Beloved comedians are being featured more often in reality shows in Vietnam, particularly the local versions of foreign reality TV programs, as organizers hope to increase ratings and lure commercials, which have fallen recently.

>> Reality shows inundate Vietnam showbiz but lose appeal

More than 50 reality shows have now been aired on television channels across the country, with most broadcast on national broadcaster Vietnam Television (VTV) and Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV).

Since the 2007 debut of “Vietnam Idol,” the Vietnamese version of “American Idol,” reality shows have expanded ‘out of control.’

The TV programs come in a wide variety of styles, ranging from singing, dancing, cooking, and modeling to fashion design, interior design, and travel.

The shows are often purchased from entertainment groups based in the U.S., the UK, the Netherlands, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

Among the reality shows ‘imported’ into Vietnam, talent-seeking programs account for some 30 percent.

With a limited pool of talented individuals, many contestants compete in several shows in the same year.

This explains why contestants in the following seasons tend to be weaker, leading to waning viewer interest.

Unlike in the early days of reality shows in Vietnam, when novelty drew large, expectant audiences, viewers are no longer as curious about what is going on in the shows, the contestants’ talent and experience, or the final results.

Viewers have also grown tired of behind-the-scenes trivia, contestant squabbles, and scandals, which are rife in Vietnamese show business.

Star comedians: reality show saviors?

Facing this difficult situation, local show producers have recently turned to star comedians in an attempt to boost ratings, win back attention from viewers, and lure sponsors.

Hoai Linh, who began his acting career in Vietnam around 1997, is a household name in both expat and local Vietnamese communities.

Most popular for his brilliant roles as women, old men and fortune-tellers, Linh, 45, was invited to sit on the jury for the first Vietnamese season of “Your Face Sounds Familiar” in 2013. The show was originally created in Portugal.

His appearance guaranteed up to 80 percent of the show’s success even before it began, according to the organizer.

The comedy star was also the main juror in the semifinal and final of the first local season of “The Winner Is,” an American singing show, last year.

Many watched the show to enjoy his hilarious comments and jokes as a juror and host.

Linh’s appearance is considered one of the main factors behind the success of the first and second seasons of “Your Face Sounds Familiar,” which enjoyed high ratings and a notable inflow of commercials.

Considered a versatile artist, who has been successful as a comedian, film and theater actor, show host, and juror, Linh is now hosting the second season of “The Winner Is.”

Its finale is set to take place at Maximark Cong Hoa Sports Hall at 9:00 pm this Sunday, September 28, and will be aired live on Ho Chi Minh City broadcaster channel HTV7.

Linh was also paired with comedienne Viet Huong as the home team in the first season of the Vietnamese version of British comedy reality show “Odd One In,” which closed in June. The duo’s entertaining ‘vocal fights’ made the show quite appealing.

The artist will also sit on the juries of four new reality shows, including “Your Face Sounds Familiar – Kids,” and the comedy show “Thank God You're Here,” an Australian improvised comedy. Both programs are set to debut in October.

Other famed comedians, such as Chi Tai, Tran Thanh and Dai Nghia, have also been invited to other talent-seeking and comedy reality programs.

As more comedy reality shows are launched to win back viewers because talent-seeking shows are losing their appeal, the comedy stars are highly sought after.

Viet Huong now shuttles between the U.S., where she lives now, and Vietnam to take part in “Odd One In” and “Thank God You’re Here,” while Tran Thanh – another versatile emerging artist – has joined the two shows as well, in addition to hosting the Vietnamese versions of such shows as “So You Think You Can Dance” – an American dance competition show – and “The Voice Kids” – a Dutch singing reality show.

Meanwhile, Dai Nghia hosts “Dancing with the Stars - Kids” – the Vietnamese version of British TV series “Strictly Come Dancing” – and participates in other programs.

Organizers have also invited comedy stars, including Xuan Bac and Quang Thang, from Hanoi to join the shows in Ho Chi Minh City.

High pay

With their roles key to the success of these programs, the stars are paid quite well.

A local show producer revealed that Hoai Linh is typically paid around VND80 million (US$3,765) per episode.

Other comedians receive around VND30 million each episode, depending on their reputation and relationship with the organizers.

The stars have a hectic work schedule, and organizers thus have to make arrangements with them up to seven months or even a year in advance.

Jeopardizing their main career

Though the comedians are undeniably good at cracking jokes and bringing laughter to these shows, their weaknesses are sometimes exposed when they are on the jury in singing or dancing shows, which they are not knowledgeable about or experienced in.

Instead of giving professional comments during talent-seeking shows, their excessive ‘vocal fights’ can bewilder viewers.

As the host of the second season of “The Winner Is,” even Hoai Linh has showed weakness, as he often fails to make it exciting.

Similarly, Chi Tai gave disappointingly insipid comments when he judged the fifth local season of “Dancing with the Stars,” which wrapped up in March.

“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with local comedians’ appearances in reality shows, but in my opinion, show producers and the comedians themselves should know which one to appear in. The artists’ excessive yet unsuccessful appearances will taint the reputation they’ve built over the years, while failing to make the shows a success,” shared Tuan, a TV viewer in Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Binh District.

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