After Extravaganza (Saturday Night Live adaptation) disappeared from the hectic comedy programs on TV due to it's low rating, in 2008. Opera Van Java soon replaced the phenomenal Extravaganza as the most watched sketch show in prime time. The comedians such a as Parto, Sule, Aziz, Andre Taulany (former band vocalist of Stinky, wow that's a big jump: from a band vocalist to comedian), and Nunung have turned into familiar faces who regularly come to our living room every evening. Every evening?? Yup....Ooops, I forgot to tell you that most of Indonesian comedies and sketches, and soaps are regularly aired daily, not weekly.
Well, the casts in OVJ were not really new when it was first aired in 2008. Perhaps, it was only Aziz (the stutterer) who was new face at that time (and guess what, Aziz then became The Next Best Thing on TV ever since). Perhaps, the concept of this sketch was 'different' from the previous ones. Adapted from Javanese Puppet Show, this sketch uses the comedians instead of the puppets. Parto (member of the trio Patrio, a well known Indonesian comedian group) played as Dalang (the puppet master). He sat between the two Sindens (the Javanase singers with high notes, watch out Mariah..!) surrounded by the traditional Javanese music instruments players.
Every episode, when it starts the dalang reads the summary of the episode story and then the other comedians (the puppet) would play the story. And the funny part begins. The "puppets" improvise a lot, change the story part, and do not obey the "puppet master's" scenarios. And here is the hilarious part: They crashed, hit, and ruined the Styrofoam-made properties...!! And it works!! People laugh at it and they would do again in the next episode.
But I gotta tell you that I don't watch OVJ regularly. But it's hard to avoid, you know, coz it's on TV on prime time everyday.
OVJ was first aired on 2008 and till this day. I just imagined that it's so hard to the writer to come up with fresh idea every week. Two thumbs up for the casts and also the famous guest stars who can always be funny (or try to be?) in every daily episode. But this what happens now: REPETITION. The formula of the comedy is now so predictable. Everybody will soon know what the casts would do to make people laugh easily soon after the dalang said "Di sana gunung di sini gunung...blah..blah..blah".
Here what I got from hardcore fans about the repetition:
a. Sule acts like a woman because of her long blond hair (Sule is a husband, people!)
b. Aziz is always the object of the humor and get insulted over and over
c. Parto got angry because his 'puppets' do not obey.
d. Andre always gets teased for being a former band member and the rest of the casts will mock him by singing his big song hit 'Mungkinkah'
d. Nunung gets insulted because off his curvy posture.
e. Aziz will get hit by the "not dangerous" properties
f. Sule self-depreciates himself over and over
g. Sule sings a song that he thought correlated to the story (he has good voice though)
h. and so on... (I know you can add too)
Then who is to be blamed if such hilarious comedy turns to be flat and so predictable? Yup the TV Broadcast!! TV Broadcast doesn't care if the scriptwriters (do they use script??) and the comedians are running out the ideas. Coming with fresh ideas for weekly show is hard, let alone daily show. Shit...!! They don't appreciate the creativity. The comedians do not realize that they are being dried up and exploited for short popularity. The same thing happened to Tukul. His talkshow's rating keeps dropping because people got bored and the way he makes people laugh is now so predictable. Why? because it's daily show, Dammit!!! Please Tukul, you could be the next Oprah who has 20 years running show, but Tukul is too "dumb" to realize. Stop being daily...!!
Well, back to OVJ, TV broadcast do not care if this program last for 3 or five years as long as they got high rating everyday (OVJ is an in-house product, not made by a PH). They think they will have other new programs when it stops. Too bad.
From my silly point of view, I conclude that Indonesian TV comedies are still in dark era. Sketch is still the favorite one as the TV claimed. Comedians with funny physical appearance and feminine body movements are still considered funny. They don't use wit and smart dialog to make people laugh. TV producers claimed that 'ugly people' are funny. Well, I DISAGREE. Perhaps, while Indonesian comedy shows still heavily rely on self-improvised comedians like Olga Syaputra, Komeng, Adul, Parto, Eko, Sule and others, I still can bet that given a witty and hilarious script, handsome and sexy actors can be funny too. This happened to Extravaganza, right? (before it was over exploited and dried up).
Tora Sudiro, Tike Priyatna Kusuma, Aming, Luna Maya, Indra Birowo, Desta and Vincent are university graduates who could bring a comedy to a high level and of course with good script as well. Again, TV broadcasts don't care at all.
Well, once upon time, there were some comedy shows that were funny and smart. Remember Bakso (Bagito Show) and Ngelenong Nyok (too bad aired in the morninng). And hey, we still have a smart satire comedy show like Sentilan and Sentilun (but nobody cares, huh).
After all, the concept of Srimulat comedic way that relied on weird physical appearance, insults, and body mishap 20 years ago, still can be applied in this modern Indonesian TV show. Well, just laugh it up, guys
Next time, we're gonna talk about Indonesian sitcoms. Thanks
Ithonx
Well, the casts in OVJ were not really new when it was first aired in 2008. Perhaps, it was only Aziz (the stutterer) who was new face at that time (and guess what, Aziz then became The Next Best Thing on TV ever since). Perhaps, the concept of this sketch was 'different' from the previous ones. Adapted from Javanese Puppet Show, this sketch uses the comedians instead of the puppets. Parto (member of the trio Patrio, a well known Indonesian comedian group) played as Dalang (the puppet master). He sat between the two Sindens (the Javanase singers with high notes, watch out Mariah..!) surrounded by the traditional Javanese music instruments players.
Every episode, when it starts the dalang reads the summary of the episode story and then the other comedians (the puppet) would play the story. And the funny part begins. The "puppets" improvise a lot, change the story part, and do not obey the "puppet master's" scenarios. And here is the hilarious part: They crashed, hit, and ruined the Styrofoam-made properties...!! And it works!! People laugh at it and they would do again in the next episode.
But I gotta tell you that I don't watch OVJ regularly. But it's hard to avoid, you know, coz it's on TV on prime time everyday.
OVJ was first aired on 2008 and till this day. I just imagined that it's so hard to the writer to come up with fresh idea every week. Two thumbs up for the casts and also the famous guest stars who can always be funny (or try to be?) in every daily episode. But this what happens now: REPETITION. The formula of the comedy is now so predictable. Everybody will soon know what the casts would do to make people laugh easily soon after the dalang said "Di sana gunung di sini gunung...blah..blah..blah".
Here what I got from hardcore fans about the repetition:
a. Sule acts like a woman because of her long blond hair (Sule is a husband, people!)
b. Aziz is always the object of the humor and get insulted over and over
c. Parto got angry because his 'puppets' do not obey.
d. Andre always gets teased for being a former band member and the rest of the casts will mock him by singing his big song hit 'Mungkinkah'
d. Nunung gets insulted because off his curvy posture.
e. Aziz will get hit by the "not dangerous" properties
f. Sule self-depreciates himself over and over
g. Sule sings a song that he thought correlated to the story (he has good voice though)
h. and so on... (I know you can add too)
Then who is to be blamed if such hilarious comedy turns to be flat and so predictable? Yup the TV Broadcast!! TV Broadcast doesn't care if the scriptwriters (do they use script??) and the comedians are running out the ideas. Coming with fresh ideas for weekly show is hard, let alone daily show. Shit...!! They don't appreciate the creativity. The comedians do not realize that they are being dried up and exploited for short popularity. The same thing happened to Tukul. His talkshow's rating keeps dropping because people got bored and the way he makes people laugh is now so predictable. Why? because it's daily show, Dammit!!! Please Tukul, you could be the next Oprah who has 20 years running show, but Tukul is too "dumb" to realize. Stop being daily...!!
Well, back to OVJ, TV broadcast do not care if this program last for 3 or five years as long as they got high rating everyday (OVJ is an in-house product, not made by a PH). They think they will have other new programs when it stops. Too bad.
From my silly point of view, I conclude that Indonesian TV comedies are still in dark era. Sketch is still the favorite one as the TV claimed. Comedians with funny physical appearance and feminine body movements are still considered funny. They don't use wit and smart dialog to make people laugh. TV producers claimed that 'ugly people' are funny. Well, I DISAGREE. Perhaps, while Indonesian comedy shows still heavily rely on self-improvised comedians like Olga Syaputra, Komeng, Adul, Parto, Eko, Sule and others, I still can bet that given a witty and hilarious script, handsome and sexy actors can be funny too. This happened to Extravaganza, right? (before it was over exploited and dried up).
Tora Sudiro, Tike Priyatna Kusuma, Aming, Luna Maya, Indra Birowo, Desta and Vincent are university graduates who could bring a comedy to a high level and of course with good script as well. Again, TV broadcasts don't care at all.Well, once upon time, there were some comedy shows that were funny and smart. Remember Bakso (Bagito Show) and Ngelenong Nyok (too bad aired in the morninng). And hey, we still have a smart satire comedy show like Sentilan and Sentilun (but nobody cares, huh).
After all, the concept of Srimulat comedic way that relied on weird physical appearance, insults, and body mishap 20 years ago, still can be applied in this modern Indonesian TV show. Well, just laugh it up, guys
Next time, we're gonna talk about Indonesian sitcoms. Thanks
Ithonx
that's what indonesian want to, sir. We need some fresh TV shows which can make us be relax and enjoyable after doing some daily activities in the outside.
ReplyDeleteThat's why, comedy show like OVJ, Wara-wiri, komedi putarr, and so on will be choosed by us when we want to turn on our teevision
It's brainless comedy, we need something smart like Bagito
ReplyDeleteit's all about the money. it's not about the creativity but it's about how TV broadcaster can exploit those comedians. it doesn't matter if OVJ last for ..let say..3 or 4 years, at least it contribute millions of rupiah to the TV stockholder for the high rate. that's what they care about.
ReplyDeletehaving a fresh idea for weekly program is hard, let alone daily program. scriptwriter is only human who can run out fresh idea once in a while, but WHO CARES???
though it's brainless comedy...as you said...still it makes a lot of people laugh when they watch is and getting higher every single day. based on recent survey, Sahurnya OVJ, aired in Ramadhan only at 2 am, is the most watchable program during Ramadhan.it shows that people need a brainless comedy to keep them awake to have "Sahur". so...do you think we still need a smart comedy in Indonesia??... i doubt it.
it's all about the money. it's not about the creativity but it's about how TV broadcaster can exploit those comedians. it doesn't matter if OVJ last for ..let say..3 or 4 years, at least it contribute millions of rupiah to the TV stockholder for the high rate. that's what they care about.
ReplyDeletehaving a fresh idea for weekly program is hard, let alone daily program. scriptwriter is only human who can run out fresh idea once in a while, but WHO CARES???
though it's brainless comedy...as you said...still it makes a lot of people laugh when they watch is and getting higher every single day. based on recent survey, Sahurnya OVJ, aired in Ramadhan only at 2 am, is the most watchable program during Ramadhan.it shows that people need a brainless comedy to keep them awake to have "Sahur". so...do you think we still need a smart comedy in Indonesia??... i doubt it.
see? that's why we need some reform on TV. It's all about money, but also creativity. Like Ari from Entourage series said, "I don't like crap, but crap sells." We just need some shows that make us wait for a week just to know what happens then. We don't feel that feeling again, do we?
ReplyDeletelast decade we still could say "Damn, I cant wait for next Thursday to watch blah..blah"
Si Doel, Bagito, and a few others used to make me feel that way