Posted:
It is a trend that is fast becoming staple diet of reality shows. So you have had the likes of Rakhi Sawant, Monica Bedi, Abhaas Joshi, Hussain Kuwajerwala, Juhi Parmar, Karan Patel, Mihika Verma becoming wild card entries on these shows.
Reality shows Bigg Boss, Comedy Circus, Ek se badhkar ek'Jalwe Sitaron ke, Junoon' Kuch Kar DikhaaneKa, Fear Factor 'Khatron Ke Khiladi, Kaun Jeetega Bollywood Ka Ticket have had new participants given an entry this way.
Why this phenomenon? Vipul Shah, producer for Comedy Circus says, 'Reality shows are a relatively new phenomenon in India.
They need new ideas to sustain them and the wild card entry is one of those ideas.' What do wild card entries bring to a show? Is it about bringing a surprise element, for both the participants and the audience? Ask Abhishek Awasthi who has been part of many reality shows and was a wild card entry to Ek se badhkar ek-Jalwe Sitaron ke; he says, 'It is very important to surprise people. In reality shows, many talented and potential winners get eliminated. So the wild card entry is also a strategy by the channel to bring them back. It also gives a second opportunity to the eliminated contestants to prove their mettle and worth to the judges as well as the audience.'
Since most of the reality shows are judged by a voting system that relies on the audience, are wild card entries a reflection of what the public really wants? Finalist Abhas Joshi who got a wild card entry on Junoon Kuch Kar Dikhaane Ka believes so, 'I think this is one of the factors.
The audience wants some of the participants back and this is the only way that is open to the channel to get them back on the show.' How do other contestants react? Jolly Patel, non-fiction show head for a production house says, 'It is strategically done to raise the level of competition. It is required to make other participants a little insecure. If an eliminated but good performer is back it definitely makes the competition more aggressive and closely fought.'
Does it give rise to jealousy? Abhishek says, 'Yes, contestants get jealous and that's how the competition gets more interesting.' Whereas Juhi Parmar, a contestant and a wild card entry in Comedy Circus in the second season disagrees: 'All my fellow competitors were really sweet to me. I never encountered any negative vibes.'
Do such entries increase TRPs? Ajay Bhalwankar, programming head for a entertainment channel comments, 'It is done strategically to raise the competition level and to meet the demands of the audience.'
Perhaps production houses need to do all that they can to bring about an element of surprise and get good TRPs. The wild card entry is just one of the tricks they employ to do so.
Do such entries increase TRPs? Ajay Bhalwankar, programming head for a entertainment channel comments, 'It is done strategically to raise the competition level and to meet the demands of the audience.'
Perhaps production houses need to do all that they can to bring about an element of surprise and get good TRPs. The wild card entry is just one of the tricks they employ to do so.
Hindi TV Shows
Financial markets and global economy
