FOR such a small country, we certainly are teaching "the big boys" a lesson, although in this instance, I'm not so sure it's a good thing.
I am, of course, referring to TV3, its associated production companies and, not one but two reality TV shows, namely The Bachelor NZ and The X Factor NZ.
It's no easy feat, these globally successful franchise shows have been around since 2002 and 2004 respectively. Each has proved itself to be a winner in the fiercely fought ratings war, hence the longevity of both shows. But somehow and in just a matter of days, New Zealand owners of the franchises have managed to bring these consistently popular shows into very public disrepute.
Regular readers will be aware that I am not exactly what you would call a fan of such shows, which is why I am struggling internally whether I should be impressed or disturbed by such actions.
A deliberate act of television terrorism or just laziness and penny-pinching?
If only we had our own CSI franchise, we could call them in.
Using millions of dollars worth of forensic crime-solving kit that "normal" police departments don't have, we could have it solved in roughly 43 minutes, with slo-mo lab testing, sexy crime technicians and a trendy piece of music, playing in the background to boot.
I'm fairly confident, though, that even a CSI team would have easily discovered the previous criminal convictions of the seemingly doe-eyed, innocent beauties preparing to battle for The Bachelor NZ, aka Manwhore.
Criminal history checks are nothing new but they don't come cheap. It's about $150 a pop. With 21 to perform maybe the producers thought the threat of them was sufficient to garner the truth on application and that the money saved would be better spent on upgrading the Chardon to Lindauer. Personally, I would have preferred they splashed out on glass flutes. Nothing says tacky like plastic. Knowing our love of all things PC, it was probably a health and safety ruling. Armed with real glass, the thought of 21 dizzy and drunken desperados, all in the passionate pursuit of just one man is a sure fire recipe for disaster.
Bottom line though, there is no excuse for this monumental stuff-up. Somebody didn't do their job. Whether it comes down to laziness, cost-cutting or a blatant disregard for the rules of the franchise, it's not a good look for TV3 and by association and with the help of social media, it's not a good look for New Zealand, especially coming so soon after three equally embarrassing incidents surrounding The X Factor NZ.
Wanganui again, back in the limelight and reaping more bad press for its association with a convicted killer/contestant, when programme researchers/fact checkers failed to do their job properly, choosing to accept just one version of events and foolishly taking them as gospel. The big man himself, Simon Cowell, let the world know he was not a happy man.
Next was the "C word'' fiasco from the not-as-famous-as-he-thought-he-was judge, Willy Moon, who could perhaps use the full moon as a lunatic defence for his tirade of abuse. Then his appropriately named wife, Natalia Kills, kills her own already waning career, by publicly humiliating a contestant. Accusing him of copying her husband and having no originality. Pretty bloody rich coming from a Cleopatra look-a-like.
Social media went wild, programme sponsors were nervous, even fellow judges distanced themselves. While it was great to see some big names in the industry publicly supporting the poor, picked-on Joe, again it was not a good look for New Zealand. And spare a thought too, for X Factor host, Dominic (Bow Down) Bowden, forging a new career as a professional apologist for those too gutless to front up and admit to their own mistakes.
As for TV3 and TV in general, when will they ever learn? The only reality show we should be making is a Where are they Now? series and I'm not entirely convinced that there is even enough interest for that. Perhaps a bloopers episode is more fitting, with all the press coverage and social media, it's probably fair to say that we are well on our way to becoming a laughing stock.
Reality TV in this country is a big joke. Unfortunately not a very funny one.
Kate Stewart is an unemployed, reluctant mother of three, running amok in the city and can be contacted at investik8@gmail.com.