Above: An episode of Mayday, Mayday filmed in Niagara Falls. Miraculously, all crash survivors' bodies were recovered.The FOX Broadcasting Network is putting a lot of faith--and money--into its latest reality television show. So confident is the network in the show's certain success, that they are putting the initial episode up against the second half of the Super Bowl, which is airing Sunday evening on CBS at 6:25 pm.
The new show, Mayday, Mayday, will begin at 8:15 pm just in time to give viewers caught up in the elongated halftime show--featuring The Who--ample time to grab another beer and refill the Dorito bowl, before turning the channel over to FOX.
What could possibly pull viewers away from America's most popular sporting event you might ask? How about a certain U.S. Airways' pilot? That's correct. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, last January's Hudson River hero, will "host" this controversial new reality show.
The goal of the show is for home viewers to get a firsthand look into how experienced, or inexperienced pilots, react in emergency situations--specifically for crash water landings. Unsuspecting pilots will be forced to make emergency landings in waterways all over the country.
"News networks reported record audiences in the days and weeks following the Hudson River water landing last year," said Henry Jenkins, FOX director of programming. "We want to take that concept and excitement--and the major revenue that comes with it--and have a new and crazy water landing every week. It's really gonna be neat."
Hidden cameras will be set up around the cockpit, passenger seating areas, bathrooms and flight attendant gathering areas. Sullenberger, who, until airborne, will be hiding in a specially designed compartment in most episodes, will be wearing a captains hat with a small video camera attached to give audiences a view from the hero's eyes.
Through misinformation provided by the control tower and a snip of some random, though not believed to be crucial, fuselage wires during flight, the plane will be sent into a rapid descent. The flight crew, including all flight attendants, will have no prior knowledge that what is occurring is for a television show.
Sullenberger will not reveal himself to the crew until the plane begins to lose altitude, bursting through the false wall that had concealed his presence. The hero will stand over the pilots and question their every move, and will continuously remind them about how successful his Hudson River landing was.
If the pilots are incapable of excelling under this extreme pressure, Sullenberger will step in to guide the jet to a safe landing. According to a source close to the show, Sully steps in only twice, but this is unconfirmed.
In one scene, Sullenberger frightens two young pilots by saying, "Fellas, I'm contractually obligated by FOX not to help you land this plane."
"People may ask why I am doing this," said Sullenberger, defying FOX's request to not participate in interviews. "Honestly, it's for the kids. All those damn, great kids. Bless their hearts."
So controversial is the show that news of its creation only recently emerged, as FOX attempted to keep the anticipated media firestorm off its back for as long as possible.
Because of law suit concerns, all passengers aboard the planes are actors and are all informed of exactly when the plane will experience "extreme turbulence."
"It's still very scary," said Bob Neminster, an actor who claims to have been an extra in over 150 movies. "The pilots still have to land the plane successfully. But it's worth the free lunch and 50 bucks."
Water landing witnesses were forced to sign a confidentiality agreement and were also generously compensated. Some news outlets have reported that the show filmed 26 or more water landings and, unbelievably, were able to keep them all a secret.
"Money talks," said Jenkins. "Money talks many languages. And Mr Franklin talks very loudly, almost too loudly. Sometimes I have to tell him to keep it down."
Last October, two Northwest Airlines' pilots, flying from San Diego, overshot the Minneapolis Airport by 150 miles, before circling and, eventually, landing safely. This, as it turns out, was for an episode of Mayday, Mayday. This is why the airline and pilots were so tight-lipped about the incident. The pilots were able to overcome the situation and land in Minneapolis, much to FOX's frustration.
"FOX has forbidden me to comment on what occurred in that plane," said Captain Kevin Torrance, a Northwest pilot aboard the flight. "All I can say is that if Sully didn't wake us up, er, well, I can't even say that."
FOX executives are barely able to contain their excitement for Sunday's premier.
"Yes, CBS has the Super Bowl, but we think we can make a decent dent in their ratings with Mayday, Mayday," said Jim Higgins, a FOX executive, wearing a Mayday, Mayday hat. "In fact, on Monday morning, at the water cooler, we think people will be asking who won the game."
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