Forget dancing -- stars to try bull riding in upcoming special

By TERRY MORROW
Scripps Howard News Service
Thursday, August 02, 2007

Professional bull rider Ty Murray will put nine stars in the saddle and test their mettle for his "Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge" (9 p.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 10, CMT).

In this six-part series, the stars submit themselves to rigorous training in an attempt to master the art of bull riding. Among the participants are rapper Vanilla Ice, actor Leif Garrett, Stephen Baldwin, Francesco Quinn and "Survivor" contestant Jonny Fairplay.

They have less than two weeks before making their public debut at a Professional Bull Riders (PBR) event. Most professional bull riders take years to get good enough to be seen in public.

This sport requires the athlete to remain on the back of a bucking bull for eight seconds. Rarely does it happen.

Murray, who has been riding for more than 20 years, will act as the stars' mentor and harshest critic.

A producer contacted Murray a year and a half ago about doing the series.

As president of the PBR, Murray says he is always looking "for ways to bring people into the sport.

"I want people to be able to relate to our sports beyond the (notion of) 'wow, that's crazy,'" Murray says.

Professional bull riding has exploded in the United States in the past five years -- it is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country.

Attendance at events is at an all-time high. NBC often broadcast major bull riding events on Sunday afternoons.

Murray sees the series as a natural fit.

"This isn't 'oh, those are crazy cowboys hanging on for dear life.' To me, there is no greater insult than that," he says. "There is so much training and technique involved, and most people don't see that."

Physically, it's about "fundamentals and dynamics," he says, "and beyond that, there's a lot going on mentally. You have to get all that under control. We're talking about the most dangerous sport in the world. It is very violent and very dangerous."

Other highlights for the week of Aug. 5-11 (all times Eastern and subject to change. Check local listings):

SUNDAY

"The Company" (8 p.m. TNT). Chris O'Donnell stars in this three-part miniseries that traces the Cold War through the eyes of spies, from the 1950s to the 1990s.

MONDAY

"Heartland" (8 p.m. TNT). A doctor who doesn't want to be revived after lapsing into a coma doesn't get his final wish after all.

FRIDAY

"Flash Gordon" (9 p.m. Sci-Fi Channel). Take away his fancy spandex costume and laser gun and what do you have? You get a contemporary twist on a favorite hero.

SATURDAY

"Vanessa Williams: True Hollywood Story" (6 p.m. E!). The girl has a past -- from disgraced beauty queen to recording pop star to "Ugly Betty."

"Claire" (9 p.m. Hallmark Channel). Valerie Bertinelli is a psychic who doesn't want to see what's going on around her.