Iraq gets an extra dose of reality — on TV

updated 2:45 p.m. ET Aug. 10, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Clad in a beige suit, the TV news anchor fiddles with his glasses as he announces there’s been an explosion: “The microwave blew up in Soha’s face as she was preparing her trademark pizza,” he says.

Jon Stewart, step aside. Welcome Ali Fadhel, rising star of Iraqi spoof news — or so he hopes. For now, the 24-year-old is a popular contestant on Iraq’s new hit reality television show “Saya Wa Surmaya,” or “Fame and Fortune.”

The show features Iraqi men and women taking on challenges in hopes of winning a contract with Al-Sharqiya television, which airs the program. Fadhel tried his hand at a fake newscast.

“Fame and Fortune” presents a different “reality” from every day life in Iraq — no kidnappings, no killings, no explosions — except for the odd cooking accident.

“There’s such little support given these days to the youth,” said Mustafa Kadhem, head of programming at the station. “We figured we can help uncover some of the talented ones.”

Reality TV burst on the scene in the Arab world in 2003 with programs similar to “Big Brother,” but adding elements of “American Idol”-style talent shows. The shows angered conservatives, who considered the spectacle of young men and women dancing and singing under one roof sacrilegious.

Al-Sharqiya introduced Iraq’s first reality TV show in 2004, but it was not geared toward pure entertainment. The program, “Construction Contract,” revolved around the reconstruction of homes destroyed after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of the country.

“Fame And Fortune” kicked off this year with different themes every few months. One offered winners interest-free loans to start small businesses. The latest installment, “Youth Project,” is a talent contest.

“The idea was to help people realize their dreams and follow them as they do that,” Kadhem said.

“Youth Project” began after the network ran ads seeking young people who have an interest in visual arts. More than 70 people auditioned; eight were chosen, including four women.

The show hit the air in July, featuring the eight finalists, aged 17 to 30, in a set that looks like a living room with an open kitchen. The contestants, in mostly unscripted situations, perform different artistic tasks — photography, script writing, directing and acting — that are evaluated by professional artists.

Viewers decide who leaves the show by voting through the network’s Web site. The winner gets $3,000 and will be hired as a director by the network.

In a concession to Islamic tastes, the participants don’t spend the night on the set, as they might in a Western reality show. But they eat together, socialize and sit close to one another on a narrow couch.

MORE FROM MORE REALITY TV NEWS, FEATURES

Kirstie Alley to star in TV reality series

Kirstie Alley to star in TV reality series In reality, some stage parents are very scary Illness forces Billy Bell out of ‘Dance’ Carnie Wilson goes ‘Unstapled’ for reality series ‘Big Brother’ winner accused of selling pills Kate Gosselin says her kids are struggling TLC suing Jon Gosselin for breach of contract For kids’ sake, ‘Jon & Kate’ needs to end now ‘Loser’: A player’s past choices come back to haunt her Report: Blagojevich will appear on ‘Apprentice’   Add More reality TV news, features headlines to your news reader: