As someone who has a degree in TV/Video I often like to analys why high ranking shows do bad at a certain point. With TUF I realized why this show was different. The coaches !!!! The coaches are the initial stars of the show. They are the draws. The contestants are more or less supporting actors, that push the coaches success either against each other. With no countdown show to TUF we have no knowledge or background on the contestants before the opening show. So the only reason to watch this reality show is to see two UFC superstars build a team against each other that will lead to an eventual showdown between the main stars themselves.
The first season had the extra bonus of having the first UFC weekly fights on free cable TV. Also, then current champ, and undeniable superstar Randy Coutoure, and #1 KO contender Chuck Liddell, on a road destined to meet each other. They also answered the #1 question that the general public had about MMA fighters. What kind of crazy guys do this sport. The public realized that personalities from all walks of life find their way to this sport for various reasons, and unlike other proffesional athletes, the athletes aren't preocupied with selfishness and inflated egos. They are for the most part from the same background and class population as the majority of americans, which is refreshing, and creates a bigger draw with a larger fanbase. For once their are athletes that we can relate and identify with, and not worship like demigods.
The second one followed the success of the first with Rich Franklyn as a new middleweight champion, and Hughes as a unstopple welterweight champ. Even though they weren't going to fight each other, they were new impressive champions, the first unstoppable champions to new UFC fans, and this show offered the fans to learn more about them as they try to bring up their own teams. Both had interesting title defenses on the way.
The third had the beginning of the end of the Shamrock/Ortiz feud. While not champions, both were on a collision course to each other, both were colorful characters, both were UFC superstars, and both had a history. It was also a passing of the torch from Shamrock's former glory to Ortiz's.
The fourth season was the first season for the hardcore fanbase, to bring former top competetion back. As entertaining as the third season was, the biggest gripe with the fans is that the fights weren't neccesarily UFC caliber. So many top level UFC fights have been seen by all the new fans. A performance standard has been set. That was rectified by bringing UFC veterans that many fans wanted to see back, and put on top shelf technical fights. This season had the draw of giving fighters that had paid their dues a shot at fame and success that the new TUF born fighters were getting.
The fifth season has two coaches only exciting to hardcore fans. Fans that knew the UFC before it was popular. Jens Pulver and BJ Penn would be best suited on another comeback season. The last time casual fans saw them were when they were losing. Jens lost to a unknown in Joe Lauzon, and BJ lost twice to St. Pierre and Matt Hughes, so already this is a show about two men coming off of losses that not too many people know about. Most of Jens Pulver's matches in the UFC were during the dark ages, when their was no cable access. The rest were in Pride. BJ's fights were when the UFC first got back on cable, and then he took a hiatus to K1, and his brother's promotion. So the new fans that have been on board since Bonnar vs. Griffen 1, in the first TUF season finale, aren't too excited because to them, Jens Pulver and BJ Penn are not superstars. They might as well be new fighters that are coming off of losses.
Does this mean that they shouldv'e not been coaches. Not at all !!! I think it's a good way to wrap up the Pulver Penn storyline, and build them back up to former glory, but the ratings expectations of the show should've been lowered. The promised average rating shouldv'e been cut by half or a 1/4 at least. This would avoid the conflict of advertisers and save a lot of refund checks. The spike producers shouldv'e gotten on ball and realized that the UFC name isn't really draw, it's the talent that the UFC has had the reputation of having as of lately. Spike should've realized this and adjusted the promised ratings accordingly. UFC is NOT A TV SHOW !!! It's not in a sense where the basic plot of the program is the draw like most action shows, it's a sports program where the quality, and image of the athletes/performers will be the main draw over the proposed product.
In short, 50 people will want to see a fight, 100 people will want to see a GOOD fight, 200 people will want to see someone they know fight. 400 people will want to see was someone they know in a GOOD fight. 800 people will want to see someone they know that's good in a good fight. and everyone will want to see two guys that everyone knows that are good, fight each other.