WOWOWEE: Sensationalizing noon time viewing or just being sincere on tv?
By zelle_gatoc
@zelle_gatoc (496)
Philippines
April 16, 2007 1:05am CST
In today's show, a man confessed that his wife has cancer. Just before his wife can say something about her condition, many from the studio audience stood up. One by one, each handed her a sizeable amount of money.
Wowowee, during its previous shows, had helped studio contestants through financial donors within and outside the country. Oftentime, after each "altruistic act", Willie Revillame would say his thanksgiving and his eternal line: "We just don't do this on tv... On or off air, Wowowee's willing to help Filipinos."
Is this another gimmick of sensationalizing tv viewing or really being sincere on tv?
2 people like this
9 responses
@flordz (269)
• Philippines
16 Apr 07
i saw it a while ago, i think there is sincerity on it, it is so hard to make a script for audiences who gave something for the contestant, it just so happen that willie is so credible in influencing the emotions of the studio audience... even the home viewers can catch the moment..
@sweetsue (758)
• Philippines
16 Apr 07
You said it right flordz. I myself I can see that there's indeed sincerity both on the studio viewers and with Willie as well. I rarely watch the show but then I really believe those money being given away to some unfortunate contestants were given out whole heartedly. It's not scripted. And as I can observe studio spectators who often give are those coming from the foreing countries and we can see that these people are obviously well off.
@asteriskec (1074)
• Philippines
16 Apr 07
I think there are times when things get sensationalized. However, the bottom line is still this: people need help, they get help through that show, people are all too willing to help. As long as the ones who need help get what they could, then I think it doesn't matter whether the scene just got sensationalized or what.
1 person likes this
@zelle_gatoc (496)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
I agree. There's no problem with helping poor people. The show had proven to be effective for calling the attention of financial donors but it's also obvious that it had changed noontime entertainment viewing.
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
17 Apr 07
well, sometimes i find change interesting, too. yep. does not matter much if the scene had changed. for as long as people love the show and find it interesting, it's good.
@erminiasanjose (1588)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
Giving should be from the heart and if you give from the heart, whatever people say or wherever it be done, that's not the issue. The person needing help is helped and that's good enough, that's for the glory of God, no matter what people say. Even if it's gimmick or out of sincerity, that should not be made the issue. Let others show other gimmicks also provided that they help people.
1 person likes this
@id_pop (293)
• Philippines
10 May 07
I think, though, that it should also be understood that this kind of "help" extended to people in need encourage *dependence* on others, which is already present in the Filipino mindset. I don't think that this is a good thing, especially if we consider the long-term effects of this reasoning. People will start, if they haven't already, considering Wowowee (and other game shows, for that matter) to be an easy way out of their problems, when there really is only a small chance of anyone advancing to the jackpot round of any of the two main games played in the show. It's not a profitable bet, as they say in gambling, and I think that people should realize that *easy money* is not the solution to poverty.
Sure, we've got people voluntarily donating dollars and pesos alike on the show, but how can one be sure that after the money is handed out, received well with thanks, and finally spent on a very good cause, the person who receives it will not need more? It's just as they say, the man received a fish and he was able to eat something for the day, but have we taught him how to fish? Have we given him a steady source of income?
@id_pop (293)
• Philippines
10 May 07
I think it's both true: Wowowee sensationalizing television and sincerely helping out those in need. Any way you look at it, the set-up works for both sides. People need help, and they get it from that TV show. That said, the show also need to do good on the ratings, so they help people in need. The more it occurs, the higher the ratings get (because let's face it, people like to watch people in need receiving help) and in effect, the more people the show is able to reach out to.
It's a give-and-take situation, and it's beneficial to both sides.
@basurera07 (320)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
i used to watched eat bulaga before. but when i've watched wowowie once, i stcik to it. i've been watching it for how many months now. i'm really touched when the audience are helping or giving donations to the contestants. Let's just forget about the rating thing. as long as many filipinos are having the benefits and the help from the audience (flipinos and foreigners), i think it's worth that there's a show like that. through his show, filipino and foreinger audiences can see the true standing of the filipino lives. that eve though it's hard, they can still smile. and i agree that if willie is not on the show, it will not be as happy as that. i can see his sincerity in helping those filipino people whose happy enough just being there in the studio. and also, i noticed that he always chose those older players than the younger once.
1 person likes this
@gabesmom (1246)
• United States
16 Apr 07
I saw the show for the first time on The Filipino Channel in my friend's house. I think it's great that the show is able to help out a lot of people in the audience. However, I didn't find any entertainment value in it. The contests go on and on and the dancing women are not appealing. I hope the writers can make it more interesting rather than just exploiting the sad plight of the participants.
@zelle_gatoc (496)
• Philippines
17 Apr 07
SOmehow, I felt that they do exploit "the sad plight of the participants" and even felt that the show was a charity show in disguise of an entertainment noontime show.
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
17 Apr 07
gimmik or not, i must admit, i am touched on how filipinos try to reach out to one another. wowowee is just a noontime show. and even so, it's one great medium to make the world realize how filipinos are close to one antoher despite the fact that there are lots of problems around. it's one great medium to bind us together.
@andak2007 (3229)
• Philippines
28 Apr 07
I think it is just the same..all their concern is the rating...and they are just using the poor Filipinos to catch more attention from tfc and viewers nationwide. True enough the show is entertaining if you want to be entertained and laugh at those poor people who can't talk straight English and being ridiculed by Willie sometimes. All these just to be given money. But if you look at it at a different angle. These are desperate people looking for help, not for temporary relief of hunger but a sure change to better their lives and at least be decent enough not to beg money infront of tv.
@cefaz_21 (2596)
• Philippines
18 Apr 07
I heard that news, can't watch noontime shows during office days eh.and if ever I could,I'll probably watch eat bulaga for I am a great fan of them.
However, I truly admire the audience of wowowee that particular day for tehy willingly gave help without hesitation.Filipinoa are born helpful in nature,even poor ones can help when being asked.
I think willy as he is good in influencing emotions to hios viewers has to do another cahrity show like hi"willingly yours" before.He's very good at it and more filipinos will get more help.
