Producers want to get audiences to feel emotionally connected to contestants, become invested in their journey and ultimately cast a vote in their favour. This week, John Key announced the election date. September 20 is D-Day. So for the next six months, we will be bombarded with policy announcements, glamour shots (some more glamorous than others) soft background stories with partners, babies and possibly puppies. Both sides will throw money at voters, but not too much as to look economically irresponsible.
The past week has seen embattled MPs trying to bat off their problems with smiles and jokes, rather than addressing legitimate questions. That is going to rub people the wrong way.
What do New Zealanders want from their MPs? We know those in the beltway are going to enjoy crunching numbers, pulling apart budgets and finding problems to every solution parties on either side put up. I doubt the rest of New Zealand is into any of that.
I think Norman Kirk got it right when he said New Zealanders don't ask for much: someone to love, somewhere to live, somewhere to work and something to hope for. Family, friends, housing, jobs and a future. They want honesty and genuineness from their representatives, not the spin, evasiveness and secrecy that has dominated headlines this week.
Even on shallow show Idol, the public sees through all the flashy costumes, the scripted answers to questions and even forgives honest mistakes. They don't vote for the prettiest contestant or the smoothest. They look for people who are genuine and sincere. Almost always the most talented contestants win on the night. Let's hope we can say the same for the election result.
The Herald on Sunday will publish a range of different views "out of leftfield" over the next couple of months.
