As we in the Philippines continue to live in what is (arguably) the longest lockdown in the world , there’s no doubt that some have begun to wonder how we could escape our COVID-19 infested reality. And what better way is there of doing that than by, well, immersing ourselves in somebody else’s “real” stories?
Almost 13 years ago, a group of tanned, beautiful brunette siblings – and their equally famous parents debuted on American television, hoping to ride the tides of what would soon be known as reality TV. Back then, the Kardashians (Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney) seemed like shiny knockoffs of the Paris Hiltons and Nicole Richies of the world. That was, definitely, then.
Today, the Kardashians trump the heiresses on many accounts, thanks to their respective multimillion-dollar empires and their massive following on social media (individually, combined or otherwise). Even their once little half-sisters, Kylie and Kendall, aren’t doing so bad, either.
As for their once little reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians (KUWTK) has since grown to become the gold standard for reality TV, with its 18th season rearing its fabulous head on Hayu this Sept. 18.
Owned by NBC Universal, Hayu is an online streaming platform solely dedicated to the riveting, raunchy, and sometimes cringe-inducing world of reality TV (which we, admit it, love just the same).
The streaming service debuted in the Philippines last October to an excited and rapidly growing market, and continues to grow strong, according to Hayu regional chief AJ Jayco.
And while KUWTK remains to be its crowning glory, this platform brings with it an exceptional selection of more than 300 reality shows, distributed across 8,000 episodes, which can debut on the same day as in the US. These include the highly popular Botched series, wherein doctors Terry Dubrow and Paul Nassif deal with some of the most bizarre cases of plastic surgery; and The Real Housewives series, which is, well, better left Googled than described.
In a sneak peek of its September offerings, Hayu revealed the same fame, fortune and feud formula that the Kardashians are known for. You see Kylie lamenting the woes of “coronavirus hitting close to home,” and the same Kardashians ganging up on a “distanced” Kourtney. If all 18 seasons of KUWTK is not enough though, Hayu also serves up a buffet of all-Kardashian goodness with other titles such as Revenge Body with Khloe Kardashian, Life of Kylie and Flip it like Dissick (Kourtney’s babydaddy and ex).
The Real Housewives of Potomac (season five), Beverly Hills (season 10), New York City (season 12) will also continue their run on Hayu, with the ladies’ clacking heels, designer handbags and intrigues in tow. There’s also License to Kill, Celebrity Call Centre, Backyard Envy and more.
Of course it’s not all catfights and hissy fits either. For the more wholesome of taste, Hayu also offers exciting seasons of Top Chef, Million Dollar Listing, Below Deck and more – all for as low as P 49/week or 149/a month. There’s also a limited three-month trial for those who would like t sign up for the service until Aug 31.
With that said, it’s time to put your real life on pause, upgrade your reality and hit the play button on your favorite reality show. Head over to Hayu.com and get started on that vicarious reality TV binge! — Jose Paolo S. dela Cruz
