Best of Business TV Reality

I am addicted to TV reality shows.

But not the trashy ones that are about survival on a deserted island, nor marrying a millionaire, nor pushing people beyond their limits on fear. No, no, no.

Dearly beloved, I confess that I love watching Business TV Reality shows, where people pursue the career / business of their dreams (amongst a whole lot of jealousy, bitching and backstabbing). It makes good television and to my surprise, I learn something useful. It’s also morale boosting because sometimes contestants commit mistakes that not even your 10 year-old niece would! It’s infotainment at its best.

So here is my chosen list of Top Business TV reality shows that I highly recommend, so enjoy!

1.    Dragons’ Den

A venture capitalist TV programme where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to secure investment capital from business leaders.

 2.    The Apprentice UK

Aspiring young businessmen and women compete for the chance to win a £100,000-a-year job as “apprentice” to the British tycoon Sir Alan Sugar.

 3.    Stylista

 Fashion guru wannabes compete for a paid editorial position at ELLE magazine in New York, a leased apartment in Manhattan and a clothing allowance valued at $100,000 with H&M

 4.    Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares

 Chef Gordon Ramsay helps failing restaurants to turn around their business.

 5.    Peter Perfect

 Image consulting and business makeover show with Peter Ishkhans to help businesses from sluggish to spectacular

 6.    Project Runway

Contestants compete to create the best clothes, usually restricted in time, materials, and theme; with fashion designers judging their designs.

 7.    Beat the Boss

 Two teams, one kids team named “The Bright Sparks”, and one adult team named “The Big Shots”, have to create a product that will appeal to the kid’s market and a panel of children votes for their favorite product.

 So what do I love about Business-themed TV reality shows? It’s television production meets business, an irresistible combo. Plus, at least we are teaching kids that life is not Jackass, Temptation Island, Survivor or Pop Idol that will make you money and give you fame. After all, now even teenagers know the difference between profit and revenue, and equity and capital.  

 

PZ.

 

 

Singles’ Day thanks to Reality TV?

Valentine’s Day – probably one of THE most commercialized days of the year (Christmas, Easter, Halloween are others) where roses, cards, chocolate hearts and teddy bears make its ROI. But what about those who are single? What do they do on this day? Thanks to The Apprentice UK, this show might just have given an idea to greeting card retailers …

Along with Dragons’ Den, one of my favourite British TV shows is The Apprentice UK with Sir Alan Sugar who tests candidates to become his next apprentice. (The show originated from its American counterpart The Apprentice with Donald Trump, who is now hosting Celebrity Apprentice). I love this show because it has the reality TV aspect, the business, great tasks, daunting challenges, clash in characters and Sir Alan who shouts in the boardroom “You’re Fired!” It’s so addictive I love it!! 

In this episode, one team decides to come up with a concept of developing greeting cards for single people and call it Singles’ Day and market it the day before Valentine’s Day. Clever no? I thought so, until the retailers slammed it as impossible to market Singles’ Day in opposition to one of their largest selling events in the calendar year, Valentine’s. I still think the idea is funny and unique – I mean after all they now have greeting cards for Diet (???), Pets … what will they come up with next? 

The Apprentice UK, much like Dragons’ Den, is a phenomenal success. You’d need a larger than life personality for the millionaire tycoon but the concept really works. In the US, it was the record-most watched TV program when it was launched. In the UK, they’re onto Season 5. As in business, you see candidates manipulating behind the scenes, egos clashing, people panicking and losing their tasks in monumental shame. Can’t be easy to be followed by camera crews, and thinking on the spot to achieve your goal in 2 days, whilst working with a team of strangers. Usually you see the losing team with its project manager back in the boardroom and then the 3 worst get interrogated by Sir Alan before one of them gets fired. Business is not like that obviously and for good reasons. But the concept and the personalities are not far off from reality. 

Reality TV at its best. Singles’ Day for the future?

PZ