The success of a television series depends on the number of viewers it can attract.
Realty shows in India, Australia and New Zealand have seen the emergence of talent, the genesis of which was in the US.
Series like the ‘American Idol’ and the ‘Kardashians’ originated there and became pioneers in the talent and reality series category.
It is easy to find reasons for the popularity of this genre.
Talent shows give people a platform to showcase their abilities in singing, dancing, cooking or even renovating houses.
The underlying factor is that such shows interest people.
‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ and ‘Neengalum Vellalam Oru Kodi,’(the Hindi and Tamil versions of ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire?’) hosted respectively by Amitabh Bachchan and Surya (the first season), appeal to audiences of all ages in India and overseas.
Entreating package
Talent shows are entreatingly packaged, with a potpourri of all ingredients constituting an Indian masala film.
They have drama, suspense, humour and relationships thrown in the mix. The judges of these shows are celebrities in their fields, adding to the glam and visibility quotient of the product.
In an era of instant gratification and short attention spans, such programmes give viewers a quick fix of entertainment, without having to ponder much, or keep track of a storyline.
The success ratio in real life for winners of these shows is a bit of a hit and miss affair. Some make it big in the industry, while others fade away.
Reality shows also have gained tremendous approval, especially amongst the youth. Viewers seem to be fascinated to see how ordinary people react when bunched together in extraordinary scenarios.
These might include being left on a deserted island ( ‘Survivor’) or put under house arrest with strangers (‘Big Boss’).
Comeback vehicles
Critics accuse them of being scripted, sensational and preying on human emotions for commercial viability.
It cannot be denied that these crisply edited shows have made celebrities of people like Paris Hilton and Rakhi Sawant. Many stars with fading glows now use these as comeback vehicles.
