Reality TV
All channels, all the time
LIKE mould on a zucchini, the backstory is threatening to destroy something that was not very palatable in the first place.
For those not familiar with the term, the backstory is the information provided to give context to something unfamiliar.
In the case of reality TV, it’s the heart-wrenching, stomach-churning tales that are used to create a connection between viewer and contestant in shows like The Voice, X Factor, The Biggest Loser and sometimes even the home renovation and cooking shows.
A typical backstory goes something like this: Alice has a voice like an angel, but her demons are never far behind her. The Townville teenager hopes her voice can help her mother to beat cancer, raise money for her father’s upcoming embezzlement trial and inspire her pet parrot to overcome its socially debilitating stutter.
With that, the brave teenager steps onto the stage and belts out a rendition of Sympathy for the Devil that has the kids in the crowd weeping and screaming while the judges declare she will be the biggest thing in showbiz since Johnny Ruffo set our screens alight.
The crucial role of the backstory is to put the audience in the mood to like the contestant. To want the contestant to succeed. To call that 1800 number and spend 75 cents to vote.
There appears to be a family band on the X Factor at the moment which claims to have had no electricity as children. Were they born in 1920, or is this show as phoney as a three dollar coin?
Even The Voice, which supposedly has a blind audition that relies on nothing but the quality of the singing, ensures that every successful contestant has a moving backstory before they send chairs spinning.
If Pavarotti turned up, he would only qualify for the next round if he spoke about his crushing battle with an eating disorder. Katy Perry wouldn’t made it unless … actually, she just wouldn’t have made it.
So the lesson for all you wannabe reality TV stars out there is to stop relying on talent and hard work and instead, adopt a little brother who was born with two left ears, a severe case of mildew foot and was once friends with Bindi Irwin. Then you’ll have what it takes.
– Danny Buttler
