One of the biggest complaints directed at television in recent times has been the seemingly constant delivery of so-called reality television at the expense of well-made, well-scripted drama. In recent years the viewing public have consumed an endless supply of shows in which ordinary people and celebrities alike have been willing to take part in potentially embarrassing and humiliating challenges for the promise of fame and fortune. The TV viewer has lapped up countless hours of shows that have included footage of drunken teenagers up and down the country, club reps marshalling British tourists on their summer holidays, staff handling passengers at some of the UK’s busiest airports and ordinary people in quite ordinary scenarios such as house hunting, taking driving lessons, holding dinner parties and decorating their bedrooms.
The most successful reality television has arguably derived from the reinvention of the simple talent contest. The apparent search for the next big talent has attracted the largest TV audiences of the last decade. Millions of people have tuned in to enjoy the journey of the unknown hopeful from their first audition to their emergence, after weeks in front of the cameras, as a fully fledged superstar. The emotional rollercoaster that continues throughout the series has the viewer locked in from the first episode and only allows them to leave once they have arrived at the intended destination, the coronation of the winner.
However, all of the drama and excitement of these shows can in no way compare to the genuine reality television that is broadcast on our screens every four years. The hype and anticipation that surrounds the FIFA World Cup is unimaginable for any other television event. The month long tournament has more twists and turns than any celebrity dancing competition, more nail biting moments than a singing final and showmanship that talent paraded before viewers on a Saturday night could only dream of.
The sixty games create a spectacle that television producers aspire to and passion and hysteria that executives can only dream of creating with their celebrity specials. The festival of sporting excellence is intoxicating from start to finish and allows the viewer to embark on an adventure that is filled with melodrama, histrionics, imagination, fantasy, tragedy and romance. By the time the competition reaches its climax the TV viewer has experienced rage, tension, nerves, exhilaration and emotion that contrived reality television is incapable of generating.
This summer no one will be complaining of more dumbing down, no one will be berating the launch of another fame vehicle and no one will be despairing at the lack of inspiration provided by our televisions. Instead masses of people will be marvelling at the theatre, the entertainment and the extravaganza of the greatest show on earth.
Yamgo TV 