Study On The "Deep-level Entertainment" In Chinese TV Variety Shows

Variety shows, in a panoramic survey of present-day TV programs,are still the most effective magic trick to attact audiences for major TV channels.With the explosion of variety shows, the good and the bad are intermingled. Some are high quality shows,but some are junk culture.Fortunately, as the market matures and audiences regaining their rationality, only those shows that have withstood the trials stand still,enjoying both audience rating and public praise. The success of such shows lies in their sugarcoating the true, the good and the beautiful by reaching to the innermost parts of audiences and delighting them with substantial rather than superficial joys, which, is referred to as the deep-level entertainment in this paper. It is the deep-level entertainment that has effectively boycotted the vulgarization of recreation, leading Chinese TV variety shows to evolve from sensory amusement to a brand-new stage of spiritual fulfillment.Such an upgrading and transformation of Chinese TV show industry is by no means accidental; it is, to be exact, a fruit of joint forces such as program innovation, audiences’ growing expectation and political orientation. On the program level, innovation is unavoidable to consider the enormous pressure from both the increasingly fiercer competition and programming itself; on the audiences’ part, the relatively simple secular aesthetic values have evolved into sophisticated aesthetic values dominated by critical thinking, which means, they can only be pleased with variety shows that are both enlightening and entertaining; on political orientation level, a series of regulating and controlling measureshave been launched against entertainment generalization and homogenization. It is under such circumstances that a brand-new phase for Chinese TV variety shows is unveiled.Admittedly, this major turn is prompted not only by domestic forces but also in accordance with an international trend of this industry.Looking back at the history of foreign variety shows, we have come to realize that the element of reality shows has tremendously transformed the industry both in terms of program contents but in forms and layouts.Blockbuster-standard quality control and in-depth content exploration have brought audiences overwhelming visual and spiritual satisfaction,opening up a whole new way for audiences to interact with the shows.Valuable experience from peers overseas can be drawn on to benefit the growth of Chinese deep-level entertainment on the screenv at least in three ways : in terms of content presentation, deep-level TV variety shows should be aiming at achieving originality by recreating a true-to-life environment of the honored guests based on on their true personalities; in terms of narrative expression, deep-level entertainment connotates textured expressive style which takes stream of life as its narrative in order to represent the original conflicts between the figure and the nature, others and oneself, so as to give credit to how self change is made possible; in the matter of message conveyance, deep-level entertainment is different from traditional ones in that it values intellectual inquiries, encouraging audiences to deliberate and distinguish so as to come to their own conclusion.Undoubtedly, it is the deep-level TV variety shows that are most likely to win out in the upcoming round of competition on the screen bothin terms of audience rating and public praise. And the key to their success comes down to maintaining a balance between entertaining and moralizing, which, indeed, deserves a prudent and lifelong consideration of all researchers and practitioners of this industry.