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Renita Jablonski: Finally, a Dutch TV production company has come up with a new reality show that’s tailor-made for our economic times. It’s called, “Someone’s Gotta Go.” From our European desk, here’s Stephen Beard.

Stephen Beard: The show was dreamed up by Endemol, the company that created the hit T.V. series Big Brother. Someone’s Gotta Go is nothing if not topical. The theme: unemployment. Staff in a firm which has been hit hard by the recession get to choose which of their colleagues should be fired. Or who should get a pay cut.

A bit tasteless perhaps, but Ben Fenton media correspondent of the Financial Times says it’s part of a continuing worldwide boom in new reality TV shows:

Ben Fenton: I came across one just the other day that I thought I’d be very interested in seeing myself. It’s called Angry Carpenter. It’s a Swedish reality show which is described as a home and relationship makeover show. So it’s a combination of D.I.Y. and divorce.

He says these show may have a cathartic effect at a time of economic stress. Someone’s Gotta Go is due to be aired in the U.S. by Fox TV.

In London, this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.