New CBS Show ‘the Activist,’ Roundly Panned Online

  • CBS is launching a show called “The Activist” on October 22, according to Deadline.
  • Contestants will vie to impress Usher, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and world leaders with “likes” for cash.
  • Social media users, including Reps. Ocasio-Cortez and Bowman, ripped the premise of the show.

CBS will air a new competition show in October dubbed “The Activist,” with Usher, Julianne Hough, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas sitting as judges and activists vying for recognition and money for their causes, according to Deadline.

According to the report, the show pits activists who work on issues of health, education, and the environment against each other, and their success is gauged by, “online engagement, social metrics, and hosts’ input.”

The announcement of the show was roundly roasted on Twitter.

Twitter account Film Updates posted an announcement of the show, which was quote-tweeted, mostly in dismay, almost 18,000 times on Thursday.

 

Members of the “squad” in Congress, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman joined in, poking fun of the premise of the show.

“I’m gonna activate the block button if I see any of y’all watching this mess,” Bowman tweeted. “lmaooo I’m gonna submit one in your name,” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez responded. 

 

The three judges for the new show are Usher, Priyanka Chopra, and Julianne Hough.

Ultimately, the finalists will entertain world leaders at the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy, “in the hope of securing funding and awareness for their causes,” according to Deadline.

The finale will also feature “musical performances by some of the world’s most passionate artists,” whoever that may entail.

The show is produced by advocacy group Global Citizen and will premiere Friday, Oct. 22 from 8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT on CBS Television Network, as well as on Paramount+.

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