ADVENTURE REALITY WITH TEMPTATIONS
The blurred line between reality and lies: Real or Reel and Cheaters-Unfinished Business
Tentados por la Fortuna ("Tempted by Fortune") is premiering on Azteca Uno, the Mexican national television channel owned by Tv Azteca and produced with Acunmedya. The format is a classic adventure/competition show: six celebrities (including an influencer and two tiktokers) and six strangers will embark on a journey across Turkey in search of the grand prize of 5 million pesos (just over €80,000).
For 4 weeks, the contestants will face physical, mental and emotional challenges with only the bare necessities to survive. Host Sergio Mayer (who was also a former politician) will encourage the contestants to indulge in expensive luxuries, which will be deducted from the final prize.
Although not explicitly stated, the format is likely to be the local version of Tempting Fortune, which has the same concept and basic mechanics (avoiding the many temptations during their survival adventure in order to win as much of a substantial cash prize as possible).
Produced by Voltage TV, Tempting Fortune aired on Roku and Channel 4 last year (where it was a huge success for the young target audience and has just been re-commissioned for a second season, although U.S. co-pro partner Roku is no longer involved) but, to be honest, is very (too) closely inspired by Stranded With a Million Dollars, which aired on MTV in 2017 (see FE 10 Mar 2023).
IS IT FOR REAL?
In contemporary society, it is increasingly difficult to distinguish between the real and the fake: fake news, AI, 'reality hoaxes' and more are increasingly blurring these two planes. So why not joke about it? This is the starting point of Korean prodco CJ ENM's Real or Reel, which premiered on 25 April on its affiliated entertainment channel tvN.
The show challenges the participants and the viewers to separate reality from staged scenarios in the lives of celebrities living under the constant spotlight, mixing entertainment and investigation. After playing video clips that showcase the day-to-day activities of famous people, the hosts and guest panelists debate the authenticity of what is shown: are the celebs acting or is it their real lives?
An interesting variation on the true/false theme that has inspired other formats, such as the fun Austrian comedy show Fakt oder Fake (Fact or Fake), which has also been successfully broadcast in Germany.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOR NETFLIX
A new unscripted series titled Cheaters: Unfinished Business, hosted by Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden (pictured), will premiere on Netflix at a date to be announced (casting is currently underway and filming will begin this summer).
The format is produced by UK producers 12 Yard (The Cabins; Coach Trip) and Lifted Entertainment (Love Island; My Mum, Your Dad) and focuses on the relationships of couples that have ended badly.
The series will follow eight former couples as they reunite for the first time since their break-up. In each ex-couple, one person cheated on the other during their relationship. The couples have signed up to an expert-led process in the hope that they can face up to their past mistakes, rebuild trust and decide whether they can forgive and forget.
The concept is not particularly original, but the main interest lies in the relationships established between the protagonists and, as in the previous format, in the unstable relationship between truth and lies.
NEWS IN A NUSHELL
Virgin Media TV orders Irish version of The Assembly, local adaptation of the French format The A Talks
RTL 4 in the Netherlands signs first deal for Belgian quiz show In Other News, Today, created by Panenka (Switch) and in its third season on Belgian public broadcaster VRT
Saudi Arabia-based Middle Eastern broadcaster MBC has commissioned a local adaptation (titled El Leila Doub and presented by Egyptian actor Hassan El Raddad) of Jimmy Fallon’s hit format That’s My Jam
The sequel to the Comedy Class series, starring Eric and Ramzy, is coming to Prime Video in France, following the success of the first three episodes, which aired on 26 April
Production on the ninth season of Shark Tank México, from Sony Pictures Television Latin America, recently began
Welsh-language broadcaster S4C has struck a deal for a local version of ITV Studios format, The Voice
