Eye Candy: Asia's Next Top Model Ep 4

It is my wish that a show belonging to an international franchise does well.

To some degree, Asia's Next Top Model is performing beyond expectations with regards to the culturally customizing the content. Certainly the styling of the challenges gives the show a rich visual that perhaps the other franchises lack. And, as the trailers show, and as host Nadya mentions, friendship exists in the show.

I am all for positive programming. For example, Masterchef Australia is so much more appetizing than its US counterpart simply because the judges don't go out of their way to cut the contestants down the way Gordon Ramsay has been known to do. And the ever pleasant Junior Masterchef Australia, also shown on Star World in Asia, is a ratings winner in Oz.


However, as I mentioned before, reality shows thrive on the push/pull and the tension that exists in front and behind the camera. Audiences need a reason to root for someone.  As they say, there can be no good without evil. Therein lies the importance of casting.

Daniel Boey: OK I admit it, I love his jacket!

The recent episode showed a spark. One of the contestants was having her special time of the month, and did not bring, er, appropriate gear. So judge Daniel Boey, who really should be paid a lot for double dutying so often in the show, said he would yank the statement piece that was allocated to her and give it to someone else 'more deserving'.

It was delicious.

The first real moment that would raise an eyebrow. A potential villain. The poor frail contestant.

Here is the thing though.

Boey openly said the plan was to give one contestant the wow piece.  And as punishment for her grave error, he would give that to someone else.

In the same episode, another contestant said that Boey would usually look at her and compliment her directly to positively reinforce his liking for her.

Collectively, there was a sense of favoritism in the show.

Daniel Boey has earned his chops for sure. Over 20 years in the business, I would count him to be a true fashion expert in the field. He knows what works and what doesn't. He understands the strengths and failings of models.

Certainly, in a real world setting, Boey would be respected by the industry and clients alike for taking a hard stance on models whose behavior could literally affect the outcome of a very expensive production.  

Also, in the real world, some models get the wow piece.  Some others get more work from the show producer because of their personal relationships. And some also get blasted for not being adequately prepared for a show.

But this is not real world. It is reality tv. It is a competition show.

On a show like this, everyone gets an equal shot. And with the same opportunities, it is always appealing to see how contestants maximize the chances and how they progress from ugly duckling to beautiful swan. However, reality tv capitalizes on the human inclination towards taking sides. And so the aspirational aspects of the show must be balanced with the conflicts that can arise from the personalities.

A contestant mucking up an outfit is a money shot. And to get that recorded as footage, takes some manipulation, even if it defies a show producer's natural instinct to protect the sanctity of the clothes that's being paraded.

I doubt that this is really Boey's accountability. He is a very experienced fashion show producer, among other things. And he would function as he normally would in a real world setting. Perhaps the producers need to protect his on screen persona and mould the show a little more carefully. 

The good news: Boey, being as colorful and articulate as he is, is still probably one of the best elements of the show.