Discrimination turns critics off TVB 'reality' hit
Nowhere Girls sparks complaints for its portrayal of struggling women - and claims of fakery
Television giant TVB is facing a backlash over a new reality show said to discriminate against and abuse the dignity of underprivileged women.
Nowhere Girls has drawn 1.2 million viewers every night since its debut on TVB Jade on Monday - but the Communications Authority has so far received 76 complaints about its content and premise.
The show centres on seven women who are described as "have nots" as they lack money, jobs, education and prospects. Each woman is said to represent one of "seven deadly sins" including, most controversially, being a recent mainland immigrant. They are shown receiving makeovers and working with fitness trainers and life coaches.
In one scene, narrator Carol Cheng says of one participant, a mainland immigrant: "No matter how hard she tries, she is still unable to get rid of her peasant nature." A stylist then mocks her outfit for a ball, saying: "Aliens are really about to invade the earth."
As well as discrimination, there were claims the women involved were paid and that some incidents were staged.
"Does Hong Kong need a TV show that promotes the culture of fighting and discrimination in order to make more money?" said Jimmy Pang Chi-ming, a local cultural critic. He said TVB's dominance over stricken free-to-air rival ATV gave it free rein for cheap, distasteful programming.
Nowhere Girls is a spin-off of TVB's equally controversial 2012 show Bride Wannabes, in which five women in their 30s had to go through harsh makeovers in their hunt for husbands.