Hotline Goes Hollywood

Hotline formally announced today, after word appeared in the Washington Post, that its staff will be serving as technical consultants to a new reality show attempting to find the next Karl Rove or James Carville.

The eight-part show, “Red/Blue,” will feature two teams of 6 or 7 aspiring political consultants as they complete a series of tasks involving campaign management, oppo research, and other election-related projects.

The winner will be given $1 million to spend as part of a 527 effort during Fall 2006 on a cause of their choice–the cause will have to be picked in advance, but it’ll be kept secret from the judges. “This concept could not have come together without McCain-Feingold; it’s perfectly legal but, more importantly, will showcase why politics is a good thing,” Hotline said today.

As for the Hotline’s involvement? “We’re going to make sure it’s grounded in political reality and that it doesn’t make a fool of itself in the political community and Washington,” Hotline’s Chuck Todd told the Post today.

If they really wanted to make it realistic, maybe there could be a simultaneous show trying to find the next Robert Novak, where the aspiring news hounds cover the consultants and get them to leak damaging information about their opponents.

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