https://pantograph-punch.com/posts/celebrity-treasure-island

In a whimsical open letter to TVNZ showrunners, Kiwi poet Jordan Hamel raised an interesting point as to how come writers were excluded from televised survival games shows.

[…] “two seasons into the CTI reboot and we are yet to see one of our beloved wordsmiths take to the beach. We’ve had dancers, comedians, influencers and that guy from Squirt, but no writers, and it’s about time that changed. […] we need to start seeing our literary talents on television screens.”

It is a light read for those interested in Hamel’s noble endeavour (link above). Allowing writers the opportunity to audition previously, might have proven too ambitious a counterpoint to manage on a show with a basic premise, or maybe by including successful authors, showrunners irrevocably diversify the concept of what “celebrity” means, and that is too great a responsibility to champion?! Either/or I don’t watch mainstream television, but a writer trying to survive with no money, just sounds like a normal day in the life (where’re my cameras?!).