Reality tv

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We all love reality TV, from singing competitions like X Factor to “scripted reality” like The Only Way is Essex. But these reality shows from around the world show that sometimes people can take things a little too far. For example, there’s:

Kid Nation – USA

Imagine the pitch: we’ll take 40 kids and hand over the keys to an Old West ghost town. Plus, we’ll leave the parents at home. What could possibly go wrong? Well, the people behind the show clearly had no idea that it would generate controversy, from the child labour violations to the slaughtering of live chickens on air (by children!), as demonstrated by this wildly optimistic promo ad.

Virgins Wanted – Australia

Again, how could a show like this get to the production stage? Virgins Wanted is a show that follows two virgins – the 21-year-old Braxilian Catarina Migliorini and the 24-year-old Alex Stephanov – as they sell their virginity to the highest bidder. International authorities have gotten involved, with both Australian and Brazilian authorities saying they will investigate the show and its director, Justin Sisely, for offences like sex trafficking, but apparently that hasn’t put off the network that will air the show.

Ready4Marriage – Zambia

Ready4Marriage, or R4M as it is known locally, is a show that usually sees couples fighting for the change to win money towards the wedding of their dreams. Things took a bizarre turn in the third series, however, when producers decided they wanted to help prostitutes and sex workers prepare for marriage. That year, they taught 18 sex workers how to manage a household, including cleaning toilets and ironing shirts. The winner, Precious Amukusana, got $9000 in cash, a wedding sponsorship and, according to her, a chance at a new life.

Don’t Laugh – Japan

If you know anything about Japanese culture, you know their television shows are bizarre, so obviously they were going to make the list. This game show’s premise is simple. Contestants cannot under any circumstances laugh, and if they do, they get spanked. But see how easy that actually turns out to be yourself.

Amaan Ramazan – Pakistan

This might actually be one of the most controversial game shows ever. This show airs during Ramadan, and it give participants prizes for answering questions about the Koran correctly. So far, so normal – even with its religious bent. But the episode that caught the world’s attention was when two couples each won a baby girl. The two girls had been rescued by an NGO that cares for abandoned babies, and Pakistan’s lack of adoption laws made the “prizes” perfectly legal.

There was international outcry, but it turned out that the couples had been vetted by show producers and by the NGO. Then a follow-up by the BBC showed that the families were happy with their new editions and that the babies were healthy and well looked after. It just goes to show that things can start off badly (from one perspective) and still turn out alright.

 

What do you think of these amazing reality shows from around the world? Do you wish they were on the air here, or do these kinds of shows make you want to throw out your TV? Let us know in the comments!

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