Religious reality show- what next Jerry Springer

[KEND]

Times on line
Kuala Lumpur Journal
A Reality Show Where Islam Is the Biggest Star
Rahman Roslan for the International Herald Tribune
By LIZ GOOCH
Published: July 28, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Bright studio spotlights illuminated the faces of four nervous young men, arms linked as they anxiously awaited their fate. Cameramen stood poised, ready to capture the climactic moment. Finally, the chief judge broke the suspense.
Reality show contestants had their hair and make up done before the filming of the show in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Two of the contestants had been eliminated. The other two had taken a step closer to their dream. Winners and losers, each clad in crisp, dark suits and formal black hats, took turns hugging each other.
The competition is called “Imam Muda,” or “Young Leader” — a Malaysian venture into religious-themed reality TV.
The basic premise may replicate that of reality shows like “American Idol” around the globe, but here, inside an auditorium at one of Kuala Lumpur’s largest mosques, are notable variations on the tried-and-true formula.
The prize pool, too, offers a clear indication of the detour the show takes from the usual reality show script. Cash and a new car are up for grabs, but the winner will also be offered a job as an imam, or religious leader, a scholarship to study in Saudi Arabia and an all-expenses-paid pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city.
The show, which debuted in May with 10 contestants — whittled down from more than a thousand applicants with backgrounds ranging from banking to farming — has built an impressive following among young Malaysians. It is the most-watched show ever on Astro Oasis, a Muslim lifestyle cable channel, and its Facebook page has more than 50,000 fans.

[Hebrew Hammer]

I heard about this on NPR...sounds fascinating...I believe there is no voting, only a winner picked by edict from some Imam. I guess you just have to pray for you guy to win.

[affa]

damn... we should've sent a plant

[Darthwing Teorist]

Interesting. Why not, after all?