Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Villainy and engagement

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  • Russell Brown, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    the Great British Bakeoff.

    It's hard to over-emphasise how big that show has been. It was literally the most popular show on BBC Two before it was shifted to BBC One.

    Additional thing in its favour: the Daily Mail complained about the hosts' "smutty" innuendos.

    By comparison, New Zealand's Hottest Home Baker was apparently a fairly miserable experience for those involved. Lunches frequently consisted of service station sandwiches and there was talk that one or two contestants tried to get themselves eliminated to end the pain.

    Grand Designs is made by Kevin McLeod, as proven by the dullness of the Australian version

    The Aussie version is so terrible.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Danielle,

    My weakness is Project Runway and I do tend to enjoy the actual design and building bits of The Block (the faux drama I can live without).

    Note this does not exclude me from being a prole and I am certainly an idiot on many many many occasions.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    But never Survivor, nor American Idol/Country X has Talent/The X-factor, nor Big Brother. So maybe it’s a case of “pick your reality poison”?

    Survivor aside, there’s also a whole genre of Survival shows out there from the last few years, many trying to copy the likes of Bear Grylls’ success (I don’t bother watching, but count at least 23 different titles in the text of this article). Much of it’s also fairly insane for taking seriosuly and unrealistic (including much of Grylls’ stuff), yet some people do take it seriously. eg. When this guy went missing in the Hunua Range some time ago, and was later championed by our wonderful media for getting himself out as some kind of superman, there were some strong suspicions going through back-channels that he’d actually done an intentional runner to try and mimic some kind of ultimate survival thing, much to the frustration of Police and LandSAR and everyone else who was out searching for him when he was breaking all the standard rules.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    I like the UK MasterChef, because it is a reality TV show that doesn’t forget it is about cooking. Apparently, the Australian version, which I stopped watching when it turned into a soap opera targeted at high school kids, suffered a big ratings drop until it also returned to its knitting and re-focussed on food last season. I reckon reality TV comes in three flavours. I guess that for a large chunk of the audience reality TV is acceptable as long as it subordinates the soap opera to the ostensible objective of the show. I call this “highbrow” reality TV, be it (in the granddaddy of them all for reality TV) the Antiques Roadshow or talent shows or cooking or models or Naked and Afraid (I have a weakness for that show) or gold mining in Alaska or whatever. The next step down is “celebrity” reality TV, which the E! channel basically is, which again only works as long as it is more about the frocks and being famous and fabulous than being nasty, cruel and (fatal in America) snobby. Then there is the “real trash” – TOWIE, Geordie Shore (both nothing more than an extended sneer of British class snobbery), Big Brother, The Batchelor/ette – that is always going to rely on audience manipulation, psychological cruelty, stupidity and exploitation as the engines that drive there dramatic arc (such as they are).

    Moon and Kills made the mistake of taking “highbrow” reality TV, with its feel-good pretence that it really is about unearthing bew talent, and taking the show down to the level of the “real trash”. They were told to be cruel, but only in the “being cruel to be kind” and “this is hurting me more than it is hurting you” fake sincerity way that Simon Cowell has got down pat. There were sincerely cruel, and being real on reality TV is fatal.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    Moon and Kills made the mistake of taking “highbrow” reality TV, with its feel-good pretence that it really about unearthing talent, and taking the show down to the level of the “real trash”. They were told to be cruel, but only in the “being cruel to be kind” kind of way and “this is hurting me more than it is hurting you” way that Simon Cowell has got down pat.

    Nicely summed up.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Big ratings boost for X Factor last night.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I do tend to enjoy the actual design and building bits of The Block (the faux drama I can live without)

    If only someone made a cut-down version ...

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • dcrobertson01, in reply to BenWilson,

    The BBC News Quiz said the Clarkson incident happened after a long day filming 'Last of the summer wine'

    Since Feb 2014 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I got a ph call one day. It was a person from a Production Co. They had heard about my dispute with my neighbour who felled an enormous tree. The Council had asked them for a stay of execution whilst the street was heard, much like the Kauri of last week but with no marauding protesters.The tree was felled whilst the stay was agreed to and I had gone to work. So anyway, they wanted to know if I'd be interested to be on a show about "neighbours from hell". They thought my situation was the kind of format they were looking for.
    I said the last thing I'd want is to have anything to do with that *%#t again and that I couldn't stand that sort of TV . Plus I'd been seen on Police 10 7 without my consent and that was enough to put me off NZ reality TV. (Not a good look when you've been drinking that night and then proceeding to save a kid from abduction and a massive brawl outside our house)
    So yeah, they like fighting no matter who is involved, be it judges or participants, at the same time NZ is unique in that the audiences care about the underdog rather than the smart arses.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens, in reply to dcrobertson01,

    Clarkson might have the "she has got a moustache" brigade rallying to his cause, but in the UK itself as far as I can tell everyone who counts from right to left in the political spectrum basically think he's cooked his own goose. It is impossible to defend someone (or criticise his employer for suspending him) who engaged in an unreasonable, drunken workplace physical and verbal assault, especially when that person was on his last warning.

    My pop-psychology theory is Clarkson is burnt out and bored of the show and is (sub-consciously?) pushing the boundaries to see how much it takes to get himself sacked.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Sacha,

    If only someone made a cut-down version …

    That's easy, I booked the Block Oz for Mondays, One gets to see the reveal without the bullshit. I booked the Auction out of interest at the end but. Saved putting up with the crap on the way. Totally a cut-down version. :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Danielle,

    really creative

    For me that is the attraction of Project Runway. Some (not all) of the people are very talented and I actually enjoy watching talented people do what they do.

    Same applies to British Masterchef and my all time favourite cooking show Great British Menu where it's not unusual to see one kitchen with four or five Michelin stars in it. Genuinely talented people doing what they are really good at.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    I don't count the Living Channel as "reality TV" ;-) Things like Grand Designs, A Place in the Country and the wonderful Mike Holmes are more like soft documentaries with feelgood tossed in. It's the competitive formats I can't stand.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    don’t think it’s been on here for a while?

    On Vibe Thurs 9:30 pm repeated Sunday 7:30 pm

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    Ah, OK. We're not a Sky household

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Way to turn tweets into a herald story.Cupcakes an' all

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Rowe,

    Theodore Roosevelt:

    It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

    Herein lies my problem with the Pop Idol types of reality TV: They pretend to be making stars, when the real stars are the judges, with their quick wits, wicked put-downs and humorous repartee. Moon & Kills were X Factor to advance their careers but they are too young/stupid/whatever to know the difference between a witty put-down and abuse. A bit like the Australian cricket team.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    I like the UK MasterChef, because it is a reality TV show that doesn’t forget it is about cooking. Apparently, the Australian version, which I stopped watching when it turned into a soap opera targeted at high school kids, suffered a big ratings drop until it also returned to its knitting and re-focussed on food last season.

    MasterChef is the reality show we're hooked on. I think the Oz version learnt their lesson from the previous season because last season was the best I've seen (better than any of the NZ seasons too). Really competent contestants who generally got on very well and no gimmicks in the format of the show. There is an audience for a show that isn't like MKR after all.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    I, too, have a soft spot for the home reno shows. I think I'm the only person in the world who finds Kevin McLeod rather insufferable but I really enjoy that show partly for that reason. There is much derisive squawking at his antics and monologues in our house. I think some of what appeals to me about those shows is the barely concealed irritation the hosts have with the stupidity of the homeowners. Sarah Beeny in particular is always smiling through gritted teeth whenever someone ignores one of her suggestions, and Kirsty and Phil don't even hide it - they're just out in the garden ranting about how much their couples suck. Heh. (I tell you what, though - home reno and property investment reality shows are some of the most inclusive and non-exploitative out there, rainbow-families-wise. The lesbian couple with two children is introduced and dealt with in the exact same unremarkable way as the cishet couple with two children.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Tom Semmens,

    My pop-psychology theory is Clarkson is burnt out and bored of the show and is (sub-consciously?) pushing the boundaries to see how much it takes to get himself sacked.

    It explains why his humour has gotten far more puerile and contrived in recent years.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    The only reality I've committed to watching over the years are the Contender types ones. They take people who are already good fighters, but missed their chance for whatever reason (usually they're too old), and they have a monster training camp with some sort of prize (typically a contract) at the end. But I've gradually lost interest, they're all the same. They do have the added dramatic impact that whoever is knocked out of the tournament has often been literally knocked out on the way, and they're understandably majorly bummed. It's an insight into the extremely precarious life of professional fighters.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • steve black,

    @ Russell (or anybody else who knows for sure)

    So are we to believe that this show is really really really live and sent direct to air? I’m under the impression that what goes to air is filmed earlier (perhaps the same day, perhaps a 5 minute delay, perhaps 5 second delay) and edited before it goes to air. It needs to fit around commercial breaks and promos yet not lose pace (yes I know about the people who come out and keep the audience hyped up), Delayed a tad to handle things easily if the applause are slightly too long? A less than graceful camera change? A slower than planned changeover to get the next act on?

    Really really really no small safety net?

    If it is ever so slightly delayed, then there are there other people who are making choices (editor, director, producer) before a particular clip goes to air. Have we ruled that out?

    I’d want that explored on Media Take please – should the matter happen to come up :)

    Just curious.

    Disclaimer: I’ve never watched the show nor heard of these people before. I don’t do talent shows, reality shows, or cooking contest shows.

    sunny mt albert • Since Jan 2007 • 116 posts Report Reply

  • Alan Perrott,

    looks like we got the makings of a Project Runway club here.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 438 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell,

    Michele A'Court has also weighed in on the X Factor The problem with putting real people on TV. Interestingly,she doesn't mention Moon and Kills by name. She also suggests a different model for reality TV - fakes. E.g. the House (medic) character of recent seasons.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to steve black,

    Really really really no small safety net?

    It's close enough to live that they couldn't edit that sequence out. Nor do I think they really would anyway - it didn't violate broadcasting standards. It was just nasty. The judge appraisal of the performances is also part of the show - it would barely have made sense, since the next judge replied to the criticism. TBH, I think it's actually turned out well that the nation saw the display, because it was the national outrage that led to the canning of the judges.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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