30 Seconds to Fame

2002–2003· 30 min★ 5.5·

30 Seconds To Fame is an American television series that was shown on the Fox Network from July 17, 2002 to June 26, 2003, featuring a talent show where acts could only last up to 30 seconds each, regardless of any resolution to the act. The series was hosted by Craig Jackson. Many different talents were exhibited, such as contortionism, juggling, magic tricks, stand-up comedy, and beatboxing, in addition to singing and dancing acts. Much of the charm of the show was derived from the fact that each act lasted only 30 seconds, leading to a variety of different acts being displayed. The live audience acted as the judges. During the performances, if the audience found an act undesirable to watch, they booed and used electronic devices to put in a vote for elimination, complete with an on-screen "Eliminator" scale graphic. If enough people did so, the act was to be cut short, regardless of how much time was left on the clock. At the end of the show, every member of the audience voted for his or her favorite act, and the top three acts got a chance to do another 30-second performance. After this, a final round of voting occurred, and the winner earned a cash prize of US$25,000.