‘Reality TV is a distraction;’ Here’s why you’re wrong

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When you think of reality TV, what comes to mind? Drama, romance, betrayal—these elements create a cocktail of entertainment that keeps viewers hooked.

One of the most common formats of reality TV shows presents a group of people placed mostly in a confined environment, encouraging reactions they might never exhibit in the outside world.

In some of these participants, we see reflections of ourselves. In others, we find reasons to question their choices. And then, there are those we feel indifferent towards.

Regardless of the format, Nigerians have always loved a good reality TV show. One of the earliest memories of reality TV shows can be traced back to Nigerian Breweries’ ‘Gulder Ultimate Search’ which premiered in 2003 and aired its last season in 2021 after a 7-year hiatus.

‘Reality TV is a distraction;’ Here’s why you’re wrong

The adventure, drama and everything in between had Nigerians glued to their seats day in and day out and it was no different with shows like Maltina Dance All. Although most of the earlier reality TV shows have been discontinued, MultiChoice has taken on the role of revolutionising the reality TV space and has gone on to produce fan-favourite reality TV shows such as the Real Housewives of Lagos and Abuja, alongside BBNaija, which is currently airing its ninth season.

All these shows evoke the deepest emotion in viewers because of their relatability. We watch the individuals on these shows live out their truths and ultimately decide who among them speaks to us the most, crowning them the winner. Why? They’ve entertained us so much that we want to see them win.

For many following the recent BBNaija No Loose Guard season, everyone can remember the jarring moment when Wanni x Handi dramatically shooed Rhuthee, a housemate they had squabbled with, out of the house.

That moment, the moment where they chorused ‘Rhuthee!!’ to the moment they clapped their hands in a bid to aid her exit out of the house, is what many reality TV fans live for.

That live eviction night, X was on fire with many finding their reaction overboard and others siding with them, explaining that those against their actions were not ‘real haters.’

Regardless of whatever was heating the polity, no one cared at that moment, all that mattered was what the reaction of the housemates made people feel. That’s what makes reality TV gold.

The ability for a moment on a show to cause social hysteria, to become culture-changing, to spark conversations and relatability. The ability to create those moments, which bring about escapism, should not be shrugged off as if living with a constant reminder of our harsh realities was a sane way to live.

One of the central criticisms of reality TV, especially in Nigeria, is that it distracts people from the pressing issues of the day. With inflation hitting 33.40% in July, critics ask, “Why are millions of people watching BBNaija instead of taking to the streets to protest?” The answer is simple and valid: shows like BBNaija offer Nigerians a form of escapism.

Before BBNaija aired on July 28, 2024, Nigerians had spent the first seven months of the year advocating for a better nation, with little to show for it. Day in and day out, Nigerians are plagued with innumerable malfeasances, from fuel scarcity to bad roads, to the outrageous policies that continue to impoverish them.

In the weeks that DStv, GOtv and Showmax air the BBNaija show, viewers can get some respite from the mental pressures that come with living in Nigeria. Moments that can provide escapism.

Zhesheng (Jason) Xu, who majors in Neuroscience at Pomona College, in his research work, found the importance of relaxing through entertainment. “Movies as entertainment can help people reduce chronic stress and increase happiness,” he wrote in one of his research works.

He continued; “Besides, movies as a prevalent form of entertainment brings general benefits, such as social connections, a distraction from worries, and increases the flow. All of those are effective activities to reduce chronic stress and increase happiness,” he wrote.

This is not to say that we should ignore pressing social issues, but seeing our almost constant state of national discontent, tireless complaining, and doing all we can, is it not fair for Nigerians to have a break from the mental strain that comes with the state of the nation?

Just as football fans find solace in the new football season, film enthusiasts find solace in films, reality TV fans turn to shows like BBNaija for a similar escape. So why is reality TV often seen as a lesser form of entertainment, with many degrading those who enjoy it? The emotional investment in both football and reality TV is comparable, if not greater in the latter.

More so, reality TV, just like other forms of entertainment, offers valuable lessons. In certain reality TV shows, moments can be induced to increase the effect of certain situations.

Those reactions evoke emotions from viewers who have experienced something similar and as a result, find the characters on the show relatable. What would I have done? Why would they do that? With every second that the show airs people from different backgrounds with varied cultures, religions, and experiences will constantly compare their actions to these people which further gives authenticity to the show and the characters involved in the conversation.

With dating shows, there are authentic moments that seem so simple that fans clamour to be replicated in their lives. Many “God when” moments. That’s what people term relatability. They simply live vicariously through these characters.

So when people question fans’ love for BBNaija, wondering why they are so invested, the answer is simple: they love the contestants’ stories and want to support them to achieve their goals.

For BBNaija Miracle it was his goal to become a pilot. For Mercy Eke, it was for her to finally break through after a hard time in life. For Tobi Bakre, fans recognised his talent and were committed to supporting him. For Laycon, his music was loved, and fans wanted to give him the push he needed to ‘blow.’ For fans, these individual’s stories were relatable. They recognise their talent and are committed to supporting them because of how much they get invested in their success story.

Watching the stars reach their full potential, following their challenges, watching them fail, falter, making mistakes, becoming vulnerable, and forming lifelong friendships, is one of the many reasons why lovers of reality TV will continue to tune in.

With entertainment, there doesn’t have to be a ‘deep’ or ‘thought-provoking’ reason why people want to watch. Unlike scripted dramas, there’s no need to learn a moral lesson – even though there’s always a lesson to gain in reality TV – enjoying the characters on the show as they live their lives is enough entertainment. It doesn’t always have to be deep.

Besides entertainment, there’s the monetary value reality TV adds to both the contestant and the creative economy at large. For the BBNaija All Stars Season, Dr. Busola Tejumola, the Executive Head of Content and Channels, West Africa, MultiChoice, revealed that MultiChoice invested over ₦5.5 billion into producing the season.

When production of the season is concerned we are talking of licensing, auditing, marketing, remodelling costs, creative directors, designers, stylists, communications personnel, security and many more itineraries that go into making sure that every season runs smoothly, 24 hours a day for the number of days that the show runs.

Following the end of every season, participants from the show have gone on to work with some of the biggest Nigerian brands including Guinness, which is currently the gold sponsor for BBNaija Season 9.

When a BBNaija housemate is signed to a brand, there’s an almost 100% boost in engagement on the brand’s page. That’s the visibility that the BBNaija brand has provided as a result of the millions of viewers who watch the show.

The Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, disclosed recently that Nigeria’s creative industry currently contributes $5 billion to the economy, and reality TV shows like BBNaija contribute significantly to this figure.

There is also an edutainment aspect to reality TV that many people do not spotlight. With time when there are tasks that have to do with current affairs or a discussion of social issues and causes, you get to see some reflection of society through the representation of a few. These moments show us the depth of the contestants that we might not see often. It deepens the love most have for them if their thoughts are well articulated and delivered.

Why do you think sob stories work on reality TV shows like BBNaija? Nigerians simply love a good grass-to-grace story. Our need to save the struggling always trumps the aesthetics. Regardless of the reality TV genre or format (Nigerian Idol, BBNaija, Ultimate Love, Gulder Ultimate Search), there’s one thing people will always tune in for, ‘a show showcasing real people with real experiences, experiencing real conflict.’

Saying reality TV is pure entertainment and a form of escapism does not directly translate to the fact that reality TV is a distraction from pressing national issues that deserve attention. It simply means that both activism and entertainment can happen side by side without one taking away from the other.

These tools of entertainment which very well include shows like BBNaija have proven time and time again that they can be a tool to further push a bigger message, whether it’s a national cause or to change the status quo by addressing pertinent topics with task-related exercises and just overall interaction while the show is ongoing.

At the end of the day, reality TV is here to stay and is thriving, the question is will you be joining the train?