Reality TV shows are no longer a sure-fire hit. The names of the expensive flops may not trip off the tongue, but there have been plenty. Many a times, a complete list of reality shows that have failed to grab enough viewers, despite the millions of pounds lavished on them, continues to grow. Little coverage is directed at the flops, but even reality-show producers accept that simply watching people in contrived situations has lost its novelty edge.
Innumerable testimonials and complaints have been lodged against the issue that popular reality TV shows being aired these days are either scripted or completely biased. Trampling over the hypes of media, reality TV shows dont exactly play fair.
It's not that the shows have line-for-line scripts; there are many ways of using footage to shape a story. But at this point it should be clear that the reality TV "fad" is in fact an intentionally-engineered ploy by show hosts and Channel owners together that could prove beneficial to increase the TRP of their program.
Success of reality shows in India can be attributed to a great extent to this weakness of ours. Apart from this, the relief that these shows provide from the saas-bahu soaps, which currently dominate television, is another reason for their immense popularity.
The craze for reality television hit India when channel V came up with Viva, a band of five young singers. When channel V announced the auditions, young dreamers gathered in huge numbers to give their luck a try. They cried when they failed, celebrated when they triumphed. The audience, on its part, lapped up this overdose of emotions thrown at them by the channel. The show was a big success and an inspiration for both the shrewd business minds and also for the young dreamers waiting for their share of fame.
Reality shows are extremely popular these days. However, there is no way to guarantee success. Just because these shows are popular with people it doesnt mean that anything and everything that will be served to the audience in the name of reality shows will be relished.
Reality shows have come under a lot of criticism. Questions have been raised over the authenticity of the voting system on the basis of which the contestants are voted out. Prominent names like Lata Mangeshkar have raised fingers over the very method of selection that is used on such shows.
Throwing contestants out on the basis of the votes cast by people sitting at home with hardly any knowledge about the technicalities involved in a contest like singing or dancing has been questioned.
Cons of Reality Shows:
1. Queues - Television auditions are popular and you can expect to wait several hours or even all day before getting through the doors, let alone being seen!
2. Contestants - May be eliminated on looks whilst waiting in line - all that time waiting and no opportunity to audition!
3. Audition - Contestants are usually screened by the shows producer, a representative from the management company or other personal and may NOT be called back for an audition with the celebrity judges (who you may not see at all until the night of the show).
4. Cameras - The advent of 'Reality TV' means that the contestant must be prepared to be filmed during the whole process.
5. Performance - Be prepared for criticism! Celebrity judges held no punches when it came to their opinion of the artists performance.
6. Contracts - Contestants must sign a contract with the show which may tie them into a label or management company that has little or no interest in promoting them and may include terms which are detrimental to the performer i.e., minimum royalties, low or nonexistent performance fees and deductions from earnings even when no longer with the company.
No comments:
Post a Comment