Photo Gallery Primetime Shame
Contestants perform at a rehearsal of the fifth season of talent show "Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar" (DSDS) in mid-April.
Another 'DSDS' rehearsal. According to a recent German study, some contestants on competitive reality shows -- or "Castingshows," as they are called here -- have such traumatic experiences that years afterward they are still seriously depressed.
Dieter Bohlen, a judge on both 'DSDS' and 'Das Supertalent,' makes an appearance at a taping of the latter. Bohlen is now at least as well known for his many TV talent show stints as he is for his role as half of the eighties pop-duo Modern Talking.
The jury of "Das Supertalent": Thomas Gottschalk, Michelle Hunziker and Dieter Bohlen. Bohlen has been criticized for insulting contestants with annecdotes such as, "You sing like a garden gnome on ecstasy," and, "Your voice sounds like Kermit getting his ass kicked."
A candidate performs on the finale of "The Voice of Germany" last February.
"I would never have applied if I'd known what they do to people -- just make them look stupid so that people have something to laugh at," one of the study participants said. "The Voice of Germany" (pictured) debuted in 2011.
Another hugely popular TV talent show, "Germany's next Topmodel," is hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum. Earlier this month, several of the contestants came down with head lice.
The German version of "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" has also seen major success in the German market. Psychological findings on the contestants have yet to be published.
