A new reality show based on the life of Las Vegas Elvis Impersonator, Jesse Garon, entitled, VEGAS ELVIS, became the second reality program in less than two months to suffer a cast member suicide. One of the show´s supporting cast members and producer, Melanie Bell, 36, became the third person and first woman to jump to her death from the outdoor observation tower of the Stratosphere in Las Vegas on Friday, March 25, 2005.
This news comes on the heels of another reality show tragedy that was recently suffered by NBC and its highly rated show, THE CONTENDOR. Unlike Najai Turpin of THE CONTENDOR, Bell´s family and friends knew she suffered from severe depression which stemmed from her battle with Anorexia. She was recently released from an undisclosed eating disorder clinic in Alabama where she had successfully gained almost forty pounds in less than six months. Bell worked as a producer on VEGAS ELVIS, a new first-of-its-kind experimental reality show that features the film crew as part of the featured cast, which is lead by Jesse Garon, known as "The Official Elvis of Las Vegas".
"Melanie was a beautiful person and now to me the Stratosphere will always be a Heart Break Hotel," said Garon.
Bell was often seen interviewing cast members and working out the day to day logistics of the show which had just finished filming the first four episodes the day before she took her own life.
"Melanie was a good friend and co-worker for many years and will be dearly missed," said Christopher Dreyer, creator of VEGAS ELVIS. "Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to her family who should know that she was deeply loved by her fellow cast and crew in Las Vegas. It will take some time to heal from this tremendous heartache but I know Melanie would agree the show must go on."
VEGAS ELVIS, co-produced by Elvis Entertainment International and Los Angeles-based production company, The Dream Factory, intends to dedicate the reality show to Bell while also paying tribute to her in a later episode that correlates to the timeline of her tragic death.
