In the 80s through early 90s a lot of
syndicated foreign programmes ran on our national television which will
later help to build the standards of indigenous programs. The
telenovelas from Mexico and Spain helped groom our own television soap
operas which in turn had a trickledown effect on our movie industry.
Same can also be said for lots of children educative programmes which
also paved way for the likes of Jimi Solanke’s ‘Storyland’, ‘Speak
Out’, ‘Tales By Moonlight’ and many others. There was also a particular
German television game show, Telematch, which kept a lot of fans glued
to their screen during its run period.
The Game
Unlike the many game shows we now have
airing on our stations where participants are restricted to the
studio,Telematch was an outdoor game show giving it the luxury of
diversifying. It usually is a series of simple task completing
competition between two teams, either as a race or against the clock.
However, the gamers are dressed up in awkward movement-restricting
costumes that make it difficult to complete these seemingly simple
tasks. To further improve viewer’s appeal to the competition,each team
will have the opportunity of presenting a competition of their own
where they stand a chance of earning double points , if they win. This
is referred to as the team’s Joker. However, when a team wins another
team’s Joker game, it only earns normal points.
It was a lot of fun watching adults,
who usually try to keep children inline, cavort in muddy fields. They
are either trying to carry as many big rubber balls as they can to the
top of a slippery slide while wearing gigantic footwear or throwing
water balls at an opposing team member who is trying to balance on a
board with a rolling base, or some other activities in that line. How
hilarious the entire exercise can be.
The Lesson
Although it is very likely that viewers
get consumed by the hilarity and fun associated with watching Telematch
and conclude that it only serves entertaining purposes, however, in the
subconscious,a lesson is taught. While the show is characterised by a
lot of clumsiness and hasty movements, the more organised and more
cohesive team always win. It will be hard to say Telematch did not
teach the importance of teamwork and team organisation.
