Chinese Reality TV

CCTV has finally made a good move! For all of you Chinese speaking Survivor fans, or American Idol Fans CCTV has come through for you.

CCTV announced that they will be hosting a search-not for a singer--no, not even for a winner of a million dollars--they are searching for 2 people out of 1.4 billion to become the hero's of the Beijing Olympics. One lucky male and one lucky female will be chosen to steer the men's and women's teams of eight rowers in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The requirements are a good set of lungs and a great sense of direction. CCTV officials have said they are going to take parts from "Survivor", "The Apprentice" and "American Idol" as ways to sort through the literally billions of people.

Reality TV isn't a new thing is China, they have had their own fair share of spin-offs for a few years now. What CCTV is hoping for though is to use this competition to boost local interest in the Olympics. Last year "Super Female Voice" a TV reality show like American Idol, raked in a whopping 400 million viewers for the finale. I personally doubt that number is true, but even so I bet it beat out American Idol's record breaking 36 million.

The competition will be called "China Olympic Coxswain Competition" and the rowing sport was picked because "This is the only sport in the Olympics in which such a competition could be held. The coxswain position is unique because you don't need great physical strength, just mental strength," says Liu Ai Jie, vice president of the China Water Sports Association. I know you are thinking what I was thinking when I first read the news "How in the world did this fly by so many people and get continuous OK's? Aren't they worried that they will make a fool of themselves once again? Wouldn't these two lucky winners have to train for a long time before they could do this?" The answer is simple when you see what catch line was used: "Chairman Mao is China's Great Helmsman. The position has special meaning. Rowers won't be able to go in the right direction without the leadership and purpose of a good helmsman." No pressure there! I almost feel sorry for the winner now!

The nationwide search starts in September, with 80 contestants selected based on essays and interviews. I am suprised that CCTV didn't make them take a battery of tests, I mean what would a Chinese competition be without a test? The contest will air in prime time in mid-November, when 20 finalists will be voted off by a set of judges and the audience in weekly televised trials that will test their stamina, leadership skills as well as their ability to withstand stress.