Shannen Says

Shannen Says is an eight-episode American reality television series broadcast on WE tv from April 10 to May 13, 2012. It focuses on the preparations for the wedding of actress Shannen Doherty and photographer Kurt Iswarienko, with help from celebrity-wedding planner David Tutera. Doherty and Iswarienko developed the show as a way to document the stress on a couple while planning their wedding. Filmed in Malibu, California over a seven-week period, it was produced by RelativityREAL and Doherty's production company No Apologies Productions. The series was released on the iTunes Store and Amazon Video under the title Shannen Says, Season 1, but it was not made available on DVD or Blu-ray.

Shannen Says
Title card
GenreReality documentary
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Kathleen Farrell
  • Tom Forman
  • Russell Heldt
  • Shannen Doherty
  • Kurt Iswarienko
Running time42–43 minutes[1]
Production company(s)
Release
Original networkWE tv
Original releaseApril 10 (2012-04-10) –
May 13, 2012 (2012-05-13)
External links
Official website

Shannen Says had low ratings, ranking below most other programs on its broadcast night. Doherty said that it was intended as a one-off, with no plans for a second season. Before its premiere, the series was compared to reality shows by Tori Spelling and Kim Kardashian. The show received mixed responses from television critics who disagreed over its use of drama. Doherty was well-received by commentators who called her a good match for reality television. Her mother Rosa also received positive attention from fans on Twitter.

Production

Concept and development

Shannen Says tracks the events leading up to Shannen Doherty's wedding to Kurt Iswarienko and covers the renovation of her home in Malibu, California.[2][3] It was Doherty's third wedding since she had previously been married to actor Ashley Hamilton and poker player Rick Salomon that ended in 1994 and 2003, respectively.[2] Developed under the working title The Shannen Doherty Project, the series was first announced by WE tv on July 20, 2011.[4][5] According to the network, the show was intended to portray Doherty from a more intimate perspective.[5] Promotional materials emphasized conflict between Doherty and Iswarienko.[6] WE tv senior vice president John Miller said that Shannen Says was part of the network's strategy to "present stories that showcase the wild ride of modern-day life from a woman's perspective".[4] Variety's Jill Goldsmith cited the series as an example of how WE tv was ordering more unscripted programming to appeal to a female audience.[7]

Shannen Doherty watched reality shows by Tori Spelling and Kim Kardashian (pictured left to right) in preparation for Shannen Says.

Doherty and Iswarienko wanted to document the weeks leading up to their wedding in a filming and production style similar to Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Deadliest Catch.[8] Doherty previously worked on reality television as a host for Scare Tactics and Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty and a contestant on the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars.[9][10] She referred to Shannen Says as her agreement with Iswarienko to "chronicle this time in our lives and let future brides and future grooms know that [it's] not just you and that goes through the stress".[11] When discussing her idea for the show, Doherty said: "Can you bring all of those qualities to reality TV? Can you be that brutally honest, that completely raw, but with the quality of those two shows where you do use different cameras and you do want it to look spectacular?"[12] Likening the show to a wedding video, she described as a documentary rather than a reality show and said she was an actor not a reality personality. Prior to the premiere, Barry Walsh of Realscrean.com identified Shannen Says as a docuseries.[13]

Doherty planned to develop the show through her own production company, No Apologies Production, and an unidentified television network. However, the series was picked up by WE tv when Doherty thought that the previous network was making the material too sensational.[8] Miller said that he approved the series after hearing its pitch due to his belief that Doherty would be an appealing candidate for reality television.[3] To prepare for filming, Doherty watched former Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Tori Spelling's reality show about her relationship with husband Dean McDermott as well as Keeping Up with the Kardashians.[11] However, she resisted comparisons to Kim Kardashian's publicized wedding and divorce from basketball player Kris Humphries.[14] Shannen Says received additional publicity when Spelling jokingly offered to plan Doherty's wedding during an interview with Entertainment Tonight Canada: "I'll do the wedding, I could probably comment on the wedding she'd want 20 years ago, but that wouldn't make any sense."[15]

Filming and cast

Doherty and Iswarienko purchased a RED camera to film the series since they wanted it to be "a cut above the rest as far as [the] crew and how it looks". Doherty wanted to filming techniques to allow for a more-authentic look into her life: "It had to be honest, it had to be truthful, and it had to look fantastic".[8] When asked by an interviewer about rumors that she was a bridezilla, Doherty said that the series would show all aspects of her preparation for the wedding and was meant to be revealing.[12] Its opening ("Everyone thinks they know you") was described by Doherty as another way to show her real life, in contrast with her reputation for being difficult.[16]

The series was produced by No Apologies Production and RelativityREAL.[6][16] Episodes were filmed over a seven-week period at the couple's home in Malibu and nearby locations.[11][17] Production began in August 2011,[18] and the wedding took place and was filmed on October 15, 2011.[19] Doherty and Iswarienko were executive producers for the series, along with Kathleen Iswarienko, Russell Heldt, and Tom Forman.[6] Although Doherty was initially hesitant about the lack of privacy during filming, she felt more comfortable when the bedroom was set as off-limits for the show.[8][12]

David Tutera, a wedding planner and host of My Fair Wedding with David Tutera, acted as Doherty's event planner.[20] The series also featured Doherty's friends, Roxana Zal, Tim Bitici, and Roger Castillo,[21] and her mother, Rosa.[11][22] Professional dancer Louis Van Amstel and real estate agent Chris Cortazzo each guest-starred in one episode.[23] According to Doherty, her mother was well-received by fans on Twitter. She explained that viewers liked her mother's decision to appear more natural rather than being styled by the show's crew.[11]

Episodes
No.TitleOriginal air date [24]US viewers
(millions)
1"Rules of Engagement"April 10, 2012 (2012-04-10)0.172[25]
Doherty and Iswarienko hire celebrity-event planner David Tutera for their wedding.
2"Location, Location, Location"April 17, 2012 (2012-04-17)—
Doherty and Tutera disagree over where to hold the wedding. With Iswarienko's help, Doherty agrees to baby-sit her manager's son to determine if she is ready to have children.
3"Shannen's Ready, Is Kurt?"April 29, 2012 (2012-04-29)0.142[26]
Doherty and Tutera agree on a venue for the wedding. While searching for a wedding dress, Doherty decides to wear three dresses over the course of the ceremony.
4"When It Comes to Kurt's Career, He's Single"April 29, 2012 (2012-04-29)0.123[26]
Iswarienko accepts two jobs overseas, and leaves without consulting Doherty. She wonders if the wedding will still take place, since he never informs her about his career choices.
5"A Wedding in Prague-ress"May 6, 2012 (2012-05-06)0.162[27]
Tutera attempts to further arrange the wedding, but Doherty refuses to proceed without Iswarienko's presence and input.
6"Dress Mess"May 6, 2012 (2012-05-06)0.146[27]
After returning from a trip to Prague to discuss her future with Iswarienko, Doherty searches for vendors for the wedding. When her wedding dresses are delivered, she is disappointed and angry that they do not meet her expectations.
7"The Wedding Gift"May 13, 2012 (2012-05-13)—
Iswarienko attempts to find the perfect wedding present for Doherty, as final preparations are made for the wedding.
8"The Wedding"May 13, 2012 (2012-05-13)—
Doherty and Iswarienko are married; the couple exchange handwritten vows.

Broadcast history and release

A sneak peek was released prior to the show's debut,[1] and Doherty promoted it through a Television Critics Association panel presentation at Pasadena, California.[28] Shannen Says premiered on April 10, 2012 in the United States on WE tv at 10:00-11:00 pm Eastern and Pacific.[29] The original release date was scheduled for January 2012 and later April 3, 2012.[18][29] The second episode aired on Tuesday night in the same time slot, and two episodes were aired every Sunday night in the same time slot until the end of the season.[29] The show was broadcast internationally on WE tv Asia.[13][30] AMC and Sundance Channel Global also acquired rights for Shannen Says, along with The Slap, Hell on Wheels, and Breaking Bad.[31]

The series was commercially unsuccessful,[32][33] although it was popular among women between the ages of 25 and 54.[33] 172,000 people watched the premiere, which ranked below the debut of Dance Moms: Miami.[25] The rest of the episodes also had low ratings, scoring below most of the programs in its time slot.[26][27] Doherty later described Shannen Says as a one-off" created to capture the "time in a couple’s life where they get married and how stressful it can be" and denied interest in a second season. She rejected a suggestion for a second-season storyline about a pregnancy and child.[11] The series ended on May 12, 2012,[1] and a writer from the Futon Critic reported that it was canceled after being "on hiatus for longer than 12 months – without any news about its future".[6] The series was released on the iTunes Store on April 10, 2012, as Shannen Says, Season 1.[1] All episodes have been available from Amazon Video since 2012,[22] although it has not been made available on Blu-ray or DVD.[34]

Critical reception

Shannen Says received mixed reviews from critics. A Life & Style contributor praised the show as "very entertaining",[35] and HitFix's Geoff Berkshire wrote that it "looks great and moves swiftly from one drama to the next" and would satisfy fans of celebrity reality television.[17] In SouthCoastToday.com, Kevin McDonough criticized Shannen Says as attempting to "compensate for the lack of drama in Doherty's life with the manic production of a reality TV-sized wedding".[36] As part of an article for The Washington Post, Emily Yahr, Caitlin Moore and Emily Chow wrote that it, along with Hey Paula and Kirstie Alley's Big Life, were unsuccessful examples of the "autobiographical" reality show.[37]

Critics praised Doherty's appearances on the show. A reviewer for The Huffington Post described her as a good fit for reality television, and wrote that she was "every bit the bad girl fans have been loving to hate to love for the past twenty-odd years".[38] Although Geoff Berkshire enjoyed Doherty for being "equal doses crazy and amusing", but he questioned if audiences would dislike her attitude, like requesting her wedding guests to wear black or they would be kicked out.[17] In the Boston Herald, Mark Perigard jokingly said that Doherty does not "sob for an hour" like Tori Spelling did on her reality shows.[39] MTV News' Maisy Fernandez preferred Shannen Says to Jennie Garth: A Little Bit Country, a reality show starring Doherty's former Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Jennie Garth. Fernandez praised Doherty for making good reality television, but she criticized her choice of television since it was unlikely a casual viewer would find the series while channel surfing.[40]

References
  1. "Shannen Says, Season 1". iTunes. April 10, 2012. Archived from the original on December 20, 2015.
  2. Stanhope, Kate (July 20, 2011). "Shannen Doherty to Star in New Reality Series for WEtv". TV Guide. Archived from the original on December 18, 2016.
  3. Kozupsky, Jordana (July 22, 2011). "Shannen Doherty gets her own reality TV show about her own wedding". IrishCentral. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016.
  4. "Shannen Doherty Returns to Television in New, One-Hour Original WE tv Series". The Futon Critic. July 21, 2011. Archived from the original on December 18, 2016.
  5. Hibberd, James (July 20, 2011). "Shannen Doherty weds new reality series". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 18, 2016.
  6. "About This Show". The Futon Critic. Archived from the original on December 18, 2016.
  7. Goldsmith, Jill (April 21, 2012). "AMC woos public coin, teases suitors". Variety. Archived from the original on August 2, 2016.
  8. Michelson, Noah (May 4, 2012). "Shannen Doherty Talks Reality TV, Gay Marriage, And Being Scarred By 80-Year-Old Penises". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on July 22, 2016.
  9. Nunn, Jerry (April 25, 2012). "Shannen Doherty: On her reality show and gay BFFs". Windy City Times. Archived from the original on August 2, 2016.
  10. Corneau, Allison (July 21, 2011). "Shannen Doherty's New WeTV Reality Series: All the Details!". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on December 18, 2016.
  11. Furlong, Maggie (May 5, 2012). "Shannen Doherty Talks Old Enemies, New Friends And Getting Married (Again) On 'Shannen Says'". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on July 22, 2016.
  12. Allick, Chantaie (April 5, 2012). "Shannen Doherty talks about Shannen Says". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014.
  13. Walsh, Barry (October 4, 2011). "Shannen Doherty series headed to Asia". Realscreen. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016.
  14. O'Connell, Michael (January 14, 2012). "TCA: Shannen Doherty Dismisses Comparisons to Kim Kardashian". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  15. Sitt, Pamela (August 8, 2011). "Tori Spelling Offers to Plan Shannen Doherty's Wedding". MTV News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2016.
  16. Lacher, Irene (April 15, 2012). "The Sunday Conversation: Shannen Doherty". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015.
  17. Berkshire, Geoff (April 10, 2012). "Review: 'Shannen Says' reveals the determined side of Shannen Doherty". HitFix. Archived from the original on February 19, 2013.
  18. Serpe, Gina (July 21, 2011). "Bridezilla Alert! Shannen Doherty's Wedding Gets Real". E! News. Archived from the original on July 25, 2016.
  19. "Shannen Doherty marries in Malibu". The Times of India. October 17, 2011. Archived from the original on August 2, 2016.
  20. ""Shannen Says" – All-New Series Premieres Tuesday, April 3 at 9PM ET/PT on WE tv". The Futon Critic. January 14, 2012. Archived from the original on December 18, 2016.
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  22. "Shannen Says". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2016.
  23. "Cast". TV Guide. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  24. "Season 1 Episode Guide". TV Guide. Archived from the original on October 19, 2015.
  25. Levin, Gary (April 18, 2012). "Not many visit 'NYC', 'Apt. 23'". USA Today. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
  26. "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Game of Thrones' Rises, Ties NBA Playoffs + 'Real Housewives,' 'The Client List,' 'Army Wives,' 'Mad Men' & More". TV by the Numbers. May 1, 2012. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016.
  27. "Sunday Cable Ratings: NBA Playoffs + 'Game of Thrones', 'The Client List', 'Army Wives,' 'Khloe & Lamar', 'Mad Men' + More". TV by the Numbers. May 8, 2012. Archived from the original on March 10, 2016.
  28. Alocada, Vincent (October 21, 2017). "Shannen Doherty News: Former 'Charmed' Star Recalls Battle with Breast Cancer through A Photo". The Christian Post. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  29. "Showatch". The Futon Critic. Archived from the original on December 18, 2016.
  30. "AMC/Sundance Channel Global Acquires Hell On Wheels, Breaking Bad, The Slap & Shannen Says". AMC Networks. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011.
  31. Keslassy, Elsa (October 4, 2011). "AMC/Sundance Global buy 4 series". Variety. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016.
  32. "WE tv Analysis". Broadcasting & Cable. May 18, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  33. "WE tv Analysis". Broadcasting & Cable. June 14, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
  34. "Shannen Says (2012)". TVShowsOnDVD.com. July 27, 2016. Archived from the original on September 28, 2016.
  35. "TV Review: Shannen Says". Life & Style. April 9, 2012. Archived from the original on July 22, 2016.
  36. McDonough, Kevin (April 10, 2012). "Can a bad girl ever grow up?". SouthCoastToday.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2016.
  37. Yahr, Emily; Moore, Caitlin; Chow, Emily (May 29, 2015). "How we went from 'Survivor' to more than 300 reality shows: A complete guide". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018.
  38. "'Shannen Says' Premiere: Shannen Doherty Is Always Right, 'And You're Stupid!'". The Huffington Post. April 11, 2012. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014.
  39. Perigard, Mark (May 25, 2014). "Animal Planet's 'Killer Lampreys' is no 'Sharknado'". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014.
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