Reality TV: Still a ‘Smart’ idea in the Middle East?
Infinity TV are introducing a new reality show, promoting it as a Dubai-home-grown idea.
It’s called ‘Street Smarts’, will feature 16 young male and female Arab participants from across the region, who will win prize money of AED 10,000 a week and a grand prize of US$ 100,000.
Sounds interesting…. but what has Street Smarts got that will change the so far unfortunate story of reality TV in the Middle East?
First of all, it’s about “intellectually stimulating assignments” - surely that can be entertaining … hopefully!
Second of all, and most critically, “the 8 male and 8 female contestants will live together in Dubai throughout the duration of the show, with separate accommodation facilities for men and women.” - Oh…. that’s why it will have a longer run than the un-culturally sensitive and, therefore, unsuccessful Middle Eastern version of Big Brother… which was stopped by ‘public outrage’.
In any case, it’s worth another try at Arab-oriented, live-in reality TV.
Show host is Taleen Kirresh…. and the audience will vote for the winner through SMS.
Check it out at Infinity TV’s site.
8 comments April 12th, 2006
