Reality Shows – Real
Or Dramas And What For?
Background of Reality Shows
In India, since about 15 to 20 years, Reality Shows has
become very popular and is a buzz now-a-day. Reality shows are the television
programmes of common peoples or celebrities or combination of both. Every
television channel has the reality shows; it can be Singing, Dancing –
individual or couples, Quiz, Game, Celebrity, Talent etc, etc. All reality
shows tops in TRP among all the programmes; many thanks to its super creative
producers and directors. Reality shows when started, were genuine, real. But to
contrast, now a days most of the shows are scripted, unreal. Reality shows is
not a very new concept. Reality shows started actually as Radio Show “Candid
Microphone” in 1947 and first television reality show started in 1948 as
“Candid Camera”. This was just a beginning, and those days shows were very close
to reality. In the same year, even the concept of audience voting was also
introduced.
Trend of New Generation or today’s Reality Shows started
from 1970 and by end 90 / beginning of 2000 were a huge hit and started ruling
the TRP, most important success parameter of television industry. Current Reality
Shows are produced by specialists and master of creating or making sudden /
shocking / surprising situations or series of incidents. “Big Brother” Reality
Show first started in Netherlands in 1999 and immediately gained huge popularity
all over the world. This was a sensation in about 70 countries. Indian licensed
format version of this Show is “Big Boss”.
Indian Regional language version of this show are also ruling the TRP’s.
Why Reality Shows So Popular?
Watching the same family serial or daily soap week after
week, month after month or for that matter year after year is very, very boring
/ annoying. Even though audience is
aware about scripted nature of the Reality Shows, it’s most preferred over the
previous one simply because of well written drama, surprising mode of events,
laughter’s, flavour of celebrities / talent and stunts. Joy of anticipation /
prediction and subject for chatting with the friends makes audience happier.
Though we all know that these Reality Shows are fabricated /
written by smart directors, we Indian still like to believe that theses are
real ones. This is because of these are very close to normal daily life and we
expect surprising events occurring (scripted) in the Reality Shows, to happen
in our daily life or rather we dream about this.
Before starting of
any season of a Reality Show or during the season, must note the kind of
advertisement, marketing by the TV channel, Show Producer. Big, big hoardings are
displayed all over the cities. Making participants and / or celebrities to
visit various shopping malls, public places to promote the Reality Show.
Whenever we watch Reality Shows, we like certain participants
and don’t like certain participants. Reason could be anything such as from same
region or religion, personality, content expertise, honesty, attitude and so on.
Knowingly; unknowingly we develop a special bond with liked one and starts
hating the others. We start praying for the liked ones and in India, some times
we arrange special pooja for them. We enjoy immense in voting for them and
takes a great pride in asking / requesting others to vote for our liked ones.
We all are social and always prefer to be aware about the
present affairs, news, trends in our world. Therefore, we must know what’s happening
in the Reality Shows so that we can participate in the discussions / chat with
our friends, peers or any social gathering.
Reality Talent Shows
These Shows are claimed to be live. In such shows, participants
present their talent such as singing, dancing etc. in front of judges. Participants
are eliminated from the show every week based on judges scoring and / or
viewers voting till a winner is emerged. These shows are very popular as looks
very authentic and participants enjoys a great emotional attachment with
viewers.
Celebrity Reality Shows
These Shows are where daily routine of celebrities is shown
in may or may not be at a particular location. Some times celebrities are shown
performing certain tasks. These shows are well written and directed by a hugely
talented creative director.
Dark Side of Reality Shows
Foremost is that these shows are not Real but these are
carefully written, crafted, performed, produced with a sole aim of to make
masses emotional for profits. Many a times, these shows are not live even
though it is claimed. In certain shows winner is pre decided in exchange of
certain conditions to be followed by winner; it’s some kind of agreement.
Almost all the reality Shows are produced with one and only one
motive i.e., PROFIT. Producers of these shows are bent upon making a profit whatever
case may be. Do agree that they are also in business
and producing the shows is their business but expect to draw line of constraint
and do exercise self-control.
Various stories mostly unreal floated across all the medias.
Fake love stories between participants or between host and judge or marriage rumors are hammered on the peoples. Participant family background (may be 10 years
before) or parents’ profession is being telecasted very frequently in the
Reality Shows to blackmail audience emotionally. Telecasting family background
or parent profession while introducing the participant for first time or may be
once or twice more is acceptable but not every now and then. Because of this,
sometimes spectator forgets the subject or aim of the Reality Show.
Have the strong feeling that these shows are hugely wasting the
time (mainly) and money of spectators / viewers. To some extent this is
applicable to the participants also.
In a pre-decided approach, certain participants have
continuous embarrassment. This may be with or without their consent. This
continuous embarrassment of certain peoples makes masses happy. This is more
true when such a embarrassments if being faced by the participants we don’t
like. Please note that such incidents or situations are very carefully and skilfully
written.
How To Restrict Reality Shows
Have a strong and very strict censor panel for examining and
censoring the content of such shows. Also,
to ensure these shows are true to their main content, theme and mission of
producing the show. Some peoples may say that this is against the freedom of
expression. But feel some times; in some areas we need strict discipline just
like services. Even one can argue or debate on banning such shows; but feel it’s
very harsh.
We can expect to be more socially responsible to exercise
the self-discipline in restricting / avoiding viewing such shows. Know its very
difficult to avoid such temptation even though we know these are fake, not
real.
Another measure though looks practically not possible is
allocating late night time slot and / or removing the word “Reality” from these
Shows’ titles. These shows will be just like other shows and will loose its
main attraction once this word is removed. But in view of the money involved,
to implement this seems to be very difficult. Even recording of the show by
peoples for viewing later should be restricted / made not possible.
Conclusion
Almost all the reality Shows are produced with only one and
one motive i.e. PROFIT. Producers and Directors of such shows are not bothered
at all about growth / learning of participants, damage / spoiling of one’s
reputation and polluting the mind set of masses. Do agree that these Shows Producers
are also in business and producing the shows is their business but expect to
draw a line of constraint and do exercise self-control. All such shows after achieving required
popularity must think and contribute toward society, participants improvement in
content / personality and publishing / promoting the Indian Values and Culture.
