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Media regulation
SARFT's guide to talent show etiquettePosted by Joel Martinsen, September 21, 2007 7:46 PM
![]() Wang Han and Li Xiang, hosts of last years' Super Girls competition SARFT issued a notice to television and broadcast stations yesterday informing them of new rules intended to stem the tide of vulgar talent shows that have been so detrimental to national morality in recent months. The notice stipulates what sort of talent shows can be broadcast when, and by what sort of broadcaster. It prescribes a comprehensive pre-screening process for program content, length, judges, hosts, and special guests. In response to loud complaints about the unfairness of SMS vote tallying, it bans all off-site voting - whether by SMS, Internet, or telephone. Additionally, programs are prohibited from using dirty tricks to mislead voters in the studio audience. The most recent debacle was broadcast live on Chongqing TV, so the new regulations allow only the last episode of the final stage of any competition to be a live broadcast. Even then it must be delayed at least one minute, and the program must "guarantee that no problems will occur." SARFT also expands on previous guides to appropriate behavior. Here's the Administration's latest rubric on participant etiquette:
SARFT concludes with an appeal to television stations and administrative organs to carry out the spirit of the notice - presumably to cover whatever details they overlooked in their description of proper behavior. This parody from the 2005 season of Super Girls is looking more prescient every day:
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Comments on SARFT's guide to talent show etiquette
After reading the first half of the post I was about to post "sounds like every gameshow on CCTV." Great minds think alike ;)
As pathetic as it is that they're trying to to regulate this stuff, I don't necessarily disagree with some of what they want to change. Less time spent on utterly infantile games, inane host banter, and emotional reactions? I wouldn't complain if these were artistic choices rather than edicts. Not that any changes could save these shows from being utter crap.
Are there enough moral, knowledgeable, well dressed and tonsured, talented, emotionally restrained, non flirtatious people in all of China to fill all the roles of contestants, special guests, judges and hosts? And if there were, why would they participate in one of these shows? Getting a deadpan contestant's family is also going to be a big problem I think.
It's too strict. If you were moral but had a Hong Kong haircut, I think you could still make a worthwhile contribution to such a show.
The first night I spent in Beijing in 2000, I turned on the TV and watched a singing competition.
Contestants sang fairly demanding pieces of music, and then had to sight read an aria or some other less well-known piece of European choral music. They were also asked to sing intervals and answer a few music theory and music history questions. It was like an entrance exam for a conservatory.
The judges were professors from music academies (a number of them were PLA, I believe), and they gave polite but stern criticism of the contestants. Even though it was all done in a very civilized manner - no flirting, mocking, or other gimmickry - some of the contestants seemed on the verge of tears when they were finished.