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Monday 14 September 2009

Who's Nigeria's TV Talkshow queen?

~ By Ayo Shonaiya



Believe it or not, I am an avid viewer of talkshows, especially in Nigeria where every other TV program is dedicated to music, music news, chart shows and the new favourite over the last 2 years, Red Carpet interviews at various events (Big up to Denrele of Soundcity on that level).

As I sit here watching Agatha Amata on her program Inside Out, with the topic of the show focussing on if GPRS tracking on your mobile phone actually works in Nigeria, and with a panel that include a mobile phone whizkid (to show the viewers how to navigate on a mobile phone), a local government town planning official (for the accuracy of the streets listed) and a Policeman (to see if this new technology can help fight crime, or which major road is best to set up shop for "Happy Sunday"), I start to think, we need more programs like these.

As far as I know (please correct me if I'm wrong) there are 3 top female TV talkshow hosts of note in Nigeria; Funmi Iyanda of New Dawn, Mo Abudu of Moments with Mo and the aforementioned Agatha Amata of Inside Out. These 3 ladies I have met before, and I have actually appeared as a guest on Funmi Iyanda's New Dawn some 4 years ago.
In the United States of America, the Nielsen Ratings has continually rated the Oprah Winfrey Show as the top TV talkshow for so long now you would think the likes of Rikki Lake, Sally Jesse Raphael and the new comers Tyra Banks, Ellen DeGeneres, Racheal Ray and Chelsea Lately don't exist.


Although the 3 Nigerian TV talkshow hosts mentioned above have their individual styles, and I'm sure also have their focus and aims for their respective shows, I can't help but wonder who the people think is the Queen of talkshows in Nigeria. What makes a talkshow worth watching, does it have to benefit the society educationally or otherwise, or just to entertain by interviewing celebs and talking about women's issues only. Does presenting style even matter? Agatha stands in the crowd while talking to guests on "stage", Mo sits with her guests most of the time (except for when she leans forward to do the double cheek kiss kiss darling thing as the guests come on), and Funmi, although sits with the guests most of the time has experimented with the studio crowd a few times.

While Agatha is very "Naija" in her approach (she even drops pidgin sometimes), Mo is very posh in her outlook, pronunciation of certain words and her set is to die for. With Funmi Iyanda, she's very matter-of-fact direct with her raspy (sexy) voice and seem to command a lot of respect from her guests and fans. I really can't say which talkshow host is the best because all 3 have different shows and purpose, but as we live in a world of charts, brand positioning and who's No.1, I'm really curious if one of these 3 women can be accorded that title of the Queen of talkshows in Nigeria.

Please note: I'm not trying to cause controversy here or cause anyone to be disrespected, I'm just testing my microphone.
***

So who's Nigeria's TV talkshow queen?
Let's know what you think minus the insults...*wink*

23 comments:

  1. I love Funmi Iyanda. I think she is the Queen of talkshow.Its not just her tv personality but her personna as a whole.She is a diva.

    www.marriage5some.blogspot.com

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  2. All things considered..... Funmi Iyanda absolutely does it for me.

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  3. I'll go for Funmi Iyanda, she's down to earth and very "nigerian" in her presentation, Mo Abudu to me is not natural,more like following a particular foreign talkshow. That's my opinion and I may be wrong though

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  4. FUMMI IYANDA 1ST-SHE HAS BEEN THERE TO LIGHTEN OUR MORNINGS YEARS BACK WITH HER NEW DAWN.
    MO 2ND

    AGATHA 3RD

    MIMI'S OPINION

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  5. like Oprah is no 1 in yankee,
    Funmi is No1 in naija, period.

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  6. Funmi Iyanda of course, Mo is too fake for me, it got to a point she started copying funmi Iyanda.

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  7. I'll go for Funmi Iyanda, she is a very humble and original woman. Mo is so so fake and after the NGO money issue, i lost the little respect i had for her( well, it was so little anyway). Agatha has got her own style and she is very o.k too.

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  8. agatha amata pls....

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  9. I get issues with her o,but she takes the cake=-FUNMI,besides i think it s unfair comparing the 3 ladies,funmi s been around from way too long and i have friends who cant b liv how tush she s become ,which means she has nt always been this gd too

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  10. I have a lot of respect for Funmi Iyanda, and I think she's very good at what she does. She's down to earth, and direct. I like how she's just natural.

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  11. i would say Funmi(but she's bn off the air)..
    then Agatha( her show doesn't air throughout the country)..
    Mo's act looks forced and after that street children stunt she was said to pull, i hardly watch her anymo.

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  12. FI for sure!! has anyone noticed how Mo looks down on her guests sometimes!

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  13. FUNMI, FUNMI, FUNMI ALL D WAY.......

    F AINA

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  14. Mo all the way!!!!!!!!

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  15. PLEASE STOP HATING ON MO..SHE IS WAY OUT OF FUNMI AND AGATHA'S LEAGUE

    FUNKE

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  16. Funmi Iyanda by a million miles.

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  17. Funmi gets my vote. And I am not not hating on Mo but she just doesn't come across as genuinely into her topics or guests.

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  18. QUEEN SHE IS.....FUNMI IYANDA...WON KERE SI NUMBER.

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  19. @ Funke, funmi is wayyyyyyyyyyyyy out of mo's league, she cant present or produce a show to safe her live, granted she has the facilities bcos she is from the coporate world, but the show lacks substance and content, pls dont eva compare them, everybody knows she is bin copying funmi anyway and she has cheated pple out of their money, nemesis ll surely catch up with her.

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  20. funmi iyanda of cos l luv her die no body but u are the best, and pls dont compire her with dose 2.

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  21. Funmi is definately the best of all three.. plus why does MO have to talk through clenched teeth? haba!!!

    Funmi Iyanda is real, and smart, and funny and savvy!! She rocks!

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  22. agathe is more "relatable" she talks about very down too earth issues that affect evry single nigerian...she rocks..i love funmi too but i fink she is a lil bit one sided in her approach most of her guest are...entertainers as for mo...she does not seem genuine atall did yall watch the show when she cried.. i could act better

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Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the comment writers alone and does not reflect or represent the views of Linda Ikeji.

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