Singlespeak

One of my favorite architects, Frank Lloyd Wright, once said, "Some television programs are so much chewing gum for the eyes." Meaning, I believe that television is not only an important information tool but a medium for lighthearted entertainment as well. Indeed, since its invention, television has captivated audiences the world over and provided hours of good (and bad) entertainment for the masses to while away their hours while going about their business.

The variety of television shows over the last few decades have changed a lot. From hit comedies like M.A.S.H., family centered entertainment like the Brady Bunch, and classics like Cheers to modern-day favorites like Murphy Brown, Seinfeld, and the widely popular CSI, TV audiences’ tastes have matured when it comes to favored shows on the boob tube. What’s the big thing now? Reality-based television shows.

Reality-based TV actually began a long time ago. MTV first introduced The Real World when I was still young enough to play with my jump rope in the backyard. It rated OK on the popularity scale but left no real mark on the minds of TV audiences. Pretty soon, it faded away and turned into vague memories of bitchy roommates and drunken parties. Some may have thought this the end of reality TV but fast forward a few years into the future and reality-based television is back with a vengeance!

It began with the Survivor series spreading around the world like brushfire. Millions of people were glued to the tube wanting to know who would win the first million dollars as everyday normal folk instead of actors and actresses lying and backstabbing their way to the final vote. Soon after, reality TV shows popped up one after the other: The wildly ludicrous but highly amusing Temptation Island, the absolutely ridiculous Fight School, and my personal favorite,The Amazing Race (keeping my fingers crossed that Kelly and Jon don’t win The Amazing Race 4!).

Here in the Philippines, we’ve jumped onto the reality TV show bandwagon as well. One of our own reality TV show’s claim-to-fame is Single. Brought to audiences by Ideal Minds, Single is a television show that brings together real single people and follows them around while they go about their every day lives. As the show progresses and people get to know the token singles, the show allows the audience to keep voting for their favorite single personality, and just like the Highlander, in the end there can be only one. The camera then follows this single on a series of dates and finds out whether love is in the air.

It’s an interesting concept that combines key elements of the old Real World, the even older Dating Game and Singled Out, and the top-rated Survivor. Bottom line, it satiates the voyeuristic tendencies in all of us and gives us a peek into someone else’s (real, unedited) life splashed on our TV screens. I’ve actually had friends participate in the last seasons of Single and while they didn’t make it to the final vote it was an interesting ride. Personally speaking, I’d be a little hesitant to share my life with hundreds of TV viewers but I have no problem watching others do it!

This August, Single does it again. For this new season, the show brings together six bright and funky women and puts them together under one roof for four months. Talk about following the footsteps of The Real World, six girls together for that long with a TV camera following their every move – sounds like a recipe for trouble. That’s a good enough reason to stay tuned. And there’s an added twist, in this season the audience gets to vote for the girl they’d like to see get bumped off the show instead of the girl they’d like to remain.

Last week, my friend Chris from Ideal Minds invited me to a dinner to personally meet the latest crop for Single. Held at Dunba Grill in Makati (the sisig was amazing!) I got a chance to talk with the different personalities who’ll be housed under one roof for the next four months. Who do I think the next Single winner (so-to-speak) will be? Why don’t you decide for yourself?

This season brings together Rina Lorilla, a graduating student in Communications; Fides Almosara, a Business Development manager for a logistics firm; Rachel Rivero who works for a management company; Margauxh Nalus a pre-school teacher / model; Angel Gustanski a part-time model/ bartender; and model Jamie Topacio who also works as an events manager and does PR for different companies. It’s a diverse pastiche and should be excellent fodder for an exciting season of TV viewing.

So what do these ladies have to say about living together and the looming threat of their competition to be the ultimate Single lady?

"Well honestly, I’ve pretty much been a homebody and never really had much adventure in my life so I look forward to sharing a place with these women and seeing what’ll happen to us within the four months," Rachel says with a smile. "It’ll be fun!"

"We’re such a diverse group," Margauxh adds. "We’ve got a painter, and athletes, models, and even different ethnicities... it should be interesting to see what we can learn from each other."

"I agree. But it’s also going to be a little stressful. I mean you girls are all right, but if you get up in my face, I’ll be sure to kick your butts," Angel jokes, adding truth to mixture.

And what do I think? Well, the girls are definitely interesting and will certainly prove to be exciting and unique entertainment, but will four months pass without incident? Six single ladies under one roof? No matter how nice I do believe they are, I think not! So sit back and enjoy the show, it may not be as informative as your six o’clock news or Shark Week on the Discovery Channel but it’s lighthearted entertainment to take your mind off everyday travails. Like Frank Lloyd Wright said, it’s chewing gum for the eyes so sit back and enjoy this bubblegum-flavored piece.