GECs
Fox’s new reality show looks to Trump competition
MUMBAI: The war in the reality genre in the US is heating up. Fox has announced a reality show that looks to skew NBC’s hit The Apprentice.
My Big Fat Obonomious Boss is a spoof on the concept of ‘smart’ candidates looking to land a hot job worth $250,000.
12 real contestants – young, overachieving, type-A business professionals – arrive in Chicago and begin competing in frustrating and ridiculous challenges. They want to work for an investment firm Iocor.
Here is the catch. What they do not know is that Iocor is a fictitious company. In The Apprentice Donald Trump gives the winner a job.
On Fox however viewers will watch with glee as the poor suckers plot their strategies to win the CEO’s approval, a cash prize of $ 250,000 and a lucrative opportunity to join this powerful but nor surprisingly unknown, investment organisation.
The only thing real is the $250,000 cash prize. Those that dislike yuppies stepping on other people’s toes to get ahead are no doubt going to get a kick from the show. .
Their climb to the top is about as real as wrestling in the WWE. The unsuspecting teams will utilise their highly touted business backgrounds, education and strategies to compete against each other.
Each week, the losing team sends two finalists to the boardroom to plead their case with “Mr. Todd” before one of them is eliminated. What they don’t know is that “Mr. Todd” isn’t the one really making the decisions.
It will remain a secret to the contestants until the last elimination that a mystery boss has actually been deciding their fate. In an eye-opening turn, the identity of the real boss will be the biggest surprise of all.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
