'American Idol' Behind Bars: 'Apprentice' Producer Burnett Plans Prison Reality Shows

Aug. 10, 2010— -- The news that reality-show king Mark Burnett is developing a prison talent show for the Discovery Channel's crime-themed network has some wondering whether the creator of "Survivor" and "The Apprentice" has lost his touch with, well, reality.

Last week's announcement by the Investigation Discovery channel that it's developing Burnett's "Dancing Behind Bars," along with a singing competition called "Talent Behind Bars," was greeted by tweets of "WTF" by critics. Some of them have already dubbed the latter project "Prison Idol."

"It seems like one of those ideas, that once you hear it, is both unseemly and inevitable," James Hibberd, TV editor for The Hollywood Reporter, told ABCNews.com.

Investigation Discovery president Henry Schleiff welcomes the attention from critics.

"We're delighted with the attention given to the announcement of these two shows since these talent competitions will shed light on an often neglected aspect of our justice system -- what happens to people who want to rebuild their lives after serving their sentences," Schleiff said in a statement to ABCNews.com. "This is an opportunity to feature model prisoners incarcerated for minor offenses who want to turn over a new leaf when they leave the penal system. We look forward to working with Mark Burnett's One Three, Inc. to develop an entertaining and, we think, motivational series."

Nor does Schleiff mind the comparison being made to "American Idol."

"We're using them as a play off of the two most popular series on television," Schleiff said backstage at the Television Critics Association press tour last Friday.

The other series is, of course, "Dancing with the Stars," which has gained in popularity and even occasionally trumped top-rated "Idol" last season.

With Burnett set to produce the "Dancing" knockoff behind bars, some have questioned whether he has lost his programming touch.

Nikki Fine of the website Deadline Hollywood has already criticized Burnett's takeover of HGTV's "Design Star," in which, she wrote, he "turned the likeable Vern Yip into the awful Donald Trump."

Burnett's production company and Discovery Communications did not respond to requests for comment from ABCNews.com.

But Hibberd from The Hollywood Reporter said he does not believe Burnett has lost his golden touch; he's just aiming lower these days.

"His brand has been all about big family entertainment and, with this show and the Sarah Palin show, he's pursuing more polarizing content," Hibberd said.

Part of the reason, Hibberd said, is that it has been nearly impossible to have a breakout reality show on broadcast television in recent years. Like other producers, Burnett has turned to launching smaller shows on cable.