Reality TV Roles Growing in Demand

Not so long ago, reality TV was the last place any self-respecting celebrity would wish to end up.

Now, though, the famous - and almost-famous - are lining round the block to get on the most popular shows, like Dancing With the Stars or Celebrity Apprentice. And it isn't for the money.

Stars on a multi-character scripted drama can make upwards of $50,000 an episode - sometimes way upward.

On reality shows, celebrities get what is referred to as Most Favored Nation status - which means nobody gets more than anybody else.

The celebs on Dancing With the Stars, for example, get $200,000 for the season, whether they're booted or not, a bonus of $100,00 if they're number one, and smaller bonuses if they're number two or three, an agent said.

So Marie Osmond made what Emmitt Smith made, what Cloris Leachman made, what Belinda Carlisle made this season - and she was the first one booted off.

Of course, every reality show is different. A celeb with a show built around his or her life is likely to get producer credit and maybe something on the back end. Participants on an existing show generally get a flat fee without residuals.

"Between scripted shows and reality shows," said a leading TV agent, "in the success scenario there's just no comparison - and that's the way it should be. On scripted shows, they have to have talent."

But, in Hollywood, there's always more than money. Especially former celebs are sniffing out any opportunity to put themselves on the map - or sell themselves in a different guise to new fans.

"It's all about the endorsements and other appearances. There's a lot of heat coming off that show," the TV agent said.

Lauren Conrad has become a mega-celebrity by committing her young adult life to video on the MTV series Laguna Beach and its follow-up The Hills.

No longer simply an aspiring fashion designer, she has launched her own clothing line on the back of her cable network visibility.

Her fellow cast members Heidi Montag, Audrina Patridge and Whitney Port have similarly diversified into music, film acting, fashion design and their own shows, earning themselves millions of dollars in the process.

"Emmitt Smith always says that people outside of football didn't really know his face before he was on the show," said Deena Katz, senior talent producer on Dancing with the Stars. "Marie Osmond and her dolls... they're more of a multi-million-dollar property now. It put these guys back in the spotlight."

Jerry Springer used Dancing With the Stars to help him escape the pigeonhole of his notorious daytime circus and turned it into a hosting slot on America's Got Talent.

It also put him in a position to be fielding, for the first time in his career, movie offers.

Joey Fatone used the show as a springboard to become the host of The Singing Bee.

And the list goes on: Dancing with the Stars' Julianne Hough got a boost to her fledgling country music career; Mario Lopez was tabbed to host Extra.

The thing that has changed from the Battle of the Network Stars days is, in a word, volume.

"There's more of it out there," said one television agent who has set up reality shows for his clients. "With more out there come more opportunities for people who wouldn't otherwise have had an in on television. Now they are given their shot, their 15 minutes. And some people are parlaying those 15 minutes into 30 minutes or hours or full careers."

The television agent said he will spend hours in development meetings trying to identify career goals and branding options for his clients before coming up with a reality show pitch.

His greatest successes have come when he has been able to resuscitate a career - he did not want to name names, but he has done so several times by now.

"Some shows have been proven to be safe and have developed reputations as career rejuvenators," a television insider said. Dancing With the Stars is a show people can do. Celebrity Apprentice is safe to do. Of course, it's up to you to conduct yourself in a way consistent with your celebrity brand."

Indeed, there's no question a cleverly crafted reality show stint can do wonders - especially if the celeb is willing to open up the idiosyncracies of his or her personal or professional lives to public scrutiny.

"It's a time when the business is contracting and opportunities for a lot of celebrities are disappearing," the insider said.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.