Reality TV with a purpose
2002-08-02 10:54
Cape Town - We've pried into the lives of 12 contestants stuck in one house.
We've pried into the lives of 16 castaways stuck on an island.
We've pried into the lives of 11 artists and criticised their singing abilities without any reservation.
I think we're ready for a reality TV show with an actual purpose, don't you?
Don't get me wrong; I love the sootiness of reality television as much as the next guy. But after a while (a really short while!) the novelty of it wears off: the two-facedness of the Survivor castaways come as no shock, you realise that none of the Idols finalists have no actual talent, and even shower hour becomes, well, tiresome.
This is perhaps why the Sanlam Money Game holds so much appeal. It's not solely based on the voyeuristic appetites of South African audiences.
In each episode, three contestants have three days to make the most money. They're given R30 000 and are placed in a remote location with only the clothes on their backs, their ID, driver's license and a watch.
The one with the most money at the end of the third day wins - bear in mind that the R30 000 is to be used for transport, phone calls, hotels, food and as seed money for deals.
This reality TV programme is just the thing South Africa needs, I reckon. It could prove to be the catalytic spark to SA's entrepreneurial spirit. Surely there's nothing more motivating than watching ordinary South Africans make loads of money by using a bit of imagination and energy.
It could mean the end of our "stuck-on-our-behind" society as we know it!
The Sanlam Money Game will be broadcast in prime on SABC3 on Thursdays from August 1 to October 24. - M-Web Entertainment
The official Sanlam Money Game website.