Reality shows — How do we fare?

November is hip-hop History Month, when we celebrate what hip-hop has done to bring together people of the world. With this in mind, locally, our awards are around the corner, hopefully for the first time in history they can be beamed live. Over the weekend, I watched three different reality shows with the same concept — “Idols SA”, “American Idols” on M-Net and “StarBrite Talent show” on ZBC TV.

Well, let me start with our local show which some say is lekker, “Starbrite Talent show” is continuing to grow but the quality of production still leaves a lot to be desired.

Considering that the show has been around for the past six years the quality is questionable and it seems the producers have not learnt enough from the previous shows. The organisers are trying to promote the talent in the country but they still lack some element of quality.

I like the show but sometimes it is good to give people the value of their money. After all ZBC licensing guys have been going around telling people to pay, but there is need for good productions that can attract viewers. On judges panel, I can’t complain but their set up is dry and sometimes throwing dry jokes is not necessary. Give the viewers the feel they want not your scripted stunt. I give the show 3 /5.

Over to “Idols SA”, which we can say has replaced ‘Big Brother Africa”. It is proving to be a favourite for many besides “Our Perfect Wedding”. The show is about to reach its climax and last Sunday saw Loyiso being evicted from the top five team. The shock exit of the hugely popular Loyiso Gijana proved that Idols SA Season 11 is literally anybody’s game at this stage.

The tension is really ratcheting up now, three weeks to the Idols SA Season 11 finalé, but at least this week the top five get a little break from the tension with a trip to London for a surprise musical experience, courtesy of Virgin Atlantic!

The musical theme for the top four Top four last week was “My Idol”, with the contestants each performing two songs from the musical idols that have inspired them.

Highlights included guest star, a young South African – none other than the ‘Kalawa Chikita – performance poet and singer Busiswa, with her smash hit “Lahla”.

The first contestant to be safe and get that coveted boarding pass to London was Mmatema Moremi (23) from Limpopo, who chose the shows’ topping Céline Dion power ballad “Because You Loved Me” for the first round.

“They love you”, Gareth Cliff told Mmatema.

Somizi Mhlongo was not a fan of the song “but it was saved by your amazing voice,” he said. Unathi Msengana was impressed with how much Mmatema keeps twerking and refining her craft. Randall Abrahams was afraid that the constant praise for Mmatema would “begin to sound like treacle after a while”. But there are still three weeks to go, he cautioned her, “keep your eyes on the prize”.

For this I would give them 4 /5 for the good lighting, good sound and quality production. The judges have constructive criticism and well groomed too. You would be left drooling for more after watching the show. After all South Africa is known and regarded as one of the best in Africa when it is about reality shows.

For “American Idol”, maybe it was a repeat, I am not so sure about that but that is another show that lives up to its billing.

I know we can’t compete with their standards because they are so ahead of us. One thing I liked last edition on Sunday was Jennifer Lopez performance of which she wore a 3D gown which was linked to the stage ground. Trust me, if we were to catch those standards you could very well say that we are on top of the game.

The vocal chords on this show are at par. I won’t dwell much on this but for reality talent shows I think American Idol, tops them all.