MEMO TO NIGERIAN IDOL BY DAVID ABELLEGAH

As one of the most famous TV reality shows, Nigerian Idol begins few months from now, analysts are beginning to look at the last Idol show that kept many viewers glued to their TV stations, especially the outcome of the show that kept up with their expectation.

However, the last Idol left me wondering whether it was the same Idol I watched 2 years ago, or a reloaded version with the introduction of a new judge (Charlyboy) who obviously made a difference. What I can take from the organizers and those who scripted the last edition of the show was their strategy and creativity towards getting the attention of the Nigerian audience. Yes, they did get the attention in the most creative way. The organizers themselves may not have noticed the huge difference they made through their new strategies, but majority of Idol fans did.

My eyes did not fail me when the 2^nd edition hit the TV screen, as it refused to blink one bit.  I was not ready to miss one episode. A single second out of the show to me was like a whole episode. The Yinkalistic style was seen in a reloaded version and I concluded that the Charlyboy virus had infected her. I did not see the quiet, shy Yinka in the second edition, and I don’t need to be told that we all need a motivator to be able to expose in totality the creativity in us. Jeffery Daniels was also full of life, because the Charlyboy virus had touched him. He became a Naija, closely imbibing the culture and the philosophy of Charlyboism. It was an idol made by stunt, as different viewers had got their different views about Charlyboy on the Idol. Even when some wondered on his feminine character, pretentiously put up to generate controversies for the organizers, they were glued to their TV screens. Yes, they wanted to see what Charlyboy would do next. I’m speaking from experience, so don’t think it was only you who felt that way.

When the Abuja Audition was aired, I asked one big and confusing question. My question was whether Charlyboy was going to remain Charles Oputa in the show or play with the enigma. Having seen that he was cool and calm in that very first episode, my interest in the Idol was almost trailing.  But when the big one happened in Enugu, it was revived. It was the Python stunt. Across radio and TV stations in the country, the news went viral, interest rose to the top, and I was amazed at the way that deadly snake culled round Charlyboy as Idol crew members stared from afar.  Wonders! But it was good for the organizers; the idol got to the lips of many who were fetish. They thought Charlyboy was fetish and took his juju snake to the Idol, and they wanted to watch him for the second time even amid criticisms. Of course, they will never believe that Pythons can be trained and become harmless. The pretty ‘Missy’ was Charly’s friend and pet as speculated, and I even heard the Python died early this year,; eyaaa, what will Charlyboy take to the Idol show this time around?  Maybe, he will come with his magic stick. I heard he has one that gives him money. He could possibly share part of the money to the audience, you know!

However, Charlyboy had told pressmen after the Python stunt that it was a simple message to the young Nigerian Idols, stating that it will only take courage to be able to get to where they wanted to get to, just like it took courage for a lot of them to be able to caress the back of the snake, when it was brought in after the show.

It was not too long before Charlyboy stormed the show again with his masked Angels, playing with the senses of the Idol fans with a fake human skull. It became another topic for the media, and idol fans. 

His feminine (Linda) attribute is another thing to talk about.  That quality gave me hope when I looked at the faces of those young men and women who were keen at getting to the final of the Idol. Linda was so compassionate, fighting to keep many of the good voices in the competition, just to encourage them. Even when he proved difficult at some point of interface, the feminine character became the most comical character in the Nigerian Idol as I laughed my heart out. With all the lipsticks, and other make-ups, his body was emphasized for accentuation and perfect eye contact.  Charlyboy’s constant interaction with the studio audience was awesome. He gave them something to talk about, something to feed on, just like he did for the tabloids.

His compassionate and feminine character that has been compared to the famous American Boy George was further exposed when tears streamed down his eyes at the last performance of the evicted Idol competitors.  The headline read “Charlyboy cries at the Nigerian Idol eviction Show” Even though some have said that the tears was for show, I have had a different notion on what it represented. It communicated to me the essence of the brand. Charlyboy is simply more than what we know as a character and as a creation. He has got an overwhelming human feelings and that was why he cried when those guys were evicted. He looked at their efforts, their creativity and their star quality and cried for them; simply telling them, Omo’ you did well…thumps up!

Generally, the return of this enigma to the Idol will settle the Areafada’s unfinished job. He has got a good relationship with the audience, as they hail him each time he motivates the singers. He brought in acceptability and mentoring into the show, as we saw the judges most of the time going with different choices. While Charlyboy stuck with Joe Blue, Yinka and Jeffery had their own choices entirely.  With such faction and separate tents toward the end of the show, the Idol show became more interesting, and people began to contemplate whether with the Areafada’s interest and influence on Joe, the opportunity would slip away from mercy’s hands.

My appeal to the Nigerian Idol organizers is that they should not try to regulate Charlyboy’s show in the Idol show, hence it will run dry and dull. If the Idol is not made by stunt, it will die-boring. What makes a show is the colour it gets as defined by the different characters who sit by the judges desks.

Life is a stage, and every show is expected to be larger than life, larger than the stage itself. Charlyboy is a walking-working stage, and his full presence, not half, will create the larger than life spectacular element that will make the show more dramatic and captivating, unless we want to kill the tempo. Don’t limit the stage in him, don’t inhibit that creativity. Create room for more dramas. Make your judges an integral part of the drama. You won’t lose a thing. Let’s go there!

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