One day, a man decided to enter a reality TV competition against thousands of others. He competed with heart and soul and, most of all, integrity. And no one could figure out why.
Masterchef just completed its fourth season with extra helpings of manufactured drama and strange special guests (the judges let their kids pick the ingredients for one cooking challenge).
Now, the difference between this type of competition and say … Big Brother … is that no matter how you try to trip up your fellow competitors, you still have to have the skills to win for yourself.
Luca Manfe is an Italian immigrant who manages a New York City restaurant. After failing to earn a spot on Masterchef last year, he returned in 2013 to try again.
And over the weeks, he listened, he learned and he moved up the ranks.
But in the final weeks, a little strategy was necessary. When given an opportunity to pass on a tougher challenge to another chef, Luca took it.
Yet, despite the mounting tension, he remained a gentleman.
During one challenge, Natasha, a top contender, discovered she’d forgotten to get some garlic – essential for her recipe. Luca gave her some.
When they were down to the top three, Jessie needed butter and Luca tossed her a stick.
Why? Why risk the cash, a cookbook and a new career just to be “the nice guy?”
According to Luca, even if he lost because of it, at least he would still be able to look himself in the mirror in the morning.
Ah, the mirror test. How many of us remember what it is? It’s certainly not encouraged in reality TV.
Even the Masterchef judges criticized Luca’s foolish and mistaken generosity.
Big Brother contestants move in together with the sole intent of lying and cheating their way to the top.
The only thing reality TV has actually held sacred has been the family bond. However, that too may be tossed by the wayside.
The king of all back-stabbing games, Survivor, has returned this fall for its Blood versus Water edition in the Philippines.
This time, the castaways are with their spouses, siblings or offspring. However, after the first night, they’re split into separate tribes so that they will be competing against their loved ones.
Survivor is all about manipulating and undermining your competitors by making deals with your tribe members. However, this time they know your true alliance is actually with a member of the other tribe.
Reality TV seems to be looking for new ways to blur the line between right and wrong.
And despite the cheesy dramatic pauses and misleading editing to create tension in the scenes, people are still watching – and loving – it. What does that say about our own moral compass?
Something to consider.
And if you’re wondering how the butter-sharing Luca did … nice guys don’t always finish last. Sometimes they come out on top.
