Reality Television Shows: Any added value to participants, viewers?

Ofunneka Television reality shows have gripped the imagination of the nation. They are enigmatic and have a magnetic effect on the audience to the extent that they become the topics of conversation at all hours. There have been criticisms from many quarters about the purpose of these shows. Do they cater for the voyeuristic needs of television audiences or is there anything ‘real’ in these shows? Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare writes.

Bayo Okoh, Katung Aduwak, Ofunneka, Paul and Peter Okoye were unknown Nigerians. They were however catapulted into fame when they participated in different reality television shows. Okoh and Ofunneka took part in the popular Big Brother Africa, though at different times, Katung participated in Big Brother Nigeria while the Okoyes were made famous by the Benson and Hedges gold and tone music talent hunt. These ordinary youths were all turned into celebrities within a very short time.

Reality television show has the potential to turn its participants into national celebrities even if it is for a short period. Some of these participants have been able to parlay this fame into media and showbiz careers while many have been turned into celebrities who did virtually nothing to get their new found fame.

There are no dull moments on Nigerian television now. As one reality show ends, another picks up and, sometimes, two or even three run at the same period. These shows which were lacklustre in the beginning have been given a kick by the interest shown by Nigerians. The shows enjoy great patronage, high ratings with a strong fan base, whatever the theme is – idling away in the house like in Big Brother, learning to sing as in star quest, serious intellectual experiment as in the intern and physical prowess or survival instincts as in the gulder ultimate search.

Daily, more reality shows go on air and audience’s response is spectacular- votes are many, SMS lines are besieged and some people are reaping the rewards: telecom companies gain from SMS voting, television station have a field day with advertisements, ratings and viewership. The only group whose gain cannot be quantified are the organisers. No one seems to have an idea of what impact the shows have on such companies be it on a short or long term basis except that the brands become more popular.

A reality television show is known to present purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations and features ordinary people instead of known stars. Though it has existed for long, the genre became more common in year 2000 and instead of the common quiz format; most now follow the pattern of voyeurism and surveillance like the Big Brother series.

Some critics have said that reality television shows are a misnomer. They claim it is a modified and influenced form of reality with participants put in exotic locations or abnormal situations. According to them, participants are sometimes coached by off-screen handlers on how to act while the events are usually manipulated through editing and other post production techniques. Many of the participants themselves put on a front and exhibit traits that are not natural to them in order to sell themselves to the viewers.

Most participants of reality shows are ready to sacrifice their privacy and dignity in a televised competition for the fame and fortune attached to them. Before, in many reality shows, the camera and viewer are passive observers following people going about their personal activities. Now, however, viewers participate especially in the process of elimination, voting is done either by the audience, participants themselves, the panel of judges or a combination of the three.

The shows are expensive, accompanied by huge adverts and sponsorship. A school of thought has claimed that in competition-based programmes such as Big Brother and Survivor, the producers design the format of the show and control the day-to-day activities and the environment, creating a completely fabricated world in which the competition plays out. Producers are also alleged of specifically selecting the participants and using carefully designed scenarios, challenges, events, and settings to encourage particular behaviours and conflicts.

Producers can also be highly deliberate in their editing strategies, portraying certain participants as heroes or villains, and may guide the drama through altered chronology and selective presentation of events. Some participants of reality shows have also stated afterwards that they altered their behaviour to appear more crazy or emotional in order to get more camera time and good votes. Some shows have faced speculation that the participants themselves are involved in make-believe, acting out storylines that have been planned in advance by producers.

Many people believe that the shows erode the morality of many young people by creating a conducive atmosphere for them to humiliate themselves before millions of viewers. Some have claimed that the success of reality television is due to its ability to satisfy the desire of viewers to see others humiliated. Entertainment Weekly once wrote, “Do we watch reality television for precious insight into the human condition? Please. We watch for those awkward scenes that make us feel better about our own little unfilmed lives.” Also, media analyst, Tom Alderman said, “There is a sub-set of Reality TV that can only be described as shame TV because it uses humiliation as its core appeal.” An example of this according to Millicent Egbu, is the recent Big Brother Africa debacle. “Those shows are a disgrace to us as Africans. Can you believe girls showing their private parts to the whole world? What would you call the Ofunneka and Richard case in BBA. It is outright shame and such should be avoided,” she said.

Reality shows seem to be the new age entertainment recipe. They might be selling controversies or cashing upon people’s emotions but at the end of the day they are popular shows with an ever-growing rating. Critics say these programmes are degrading, exploitative and basically, bad television but people watch them and many would do anything, even sleeping around, for an opportunity to participate. Why are there so many of them and what is the attraction?

For the viewers, it is an opportunity to watch other people. They are interesting. Viewers can imagine what they would do in their situation, get to know the characters and see them grow and develop week after week. And of course, television is the perfect place to watch people. Like the theatre or cinema, one can look at other people and they cannot look back. But with television, people can watch in the privacy of their homes, especially those which they cannot admit to anyone that they watch because of the content.

The television stations like reality show because they are cheap to produce and attract younger viewers, which advertisers like. Why do people participate in them? Fame and money. In the past, appearing on television was not for ordinary people. One had to be good at something like sport, reading the news or acting. Now, to be famous, one only needs to get himself into a talent hunt or reality show and the course to fame is set. Andrew Okon told Midweek Tribune that it is the love for riches that attract youths to participate in reality shows.” They want to get rich and famous without working, which is why they rush into reality shows in droves. Most would do anything for the cheap popularity they get.”

These overnight stars sometimes stay as that for a short time. Many companies and organizers do not sustain the friendship and hopes are dashed. Though, most organizers claim that their focus is to discover and nurture the hidden talent in participants and transform the deserving candidates into professionals, many do not add any positive trait to the lives of participants.

Perhaps people are becoming more critical of reality shows but everyone seems to agree that they are here to stay. They have become an acceptable television genre in our society.