EJ Moreno revisits VH1’s horror reality series Scream Queens…
The year is 2008: Saw VI needed some fresh meat, and horror was having a moment in the mainstream. Why not make a reality competition show looking for a new horror actress? We will look at the Flavor of Love of horror TV, the forgotten reality show Scream Queens.
As a spot for horror appreciation, Flickering Myth strives to look for hidden horror gems and unearth them for viewers. That’s why it was the perfect time to dive deep into the VH1 reality show Scream Queens. For viewers in the US, the streaming service Tubi currently has the first two seasons of the show airing, finally finding a home after years of living in late-00s television obscurity.
Announced in June 2008, Scream Queens was Lionsgate’s entry into the television world, based on producer Jim Ackerman’s idea. The series aimed to find a new horror actress to make her appearance in the sixth Saw film; it featured franchise actress Shawnee Smith and acting coach John Homa as judges.
Another critical judge feels like a significant influence behind the scenes: upcoming Superman director James Gunn.
As a filmmaker, Gunn came into this show and boosted its credibility. While he only had Slither (and some writing credits) under his belt, it was still major to have someone with real on-set film experience guiding the talent. Sadly, it feels like production and James Gunn, to an extent, put sleaze over skills.
If it’s being a “sexy mummy” for James Gunn or a zombie acting class from Sean Gunn, you can expect plenty of cringe moments. Was it just a product of its time, or has it aged well? We will look at that and more with a new video essay.
With ten contestants, a handful of painfully bad acting challenges, and a shot to star in Saw VI, the women battle it out until one is crowned queen. In our complete retrospective of the first season, join host EJ Moreno to look into what happened, who won, and their impact in Hollywood. Check out our full video breakdown below…
Scream Queens (2008) is now streaming on Tubi.
