. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/13 "2005-08-26T15:48:04Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Nudity. Nudity and oil-wrestling. Dang, I was going to say that. I think instead I’ll just stick with World Peace. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/14 "2005-08-26T15:57:13Z")
It is hopelessly outdated. Time to let it die. Now that we have dozens of channels, it can’t compete for an audience anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/15 "2005-08-26T16:03:38Z")
For the five finalists, the weighting of the scores is: [ul] [li]composite attributes\*, 40 percent[/li][li]talent, 20 percent[/li][li]swimsuit, 10 percent[/li][li]evening wear, 10 percent[/li][li]peer respect and leadership (voted by the 46 other contestants), 10 percent[/li][li]on-stage quiz, 10 percent[/li][/ul] - composite attributes from the preliminary competition: interview, 40 percent; talent, 30 percent; and evening wear, on-stage question, and swimsuit, 10 percent each. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/16 "2005-08-26T16:09:07Z")
1. Don’t chaperone the contestants. Allow undercover cameras. 2. Wink wink nudge at cheating. 3. Include controversial guest judges on the same panel. Jennifer Aniston & Brad Pitt. Bill Clinton & Monica Lewinksy. Suge Knight & Diddy. Michael Jackson & Deputy District Attorney Gerald McC Franklin 4. Two words: Fear Factor. 5. Permit political satire in talent competetition. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/17 "2005-08-26T16:17:40Z")
Cage match. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/18 "2005-08-26T16:21:03Z")
Have them compete in knife-throwing, surfing, tightrope-walking, swimming through underwater tunnels, untying knots with their toes, wiring a circuit, typing a letter blindfolded, air traffic control at a simulated busy metro airport, breaking a cipher. Borrow Alex Trebec and throw Jeopardy questions at them. Have them audition for a specified part in a play/movie and in the performance of a specified song. In short, more and more diverse competition, and have them _each_ try to do the _same_ challenge so as to allow direct comparison. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/19 "2005-08-26T16:29:38Z")
Unleashing large predators on the contestants would pique my interest. Really, I can’t see how it’s gone on so long. Even when I was a horny teenager, it was impossible to sit through that schlock. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728/20 "2005-08-26T16:42:20Z")
> [@Walloon](#): > > For the five finalists, the weighting of the scores is: > > [ul] > [li]composite attributes\*, 40 percent[/li][li]talent, 20 percent[/li][li]swimsuit, 10 percent[/li][li]evening wear, 10 percent[/li][li]peer respect and leadership (voted by the 46 other contestants), 10 percent[/li][li]on-stage quiz, 10 percent[/li][/ul] > > - composite attributes from the preliminary competition: interview, 40 percent; talent, 30 percent; and evening wear, on-stage question, and swimsuit, 10 percent each. That may be what they OFFICIALLY say are the criteria for the Miss America Pagent, but it really boils down to who has the best looking cleavage. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/miss-america-pageant-on-the-rocks-what-can-it-do-to-be-interesting-popular-again/318728.md?page=2)