—Zeeshan Suhail

Reality TV has its flaws and its positives, but it needs to balance the competing interest of prying into the lives of others (so we can see their ‘reality’), with the desire to be marketed to mass audiences

I have long been fascinated with the way reality TV has captivated our hearts and minds. Before the first episode of the ‘Real World’ (on MTV) ever aired, we were doing just fine; no need to invade celebrity’s private spaces. But now, nearly 20 years later, we are absolutely, wholly and completely obsessed with every facet of the lives of celebrities. In fact, the category has been extended to those who happen to not be celebrities as well. Normal or extraordinary, the modern day human has become somewhat enamoured by what others are doing. We have developed a right to raid others’ privacy.

I am still trying to make sense of this rapid change in social norms. What causes us to sit glued to the TV, waiting to see what happens to a complete stranger, with whom we have no relation? Furthermore, for those who have actually starred in such shows, what makes them do what they do? We have certain complex dynamics at play here, and I am not certain of the details, but part of the problem was dwindling TV viewership in the West. Audiences wanted something new, spicy. Producers found cheaper, quicker ways of rolling out TV shows. Essentially, all you needed were a few cameramen and some nifty post-production work, and you were set. Some shows went above and beyond “the call of duty”; they constructed elaborate sets and went to exotic locales, costing the networks a lot of money, yet ensured that viewers would be enthralled. ‘Survivor’ is a great example, as is ‘The Amazing Race’.

And as with most western traditions, this new love affair with reality TV made its way to South Asia. As soon as the technology allowed for it, the media in South Asia jumped on this bandwagon and saw its profits and popularity rise. In a world where fame was for anyone on YouTube who had the slightest bit of (or even no) talent, Pakistan could not stay far behind. Soon, we got our fair share of extravagant reality TV shows. I am thinking most notably of the popular dancing competition for couples called ‘Nachley’ on ARY Digital. ‘Nachley’ has an Indian alter ego, called ‘Nach Baliye’. Both shows feature couples dancing to familiar duets, yet ‘Nachley’s’ audience is different from ‘Nach Baliye’, so when a friend pointed out the skimpy outfits and the too-close-for-comfort dance moves on ‘Nachley’, I found myself defending freedom of expression, but not too enthusiastically, in this instance. My readers might recall Madhuri Dixit’s graceful and charismatic dances on ‘Nach Baliye’, yet we see nothing similar on ‘Nachley’. Why stoop to such low standards of sensationalism?

Alas, I am also compelled to think of Saad Khan, who was an employee at Unilever, Karachi. He participated in a reality TV show in Bangkok, which was produced by a subsidiary of the large multinational. In one of the stunts, he found himself unable to get himself out of a pond and eventually drowned. Of course, the company tried its best to absolve itself of any responsibility, yet the outcry against them was so loud, I believe they did reach an out-of-court settlement. Participants in such TV shows sign a waiver that places zero responsibility on the company should an accident like this happen. Unfortunately, it cost Saad his life.

But I must not paint all reality TV shows in a negative light. The ones I watch are actually concrete skill-builders and can be quite insightful, if not educational. Take ‘Apprentice’, for example, which is produced by (and features) real estate magnate, Donald Trump. These days, ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ is turning out to be more popular, yet both have a solid fan following, and winners have gone on to lucrative careers in diverse sectors. One of the winners of ‘Apprentice’ from a few years prior, Bill Rancic, has actually gone on to star in his own TV show on Bravo network, called ‘Bill and Giuliana’ — one of the rare instances when a reality TV star/winner is featured in a show that builds on the success of the first one.

Another good example of a positive reality TV show is ‘Kell on Earth’, which features Kelly Cutrone, founder of the fashion PR firm ‘People’s Revolution’. For those who want a career in entertainment, this show is a must-see. I guarantee thicker skin in a month — or less! Note to readers: it is not for the faint-hearted. But sometimes, one needs to see people like Kelly in action, so they understand what it means to “toughen one’s skin” or “prove your mettle”.

In sum, reality TV has its flaws and its positives, but it needs to balance the competing interest of prying into the lives of others (so we can see their ‘reality’), with the desire to be marketed to mass audiences. These shows have the opportunity to teach the public and do well due to their wide appeal. The ball is in their court to prove that they deserve our confidence — and our viewership. Now if you would excuse me, I have some ‘American Idol’ to catch up on!

Zeeshan Suhail is a consultant with the World Bank in Washington DC and a board member of Americans for Informed Democracy (AID). He can be reached at zeeshan@aidemocracy.org