Opinion

Don't foul the air with the worst of overseas TV

By Todd Balazovic (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-07 17:25

Glassy-eyed and mindlessly content, I've spent more than my fair share of evenings sitting and staring at cookie-cutter sitcoms on TV. At least, I did, before moving to Beijing.

Since the great leap East, I've ignored the urge to plop down on the living room couch and catch a few hours of mind-numbing entertainment. The endless chapters of epic kungfu soap operas and anti-climatic dramas simply don't hold the same alluring grip as classics from back home such as the Sopranos or South Park.

Instead, I've grown accustomed to the liberating feeling of casting a quick glance at a television set and seeing nothing more than a box of useless electronics.

But, two weeks ago, the Beijing TV festival offered a glimmer of hope. At the same time, The Office creator Ricky Gervais announced his brainchild may be booking a first-class ticket to Chinese television. The news may tempt me to dust off the ON button.

And Gervais isn't the only one journeying the digital Silk Road.

Recently, the BBC showcased their programing to TV executives in Beijing for the first time in the hope that their educational programs like Human Planet and Life will be beamed into living rooms across China, replacing some of the more bizarre shows on Chinese television that seem surreal and dated.

Or, for those who prefer a little more action on screen, America's Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the National Football League (NFL) are also making bids to battle their way onto the small screen here.

But before anyone goes running to replace the batteries in their remote control, I am taking this chance to offer a kind word of warning - some shows should simply not be given a visa.

I'm talking about the butter-knife dull programs dubbed "reality". They showcase the type of gold-digging culture that brings out the worst in people.

While some may scoff at overzealous Chinese TV moderators snubbing matchmaking shows like Jiangsu Television's If You Are the One, those who have experienced that sick feeling in the pit of their stomach while watching these unintelligible diatribes may consider the gatekeepers have a point.

Like Paris Hilton's BFF where simpleminded simpletons act out their devotion to the celebrity and heiress in order to become her best friend, such shows are a true example of television gone wrong.

I would hang my head in shame to see a Chinese Judge Judy, or should I say Judge Zhu Di, take to the screen to offer acidic verdicts on problems that barely warrant a mention in a Beijing hutong, let alone a courtroom. It would have Jerry Springer packing his bags at the prospect of giving the Springer stage a taste of the good old China-style push and shove.

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While the good moments in television history can be legendary, like the mysteriously frustrating ending of the Sopranos or the awe-inspiring opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the bad moments on TV are like a tattoo gone wrong - permanent and dreadful.

As Beijing bolsters its airwaves with overseas programing, its essential TV execs look beyond the focus groups and others' agendas to deliver dramas and documentaries that capture a true picture of modern China which people can relate to.

Imagine a Chinese version of the hit show The Wire offering a 360-degree realistic view of every facet of crime in China. Or a Chinese West Wing that takes us behind the scenes of those in power.

The fact that the media landscape in China is becoming more open is something to be celebrated, but if television executives are serious about bringing quality programing to the nation's airwaves, they must remember one thing.

The viewer is king and thus far, the king has not been obeyed.