Of TV trends and Pinoy versions of foreign shows

You must have noticed that current deluge of Pinoy versions of foreign entertainment TV programs—from Korean dramas, American game shows, to European reality programs.

On primetime alone, ABS-CBN has Wheel of Fortune (US), The Singing Bee (US), Pinoy Big Brother (UK), My Girl (Korea) and coming soon, the Pinoy Dream Academy (France).

GMA 7 has Pinoy Idol and very soon as well, Survivor Philippines. Both are European in origin, but popularized by their US adaptations. After “Filipinizing” the Mexican telenovela Marimar to great success, GMA 7 will also give a Pinoy flavor to the Koreanovela Kim Sam Soon starring the singer-actress Regine Velasquez in the titular role.

Obviously, this is one TV programming trend that’s not going to disappear anytime soon. Yet, it begs the question: have we really no concept and creativity anymore to create original shows? Like, where are the new ideas?

Some say though—if it’s going to entertain us, why not? I guess the challenge now is to really make it as Filipino as possible, and make it clear that it’s merely a franchise, and no copycat. And I feel it’s going to be a bigger challenge on the part of GMA 7 because they dared to get the Philippine franchise of Idol and Survivor, which are phenomenally popular worldwide many thanks to their American adaptations.

Big Brother and Star Academy (the French prototype of Pinoy Dream Academy) were, on the other hand, practically unknown to many in this corner of the world prior to the Filipino versions. So, with no basis for comparison, PBB and PDA appeared like a novelty.

This goes to say, Pinoy Idol and Survivor Philippines should rise above the rest on their own merit and with little help on the already familiar ring to their titles, lest they run the risk of being perpetually compared to their widely-popular counterparts and of disappointing fans that expected the same entertainment values but couldn’t find one.

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Speaking of reality shows, we had the chance to interview the host of Survivor Philippines, Paolo Bediones, who was in town not so long ago to oversee the Cebu auditions.  

The host was visibly all keyed up about his upcoming show set to premiere on August. He talked about the fevered online discussions that speak of the show’s fan base in the country that’s looking forward to what the Pinoy version has to offer. He also met diehard fans through the screenings, citing one guy in Cebu who did not audition but just showed to Paolo his heaps of Survivor clippings, memorabilia and the like. This is apart from the mix of people who screened—from bemedalled athletes to people with doctorate degrees.      

Interestingly, Paolo admitted that he was one of those who initially frowned on localized foreign programs. Now, he thinks (“Not that I’m the host of Pinoy Sole Survivor,” he says) that it’s not being a copycat, but it’s about getting inspiration from the good stuff that made these shows successful and incorporate it with your own.

Paolo is going to be the Filipino counterpart of Jeff Probst, and I could not think of any host on GMA 7, other than Paolo, who fits such a “role” to a tee (maybe because he was so effective before when he headlined Extra Challenge).  In preparation, Paolo reviewed past Survivor seasons and he’s also trying to bulk up to ready himself of the physical challenges that come with remote-island-kind-of-living.

Paolo refused to name the island where they’ll be shooting for 39 days, but it’s definitely going to be in Southeast Asia. The winner (AKA Pinoy Sole Survivor) is going to take home a tax-free cash prize worth P3 million, arguably the biggest in the history of Philippine reality TV.

Paolo is a survivor himself in this viciously volatile TV industry. He went through an episode of depression after Extra Challenge, because after years of appearing everyday on TV, he was suddenly stripped of a daily show.

He said, “It was a trial period, wherein I began to question myself as an artist and if my time was up. But I realized that if God closes a door, you have to look for an unlocked door.”

He shared that in those times, he clung to his faith—and he sure is glad that he did what with the latest monumental project given to him.