1. PROGRAMS WITHIN PROGRAMS
After the 2 formats published in the last Friday’s Espresso, I’d like to point out another couple presented at the recent MipCom. Their peculiarity is that both are “programs within programs”.
The first one is Koso Koso, co-developed by BBC Studios, Nippon TV and Asia-based content incubator Empire of Arkadia (EOA).
This “wacky” Japanese comedy gameshow sees celebrity secret agents prank unsuspecting contestants to win a cash prize. The contestants think they are in a reality show, unaware of the secret squad of celebrity agents constantly observing their every move. The agents must skillfully complete ridiculous missions without arousing suspicion to win cash for the clueless contestants.
This way, there are 2 levels of storytelling: the “fake” reality of the contestants, and the “real” game of the celebrities that must interact with them without being spotted.
The second one is the British The Underdog, produced by Primal Media & Motion Content Group, distributed by All3Media International and commissioned by E4.
This also is a “fake” reality format, where a group of participants believe they are competing in a popularity contest set in a unique environment, with “underdog” Alan amongst them.
However, living secretly next door is a group of reality show celebrities who are playing their own game to manipulate everything to make sure that the underdog wins. Alan is deliberately set up as the antithesis of typical reality show contestants in order to make his successes all the more baffling to the other participants.
“The celebrities act as ‘producers’, so they have the ability to control key elements of the contestants’ world, not least the confession room interactions, which allow them to know what every player is secretly thinking” says Primal Media’s Mat Steiner, executive producer on the series.
“Programs within programs”, as we said, with unaware participant and a scheme that reminds of the “classical” The Joe Schmo Show (see Friday’s Espresso 26th), which in turn has the iconic movie The Truman Show (1998) as ancestor.
2. MULTICULTURAL HOME-CHEFS
Israeli-based global studio Sipur and Ukraine’s Heroes Formats, a division of international production company United Heroes Group, have united to produce a new cooking competition titled SupermarketChef.
The format celebrates delicious and simple meals prepared by home cooks from diverse cultures. Recruited at neighborhood supermarkets, unsuspecting shoppers will have to audition to become a national culinary star.
The standout chef will then be whisked away from each location to compete on a supermarket soundstage, where they must craft “familiar, delectable dishes at affordable prices.” Later, if they impress the viewers – as well as professional judges – they might go on to gain the title of Supermarket Chef and a significant prize.
The format follows the interesting trend that mixes up cooking and culture of the world, where food is a kind of universal language connecting people and different countries.
3. A GAME UPSIDE DOWN
Game-show is the genre that more than any other one has characterized the history of television, from its remote origins. Recently it has had a revamp, with a series of “big, feel-good family entertainment games”, that mix light questions with funny trials and challenges, perfect for this worrying period.
Upside Down, produced by EndemolShine Nederland, part of Banijay Benelux, and commissioned by RTL 4, belongs to this category.
As the title suggests, the studio is literally turned upside down. Each episode sees two celebrity teams undertake all kinds of challenges and Q&A games, testing agility, teamwork and quick thinking and ranging from physical stunts to brain-teasing quizzes.
For sure, very impactful and spectacular from the visual point of view. What remains to be seen is if the games and trials will be really interesting and, above all, diverse enough and not repetitive on the long run.