Inside the Final Four: 'Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica' vs. 'Wipeout'

Our Guilty Pleasures Reality TV Showdown moves into the Final Four, so we’re analyzing the matchups in the finals (see full bracket here).

Today, we look at the strengths and weaknesses of Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica vs. Wipeout. (See yesterday’s analysis of Rock of Love vs. Say Yes to the Dress.)

STAR PLAYERS

Newlyweds: Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson

Wipeout: John Henson, big red balls.

Advantage: Newlyweds

CHEESINESS

Newlyweds: Have you heard the music of 98 Degrees? Enough said.

Wipeout: Big red balls.

Advantage: Newlyweds

OBSESSIVE FANS

Newlyweds: Hmmm….JSimp and Nick weren’t A-listers, so most viewers were tuning in for the curiosity factor.

Wipeout: ABC runs during the TV wasteland of summer, so it attracts large numbers (around 9 million viewers.)

Advantage: Wipeout

SO-HORRIBLE-YOU-CAN’T LOOK AWAY FACTOR

Newlyweds: Consider the Chicken of the Sea discussion — there is NO WAY you could pick up the remote during that.

Wipeout: The slips start to feel a little same-y, so, yes, it is possible to look away.

Advantage: Newlyweds

AMOUNT OF “REALITY” SHOWN ON SCREEN

Newlyweds: Did Nick and Jessica go camping because they wanted to or because it would make a good episode? The world may never know…

Wipeout: It’s a game show, so of course it’s scripted and a different sort of reality, but those thrills and spills on the obstacle courses certainly look real enough.

Advantage: Wipeout

Come back Jan. 4 when voting starts.

Photo Credit: MTV; ABC