It might be embarrassing to say in the age of influencers, but one of my biggest ambitions as a child was to be in an episode of Jam Alley. As an overeager millennial who was growing up at a time when consuming pop culture happened whether you liked it or not, it was hard to ignore my extensive knowledge of music that prospered between the '80s and mid-2000s.
The show reached a wide array of South Africans and had a diversity that rivaled many “rainbow nation” attempts by other television peers. It became the playground of SA’s biggest names, including star presenters such as Nimrod Nkosi, Vinolia Mashego and even Twasa, who I remember becoming obsessed with so much that I bought a magazine I never even liked just to read a feature about her.
Looking back at what Jam Alley accomplished by becoming one of the most recognisable jingles of the '90s and 2000s I couldn’t help but feel a bit nostalgic about its relevance, especially its genre.
Game shows have slowly disappeared from our screens. I am talking about them in the traditional sense where three to four or more unknown people come on television and use their smarts to win a taxable cheque, portable radios or even a branded chocolate bar.
Post-1994 SA was inundated with these. Whether it was international adaptations like A Word or 2 hosted by Jeremy Mansfield or the colourful Zama Zama game show with Nomsa Nene, there was always something that any age group could watch and truly believe that they could have won.
Other than the immersive appeal, the shows were a great way to keep families together. Certain storylines in Generations would be deemed inappropriate for younger viewers. Some of the sitcoms that used to play at 7pm on SABC1 did not have a universal appeal to audiences at home. Especially because a number of them were Disney shows.
It was easier convincing my Christian mother to follow That’s So Raven on a weekly basis while there was a complete disconnect to the storylines of the grownup ladies of Charmed. While both shows had main characters who could have premonitions of the future, the latter seemed to be a contradictory line that she had to draw.
But this was not the case with game shows. Even with the inclusion of DStv’s assorted channels, there was always a feel for which channel was catering for a certain demographic. However, the idea of watching a regular Joe or Judy trying to win a lot of money was extremely appealing. It was not just a matter of which game show didn’t make you feel too stupid. It was an immersive relatability.
Even hybrid genres that included new contestants in MTN’s Gladiators or the season-long tribulations of future celebrities on Idols SA extended this connection between families. It was a time when households gathered for a particular show that played at a specific time. But as DStv and streaming services create a saturated TV landscape it is actually watering down the tightness of the family unit in front of the TV screen.
It’s not uncommon now to watch whatever you want in the palm of your hand rather than keeping up with a TV show you would much rather Tweet about instead of chatting with someone in the living room. And perhaps that’s just traditional reality TV, where we follow already famous people but whether their cheques are taxed or not, that latter issue is extremely entertaining to watch.
Whoever wants to try and be an overnight millionaire or prove they are the strongest link in a room full of strangers has to enter the two or three game shows that exist in a world where if there’s no celebrity participating in it, then it’s not worth the watch.
While Idols SA is still a powerhouse I do miss old-school game shows. Even the cute ones like Lebo Mashile’s ethics showdown on Drawing the Line or even the talent showcase that was Jika Majika. You can definitely tell someone’s age based on the jargon that existed on these programmes.
It would be great to see these make a comeback and hopefully it won’t take another pandemic to make that attempt a possibility. Family units need to come together in front of the TV for something that does not include perpetuating a culture of non-constructive criticism.
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