Reality shows are by the dozens, and the ones on music sell the most; right from the days of Anu Kapoor hosted – Meri Awaz Suno on Doordarshan. Masses succumb to this never-ending saga, so do participants, and so do the judges.
I guess retired senior musicians, music directors, and singers line up for that hot seat to reignite their fading presence or just plain rake in some moolah, even if that means a few thousands only.
The 4 judges you can’t miss on reality music shows:
1> TRP Judge
These guys are known for their big mouths and random comments. They can laugh out louder than the chimps and cry a river for that otherwise gloomy show, getting the world talking about them. They earn a top spot in premier television networks and fight hard to retain their seat. These judges are there to exploit their brand, popularity, and make some big bucks.
2> Backup/12th Man Judge
These are folks who could not get into the top category due to their commitments, exorbitant fee demands, or wildcat tantrums. They are then courted by competitor networks for slightly lesser salaries or sometimes more. They earn more airtime than the participants in each episode, with their comments, comments, and comments. These judges season themselves well enough and keep themselves well-trained, hoping for that hike/jump to that premier network/show.
3> Sludge Judge
A complete bunch of losers on half-pie networks/shows who have been known for their controversies or any other rendition other than their music. They sport the most saintly looks and have the most generous comments before slipping into a breaking news headline in the next day’s tabloid.
4> Jumping Judge
These are eminent judges who have made this their full-time career and keep hopping shows and networks mid-way through onto high-paying ones. These blabberists also qualify into the first type with their eccentricities. They don’t mind mingling with any of the above categories of judges as long as their accounts get greener by the day.
It’s good to have shows, good to have judges, good to have money, TRPs, winners, grand prizes, and all that jazz. But where’s the music?