Reality TV Shows

Reality Television – You cannot hate it anymore. The live, on-the-face unedited version of television appeals to many and especially so because it makes the audience a part of the program literally.

When I was a radio jockey way back in 1992 during my high school summer / winter breaks, I would be awestruck at the way our senior Radio - Jockey’s started handling live calls and request for songs. We are racing ever since with newer, more fascinating innovations and swankier studios. Television reality shows have become a rage even if it causes sensational, emotional and sometimes social predicament. Reality TV shows have arrived in India with a big pomp and it is here to stay for a long time now.

Reality television in India go back a long way when Channel V came into our homes with their hunt for forming the first all-girls musical band ‘Viva’. I personally am game for reality shows if it does not involve children. There are many popular segments of reality shows in India today some of which may be categorized under music challenges, dance challenges, fear factor, comedy role-play and childrens’ talent shows.

Whether it is a singing competition or an activity show like Big Boss, there is a tremendous pressure on the participants. However, from viewer's point, it is all right as long as it entertains without hurting anybody's sentiments. Where kids are concerned we have to keep one thing in mind that some shows that take child artistes as participants should maintain some restraint while commenting on these tender talents. There have been cases where a dance participant had been deeply traumatized by a judge’s comments that she had to be rushed to the hospital. In fact, The Working Group of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) will finalize its guidelines relating to participation of children in television serials and reality shows soon.

Every new technology or a new sphere of entertainment has its pros and cons just like reality television but it is really up to the producer and the director of the show to make believe the reality aspect of the program. We are still in the nascent stages of making good reality shows. It won’t be long before the finesse is achieved and reality shows become a real rage. Till then, let’s sit back and watch television, real or not.