Television Rating Point
(TRP) is a tool provided to judge which programmes are viewed the most.
Heard of Jerry
Springer Show! - an American syndicated tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry
Springer, a former politician; the show is broadcast on CNBC Europe late at night. Reality television is a genre of television
programming that documents ostensibly unscripted real-life situations, and
often features an otherwise unknown cast. It differs from documentary
television in that the focus tends to be on drama and personal conflict, rather
than simply educating viewers.
There have been
occasions when a heated debate on a prime TV channel goes over board. The issues are side-tracked or forgotten and
the participants start mudslinging. Some
have left the show midway, some have fought fisticuffs – while some would say
it is all gimmick, pre-arranged stage fight to raise the TRP of the show. Rarely the guests verbally abuse and even
get physical even as the hapless anchor tries desperately to maintain peace and
decorum. There are some shows where
prejudicially they call 4 people – 3 and the host speak against one – and deny
him reasonable chance to put forth his views [long time TV viewers know too
well the bias of some TV and its hosts !! – know which ?]
Miles away, stars
from the hit MTV reality show "Teen Mom 2" fought on the floor. Janelle
Evans, 19, was arrested after video surfaced of her punching another woman at
her Oak Branch, N.C. hometown. She charged with simple assault and simple
affray, ABC affiliate WWAY reported. In the video, Evans was seen attacking her
former friend, Brittany Truett, as others can be heard urging them on in the
background. Truett said the fight was
over Evan's ex-boyfriend.
About a decade ago,
there was fight between Shivshankar baba and Yagava munivar on a TV show which
was later spoofed in a Tamil cinema too.
In a fresh blow to
Pakistan cricket, veteran cricketers Mohammad Yousuf and Ramiz Raza were
involved in an ugly debate on television. The duo, who were expected to express
their views on the return of tainted pacer Mohammad Amir in the team, got too
personal in a heated exchange of words. Even though the anchor tried to
interrupt and reminded the two of the issue they had to discuss, it hardly made
a difference to their tone.
The return of
Mohammad Amir to the Pakistan national cricket team has split the country's
cricket aficionados into two. The pacer served a 5-year ban and a jail sentence
for spot fixing but is now back in the squad which has infuriated a lot of
people. While discussing this topic during a debate on Geo Super channel,
former Pakistan cricketers Rameez Raza and Mohammad Yusuf lost the plot and got
highly personal. Yousuf slammed Raza
saying he didn't know anything about cricket and called him a ‘sifarashi
cricketer’ who's only good enough to be
a teacher while Raza called Yousuf a fake Mulla who says lies and creates
problems in Pakistani cricket. Yousuf said - You are just a teacher, English
teacher and nothing else.” To which Ramiz retorted : You can speak anything,
and you have done such a shameful thing in cricket.
The photo at the
beginning is that of Pakistani cricketer Wasim Raja, who died aged 54 of a heart attack. Remember the left-handed middle-order batsman
who would also bowl right-handed - leg-breaks playing in that Pongal Test at
Chepauk in 1989 when Sandip Patil made his debut. He played in 57 Tests – incidentally, his
brother Ramiz Raja too played the same no. of tests.
Typical episode of
Springer show would begin with a title
card warning parents that the show may contain content inappropriate for
children. Springer then would enter the
stage by sliding down a stripper pole, being greeted by a standing audience
pumping the air with their right hand. After finishing the interview of the 1st
guest, Springer would bring in another guest whom the first guest would like
to confront. The confrontation would
often break down into a brawl that would eventually be broken up by
on-set security personnel.
Be it ‘match on turf’
or ‘slinging on media’ – it is we, the spectators who are taken for a ride that
too a paid one !
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
30th Dec
2015.
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