Recent years have witnessed a lot of variety shows in the guise of sports competitions or fun making, involving jokes, tricks, taunts and the like, with the participation of movie stars, with a view to winning high audience ratings and website hits. Some entertainment programs import foreign models regardless of China's basic national conditions. All are intended to make big money.
Usually, when a certain "nonsense game" makes a splash, a string of games online and offline will begin to copy it, sweeping the whole or a certain part of society. It seems that such programs do not cost much money, but in fact they account for too many TV production resources and too much broadcasting time on certain channels.
TV variety shows should try to do good for the public, promote culture and encourage innovation. This is the requirement put forward in the 23rd Shanghai TV Festival.
In June, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television issued a formal notice demanding online shows and movies resist star worship, nonsense games and extravagant activities. Actually, this is also becoming a consensus among TV and movie producers.
Reducing imported recreational models, vitalizing cultural programs and focusing more on public welfare should be the guidelines for China's movies, TV programs and variety shows. Only in this way can these programs help spread Chinese culture and serve the public.
(This is an edited excerpt of an article published in Xinhua Daily Telegraph on June 16)