The best way to reject the culture of a place is not to watch TV. Yet it's somber to think of the banal daily life without even the entertainment of TV programs. This is almost impossible for me since I am from a little island inundated with various TV channels and TV sets everywhere. Apart from the 100 channels to choose from, TV can be found in all the public places. Being passive is also a blessing in Taiwan.
In recent years, talk shows have caught on. The range of discussion varies from political issues to fashions. Of course, those who'd like to learn more about daily life must-know are not forgotten. There are talk shows for everyone, targeted at different levels and walks of viewers. As for the interaction between TV hosts and the audience, in certain politics talk shows, people can call in to share their opinions. This was especially the fad a few years ago.
How do French TV producers attract higher ratings? French people seem not to be satisfied with being heard on the telephone. There are tons of quiz show games, at noon, in the evening. People attend the games not just to win a lovely amount of cash but also to be seen. The questions cover a wide range of knowledge and the forms of answering depend on programs. Sometimes it's guessing a number closest to statistics from the polls. Sometimes it's a multiple choice question. It's hard to imagine that this is a country where teachers suffer because the TV culture gives the impression that people are eager to learn.
The quiz shows did not attract me in the beginning. I am always more into the melodrama type of TV series in Taiwan. Little by little, after I got used to the pattern of watching Jean-Pierre Foucault's "Millionnaire" during dinner time, I found it a pleasant way to improve my French and fill the blank in the chapter of French contemporary culture. I even secretly imagined my sitting face to face with him and answering those cryptic questions with ease. It's more than easy to fall into the pattern of watching TV, even in a foreign place, in a new language. And even there are only six channels...
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