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FEATURE: Too Many Talent Shows

Tue, 4 Apr 2006 Source: Asamoah-Baidoo, Arnold

The conviction was always there that the bug for Searching for the next big thing in show business will bite Ghana, and it has. They call it "Idol" as the English commenced it all with 'Pop Idol?, then came the ever popular American 'Idol'and now almost every country including Ethiopia has its own version of "Idol."

Thanks to Metro TV, who has shown two very old editions Of the American 'Idol' and now screening the not-too-exciting South African 'Idols?, Ghanaians have no doubt fallen in love with the concept and event Organizers are taking due advantage. Unlike the other Countries where there's one big organized show for talent hunt, where one or two individuals are taken from the doldrums of obscurity to stardom, Ghanaians have four or five different shows all going for some talent hunting, Nescafe African Revelation(NAR),Bibini Music Talent Hunt, Music Music's M-Discovery,TV3 Mentor and Charterhouse's 'Stars of The Future.' It's been so far so good for NAR,as the program has lived up to its billing with two exceptionally brilliant editions, and the objectives of the show being realized as well. Like former American 'Idol? winners Kelly Clarkson, Rubben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino and 2005 winner Carrie Underwood, Praye also came from being mere unknowns to produce chart-topping albums and also to annex awards, thanks to such shows. The same cannot be said of The Bibini Talent Show and the on-going M-Discovery.

Faisal Helwani's production was implicitly drab and lacked any form of vibrancy. We never saw judges, but winners were chosen, and the prize for stardom was a compilation album which isn't making news. The M-discovery on TV3's Music Music is clueless, inconsistent and very much a frill. That segment has taken a chunk of the excitement from the main show, and the sooner it ends, the better. Now, TV3 mentor is running and there're so many trivialities on the show, settings for the show is appalling, the contestants suck and the judges are as nerdy as the contestants. And then there is Charter House 'Stars of the Future'. I have grave problems with the 'Stars of the Future' show. From what I envisage, the Charterhouse Show will cull the American 'Idol' concept, except for the comedy aspect. By telling us to come sing like R.Kelly and Beyounce,the organizers want to communicate to all prospective contestants that, if you come sing like Kojo Antwi or Daddy Lumba,you've no Chance, infact,count yourself out. But then, the organisers should know that the competition does not end at the declaration of the winner, but for the winner to land a lucrative contract and also produce a chart-topping album. If we come sing like the R.Kelly's and the Beyounce's,how well are Ghanaians going to accept us, should we win and then produce albums fraught with R.Kelly-like and Beyounce-like songs.

It won't work, trust me. The idea of the search for the next big stand-up comedian is laudable, but can't I be humorous like KSM or Fritz and win? You see, Charterhouse makes that Nigerian connection so glaring to us, inviting Nigerian Musicians, Actors and Comedians to grace our shows, and now you want us to be them to win competitions? Come again, CharterHouse.It won't be a bad idea if all the many talent hunt shows are amalgamated into a big event just like the others do.