Reality TV Rankings: 'Big Brother' Disappoints, 'Love New' Shines, 'The Voice' Falters
As the Hebrew year תשפ"ו (Tashpa"v) concludes, a review of Israel's reality television landscape highlights significant successes and failures. The author, Dor Segal Alboquerque, identifies the most disappointing, best, and worst reality shows of the year, noting the difficulty in selecting from dozens of formats.
The most disappointing show of the year was the latest season of "HaAch HaGadol" (Big Brother). Despite being a flagship program for Reshet 13, it struggled with ratings, often failing to compete with other channels. The author attributes this to poor casting, favoring social media popularity over diverse narratives, and a flawed editing process that focused too heavily on one contestant, Gal Rubin. For future seasons, the recommendation is to cast a wider net of interesting individuals with clear agendas, reminiscent of earlier, more dynamic seasons, and to de-emphasize the matchmaking aspect.
"Ahava Hadasha" (New Love) is lauded as the best reality show of the year. Initially conceived as a more serious dating show to rival Keshet's "Chatuna MeRishon MeRishon" (Married at First Sight), Reshet's adaptation embraced a more "trashy" approach with younger contestants. This shift, whether intentional or organic, proved successful, making it the most engaging dating show in Israel. The program's ability to reflect Israeli society more accurately than its competitors, and its focus on relationships between couples as well as within them, created compelling situations. The unexpected romance between Lia Noga and Dvir Solomon, who were not initially paired, exemplified the show's flexible format and delivered satisfying television.
Conversely, "The Voice" is deemed the worst reality show. The author criticizes the mentor lineup, Eden Ben Zaken, Noa Kirel, Static, and Idan Raichel, whose on-screen bickering created an unpleasant viewing experience. The show's treatment of contestants was also problematic, with mentors making grand promises during auditions only to eliminate many participants later. The musical performances themselves were disappointing, with contestants often sounding better in their self-prepared auditions than during the show's advanced stages. The article notes the filming of a "The Voice All-Stars" season, expressing concern for the veteran artists participating in what is described as a "frivolous" program.
The review concludes with a wish for a sweet new year filled with fewer villains, less tedious content, and more engaging, high-quality television that consistently ranks high in ratings.
