‘Grease’ runners-up weren't born to hand jive

Wondering about how a certain reality show pulled something off? Have a question about a certain contestant?

Whether it's "Survivor," "American Idol," "The Apprentice," "Real World" or another show, send in your questions. Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, MSNBC.com's Television Editor, and Andy Dehnart, creator of Reality Blurred,will try to answer them.

Before you send in your question, check our archives — you may be able to get your answer right away.

Q: Why didn’t the “You're the One that I Want” show offer supporting roles in the Broadway show “Grease” to the runners-up? I thought Austin was great. I hated to see him go home with nothing.    —Jo, Las Vegas

A: We don't know why, but the reality series’ runners-up will not appear in the new Broadway production of “Grease,” which opens officially on August 19. Instead, they’re pursing different projects, and letting the winners, Max Crumm and Laura Osnes, take center stage on Broadway.

Austin Miller, who only barely lost the competition to Max, isn’t really upset that he lost. In fact, he’s talking to people in Hollywood about television roles, and he tells the Houston Chronicle that “I think I could go the rest of my life without hearing ‘Born to Hand Jive’ and be really happy about it. ... I don’t know if doing Broadway or returning to the stage are on the horizon for me at this point.”

As to Ashley Spencer, she told an Ohio NBC affiliate that she’s juggling different offers, but like Austin, said she’s considering TV. “Well my heart is set for Broadway. So hopefully someday soon I’ll be on that Broadway stage ... but I’d also like to get my hands wet in TV and film,” she said.

Others didn’t take the news of Austin and Ashley’s loss as well as they did. Some people called and demanded refunds for the tickets they’d already purchased, New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel reported. ABC told him that there were not a “substantial number of calls” for refunds, although that suggests there were some.    —A.D.

Q: When is "The Biggest Loser" returning to television? It is very motivating.    —Lisa

A: "The Biggest Loser," NBC's weight-loss reality show, has been renewed for a fourth season. Casting has ended, but there's no word yet on when the show will air -- probably late summer or early fall.

NBC is promising fresh changes for the new season, and one of them was announced in February: Host Caroline Rhea, often criticized by viewers for carrying a few extra pounds herself, will not be returning.

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The show's new host is Alison Sweeney, who plays Sami on NBC's daytime soap "Days of Our Lives." Sweeney told Soap Opera Digest "I don't mean to be cheesy, but I really believe in the message of the show, which is helping people and educating them on how to live a healthier life." She also told the magazine that her "Loser" shoots will not affect her role on "Days" and she will continue to appear on the soap.    —G.F.C.

Q: I saw "The Great American Dream Vote" for the first time last night, and I want to compete. I have something so compelling and unique that I can’t imagine being passed up. Is is too late to apply? The form available online suggests a January 1-March 31, 2007 window of opportunity.    —Stuart, Texas

A: Unfortunately, there is no more window of opportunity. That’s because the Donny Osmond-hosted series was pulled off the air after just two episodes, and ABC has said nothing about it ever coming back.

The show, which let the studio audience award one contestant with their dream, opened by awarding one balding man a hair transplant, and it went downhill from there. The contestants’

forced excitement about their rather lackluster dreams probably didn’t help endear viewers to the show.

The show came in fifth place, and didn’t even do well when it had ABC’s popular “Dancing with the Stars” as a lead-in. It’d be a big surprise to ever see it on the air again.    —A.D.

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper is MSNBC.com's Television Editor. Andy Dehnart is a writer and teacher who publishes reality blurred, a daily summary of reality TV news.