|
Murtz Jaffer's new series Reality Obsessed breaks down the genre by Bill Harris Never has the title of a program so accurately described its host. Murtz Jaffer is nothing if not Reality Obsessed. Reality TV, that is. "Some people have said it's ironic that we're doing a reality show about reality shows, but it's ground-breaking," said Jaffer, whose 13-part series Reality Obsessed debuts tonight across Canada on TVtropolis. "I honestly believe this show is going to change the way reality TV is produced. "How can Dancing with the Stars or The Bachelor do some of these things again, after we've broken them down?" Each episode of Reality Obsessed begins with Jaffer presenting a theory about reality TV, which he then tries to prove or disprove. In the first episode, for example, Jaffer attempts to determine if it's the mere presence of reality-TV cameras that make hot girls suddenly interested in less-than-hot dudes. "I see all these guys from The Bachelor and Paradise Hotel, and they don't look that good," said the 28-year-old Jaffer, who in his younger days was an intern at Sun Media. "So how is it possible that as soon as they walk into the mansion, literally in two hours they're all in the hot tub? "There has to be something to it. It has to be a result of the cameras. So regardless of whether you saw The Bachelor or not, that's kind of compelling, I think." So you don't necessarily have to be reality obsessed to watch Reality Obsessed. That said, Jaffer has been pleasantly surprised by how many reality-television celebrities have been willing to appear. "Actually, the first two episodes probably are our lightest in terms of reality-TV talent," Jaffer said. "As it goes on, it went from two recognizable people in episode one, to eight or nine in the later episodes. Even I didn't have a gauge of how many people we could get. "It was very important to me to come off as credible. I didn't want to be a Canadian show that couldn't get anyone, you know?" Credibility notwithstanding, first and foremost Reality Obsessed endeavours to be entertaining and fun. "Yes, it is fun," Jaffer said. "And I love the opening, with the animated Murtz." Hey, trust us: One thing Murtz Jaffer always has been is animated. |