'Bridalplasty' on E! Mashes Makeover, Wedding Shows

There's an old joke in the publishing world that the perfect title for a best seller would be "Lincoln's Dog's Diet" since books that have at least one of these words in their title are popular with readers. That could explain the logic behind E!'s new reality/game show, "Bridalplasty," in which brides-to-be compete with each other for various makeover treatments and procedures-from lip plumping to tummy tucks. Just as bacon-and-anything makes anything taste better, the producers of "Bridezilla" are obviously betting there is a synergy between bratty brides and Botox.

"Bridalplasty" (premieres on E!, Nov. 28) is not the first cable show to mix weddings and makeovers. It was beaten to the punch by TLC's "Wedding Day Makeover," in which brides are given make-up and hair-style makeovers to "'wow' the man of their dreams," according to a TLC press release.

"Bridalplasty" is far more ambitious. Not content to paint over their faces with foundation and eye creams, the brides-to-be on "Bridalplasty" want to reshape their faces-and bodies-permanently. Just as in "The Swan" (not coincidentally, both shows use the same plastic surgeon), the insecure brides desire a complete overhaul.

"Bridalplasty," a shocking new low for reality TV (even for E!), will unfold as follows: 12 brides-to-be will move into a mansion ala "The Bachelor" and compete each week for various plastic surgery or cosmetic procedures in such contests as writing their wedding vows. On the show's finale, the woman who wins the most contests snags the show's top prize, an extreme makeover that includes everything on the winning bride's makeover wish list. Meanwhile, her clueless groom has no idea what the woman he proposed to will look like, a fact upon which E! is counting will create irresistible must-see TV curiosity on the show's wedding day finale episode.

It is clear E! is hoping the groom's reaction to his bride will make for riveting voyeurism, as evidenced by E!'s official press teaser: "In a moment anticipated all season long, the bride will finally walk down the aisle to reveal her new appearance to her husband-to-be. Viewers will witness his emotional and possibly shocked reaction as they stand at the altar and he lifts her veil to see her for the first time following her extreme plastic surgery."

The only thing "Bridalplasty" will not show, apparently, is the groom's reaction to his bride's new body on their wedding night. America is not ready for "Wedding Night Makeovers"--well, not yet at least.

Ultimately, "Bridalplasty" may seem like a depressing new ebb for reality television, but it is really just art (if you can call it that) imitating life. Plastic surgeons are already capitalizing on some women's desire to be the perfect Barbie doll bride on their wedding day. One plastic surgeon's website offers brides-to-be Latisse for their lashes, Juvederm for sexy lips, Botox, laser hair removal, laser spider vein removal, liposuction, breast augmentations, tummy tucks, brow lifts and face lifts-complete with a handy-dandy time-line for brides on when to get each procedure or treatment relative to their wedding day. (The face lift, for instance, should be done four to six months before the wedding lest wedding guests mistake the post-surgical bruising for domestic violence.)

Judging from pre-show buzz, however, viewers may watch "Bridalplasty" with one hand on the remote and the other plugging their nose. As one skeptic of the yet-to-be aired show commented about the bride-to-be contestants on Popeater "The problem is whatever was ugly about them before will still be ugly about them after. Surgery doesn't transform personalities unfortunately. "

More From Associated Content:
Fall TV's New Legal Dramas
Hollywood's Newest Hotties
Mike and Molly- A New Kind of Couple

*Note: This was written by an Associated Content contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own entertainment articles.