EricoTV3 Mentor ended a few weeks ago amidst the usual drama and confusion with a lot of text messages, which happens to be the centre of the whole show flowing in high numbers.

The fact of the matter is that, TV3 instead of doing something about their lack of focus on reality shows, they are planning to stage another Mentor again soon with a little more confusing style.

Obviously they are not done using the unsuspecting contestants to extract huge money from the poor viewers by way of text messages.

Reality show is good and it’s the way now. Both locally and internationally, networks are doing it to the maximum. But when you bring up a concept, you have to follow it through with the delivery. The flashiness and flamboyance and noise don’t matter but the accuracy of what you have created. The word mentor in Oxford Dictionary means, and I quote “mentor n. experienced and trusted adviser [Mentor in Homer's Odyssey]”.

And that is exactly what TV3 told us they are going to do so we thought that was a good one so we said “Mnya we zor lo! (Welcome in Ewe). Then it turned out to be far from what they were screaming about and vividly laid out on the website and various write-ups.

Who is mentoring who? Well at least they took out the boredom during branch time and on Sunday nights by showing those wannabes on screen subjecting them to public eye without any idea what they are doing and the entire concept.

But somehow, they feel it’s ok for all their friends and families will see them each day and night whilst they themselves take some days out, away from the scorching sun of ours and also enjoying some lifestyle they normally don’t on a normal day. In return, they charge we the viewers ¢ 3000 per text message (not a bad deal, really).

We were forced to, so we loved it. And just as we were taking a break from the show’s grip, they fired us with another edition call Mentor II in that order till we landed at III. I asked George Bosompim (One of the technical Directors at TV3) when we met at the Old Don’s place at Osu if everything about this show is ok and he was frank enough to tell me so many things are wrong: “It has to be restructured to at least to look more real”, he said.

He was also disappointed for the fact that the type of buzz that started with Mentor had died down. I asked again if the interval between each season of the program is good enough.

He said what Stars of the future are doing is the real deal. You have to wait at least a year to do it again; when you push it too much to the people, they will get fed up with you in no time and we are witnessing it already.

The only reason why Mentor was able to run three times is basically because it’s run by a TV station which has a huge marketing advantage. So I left George alone and thanked him wishing his colleagues will do better by listening.

But I later asked a TV3 technical head a question that if he had the chance to modify the show what would he do? He said he wont do it at all! Whoa.. I said. But that’s true, only that I think Mentor as a reality show with the aim of unearthing talents is good but the right thing must be done.

Now on Mentor IIII will start in October or a little later involving all the previous winners to come and compete for an ultimate crown. Wait a minute. For the sake of J. A. Kuffour’s sexy eyes, why? Don’t we deserve some peace? 4 seasons of a show in 2 years.

How do you call that? I will like to clarify more on that so stay tuned.

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