FRIDAY'S ESPRESSO - 1st September

The most followed newsletter about international formats & factuals

1. AI : ARTIFICIAL INDIAN

The rise of Artificial Intelligence is a widely acknowledged trend, but it’s still too early to understand how will change entertainment and -to remain in our field- unscripted shows. One thing's for sure: at the moment it's very fashionable and newsworthy.

Animated AI hosts/anchors are an example of a possible application (not the most interesting, to tell the truth). After the virtual hosts of Wizard of Sauce (see Friday’s Espresso 3rd Feb), after NAT, the Mexican “artificial anchor” (launched last 18th March) and Fedha, the “artificial anchor” of Kuwait News (that premiered last 12th April), now it’s the turn of Viral Bhabhi.

Viral Hua Re debuted last 20th August on QYOU Media India’s Hindi general-entertainment channel Q TV. The show -that tries to transport the mobile phone experience onto television- features viral short-form videos sourced from social platforms, that include comedy, pranks, gags, falls and fails. All this commented by Viral Bhabhi, the AI anchor.

Nothing particularly remarkable: this trend seems more like a passing fad.

2. A OUT OF ORDER GAME

One of the greatest strengths of the game show is its versatility: in the quiz you test your general knowledge, in the “light quiz” (like Identity, Guess My Age and so on) intuition is at stake, in the adventure game the challenges (physical and mental) are mixed up with travels and beautiful landscapes… And of course in the comedy game there is laughter.

And Out Of Order is exactly a comedy game. The show, hosted by the British comedian, writer and actress Rosie Jones (pic), will be on air on Comedy Central UK in 2024, produced by Rumpus Media.

The concept is extremely basic: two teams of comedians compete in front of a studio audience to place members of the public in the correct order in a series of revealing categories such as, 'Who earns the most?' and 'Who's had the most one night stands?'.

That’s it: the rest is up to the comedians.

3. (ANOTHER) BARTENDER COMPETITION

Next 10th October on Sony Channel Brazil will premiere Shaking the Bar, a reality/competition show produced by Sony Pictures Television together with the Brazilian prodco Save the Queen.

The 14 participants are bartenders who’ll learn -during the 10 episodes- how to prepare the perfect cocktail and run a bar. They also will compete against each other in a series of themed trials, with periodical eliminations. The finalist will win a cash prize to open their own bar. The host is the businessman and social star Facundo Guerra (pic), one of São Paulo's most influential nightlife entrepreneurs.

Everything already seen: nothing new, neither regarding the location (the Swedish “classical” reality Baren -The Bar- was in 2000), nor the bartender competition (see, for example Drink Masters and others).