'MISS AMERICA' 'Desperate' plumber takes over as pageant host

The quiz has been taken out of the show, which is fine with some.
By HAL BOEDEKER
ORLANDO SENTINEL
PASADENA, Calif. -- Could America's most famous plumber be the next Bert Parks, hosting the Miss America Pageant for years to come?
The country will find out tonight when James Denton of "Desperate Housewives" assumes the hosting chores.
"The real talent of Bert Parks was making the women feel comfortable," Denton says. "It was about the women. It wasn't about him. They were completely assured that he had their best interest at heart."
Denton says his goal is to make the women look as good as he can. He knows that routine from playing plumber Mike and bantering with Teri Hatcher and her co-stars on ABC's comedy-drama.
"God forbid I do something stupid and get in their way," Denton says of the contestants. "That's a big challenge. It's exactly what I do on 'Desperate Housewives.' It's no different from what I do every Sunday night."
More changes
Denton represents just one change designed to revive the pageant. The contest has shifted from Atlantic City, N.J., to Las Vegas. The program has moved from ABC to cable's CMT, where it starts at 8 p.m. EST today. CMT promoted the telecast and the 52 contestants to the nation's television critics, who are on their midseason tour. The show has dropped some gimmicks, such as a quiz show, so as not to detract from the pageant.
"I didn't like the quiz," says actress Lee Meriwether, Miss America 1955. "I thought it put an extra pressure on the girls that wasn't needed. I know how I would have felt."
Miss Florida Mari Wilensky is relieved, as well. "It does put pressure on a contestant," says Wilensky, a University of Florida graduate from Jacksonville. "I'm not a big history buff, so I'm kind of glad they took it out."
But Wilensky says it's imperative to retain the bathing-suit competition. Contestants have their choice of one- or two-piece bathing suits.
"This woman who is going to be representing the United States of America," Wilensky says. "You have to make sure she's taking care of herself. I think that's the important part: that she's keeping healthy."
Art McMaster, chief executive officer of the Miss America Organization, echoes that view. "It's all about health and fitness in the swimwear," he says.
A few critics are incredulous at his comment, but Meriwether dismisses the skepticism. "So you have to wear a swimsuit. Who cares?" she asks. "If you have an opportunity to get a scholarship by doing that, why not?"
Helping the ratings
The swimsuits undoubtedly bolster the ratings. The hope is that Denton will as well by bringing "Desperate Housewives" fans to CMT. The cable channel pursued him for the job. ABC gave its blessing, and so did "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry.
"Marc Cherry happens to be a huge fan of the Miss America Pageant," Denton says. "He's coming. So that helped."
Denton is bound to draw a lot of scrutiny because the host is vital to the show's success.
Parks, who died in 1992, hosted the pageant for 25 years. He was most familiar for serenading the victor with "There She Is, Miss America." Denton says professionals will handle the singing. McMaster won't reveal the performer, but he's effusive about Denton.
"He's a super guy," McMaster says. "He's the kind of guy that, like Bert Parks, we hope we keep him 25 years."
Meriwether is equally impressed. She says she relaxed the minute she met Denton.
"He's going to be much like Bert," she says. "The warmth that Bert Parks had, the concern for the girls, wanting to be good for them."
Denton says a comedian or big personality might put the contestants on the spot or ridicule them.
"Part of the reason they hired me is they know I'm not that guy," he says. "From 'Desperate Housewives,' they know Mike is a laid-back, easy guy. The challenge is to keep them comfortable and play it like an NFL referee, for when it's over, you know I wasn't there. My goal is that people forget who hosted it."