Thailand's Got Talent under fire again (updated)

Critics are accusing Thailand's Top Talent judges and producers of disrespecting a male contestant believed by many to have mental problems.

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Your mother didn't teach you to use "khrap," right?, asks Thailand Got Talent judge Benz Pomchita Na Songkla.

Morning Update

Post Today is reporting this morning that Workpoint Entertainment's public relations director has defended Thailand's Got Talent for airing the controversial episode.

Amara Sinthong said that Emerald is not mentally-retarted, but he was just nervous when he went on stage to perform.

She said the show wants to show people from different sections of society.

public relations (PR) – the activity of creating a good opinion among people about a person, product, company, or institution งานประชาสัมพันธ์
nervous – anxious about something or afraid of something กระวนกระวาย

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Thailand's Got Talent under fire again

Thailand's Got Talent is in hot water again. The popular talent contest is once again facing allegations of airing inappropriate content.

Last year, the programme was condemned for broadcasting a topless woman performing "body painting" using her breasts, an "act" critics said was planned in advance to increase the show's ratings. 

This year, the show's three judges stand accused of badgering a 24-year-old contestant who appeared to be suffering from mental problems.

The contestant, who gave his name as "Siddhatta Emerald", got on the wrong side of the judges from the beginning for saying he didn't like to speak into a microphone.

Then, his short, unenthusiastic answers absent the polite male expression "khrap", irked female judge Benz Pomchita Na Songkla, prompting this exchange:

Benz: Your mother didn't teach you to use "khrap," right?

Emerald: At our house we are not strict with manners. Virtue is more important to us.

Benz: Can you say "sawatdee"?

Emerald: Forget about manners. I want to perform."

The contestant seemed a bit bewildered and frustrated by the questions.

Male judge Jirayut Watthanasin favoured disqualifying the contestant immediately for inappropriate behaviour, but Emerald was allowed to perform the theme song of the Chinese film Pao Bun Jin.

His singing was laughably poor, prompting jeers from the audience and both Jirayut and the second male  judge Pinyo Ruedhamma to walk out.

Benz who stayed in her seat, then berated Emerald for the worst performance she had ever seen.

The episode sparked heavy criticism of the judges and the programme producer, Workpoint Entertainment, saying they making fun of a mentally retarded person. Some wondered if it had been another set-up – a scripted performance to increase ratings.

Family Media Watch Network will on Wednesday submit a petition to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, requesting that it look into whether the programme's content was inappropriate.

"No matter if this was a set-up, the point is the programme is showing disrespect to people with mental problems and violating human dignity," Unya-orn Panitpuengrat, the network chairwoman, said.   

Meanwhile, the controversy threatens to take the spotlight away from an outstanding performance by a young Pattani musician whose song featured a dramatic plea for an end to the violence in the troubled border provinces. I'll have more on that at another time.

Judge for yourself whether the judges acted appropriately with Siddhatta Emerald.



Story includes information from a story in today's Bangkok Post.

talent – a natural ability to be good at something, especially without being taught ความสามารถพิเศษ
under fire – being criticised strongly ถูกวิจารณ์, โดนว่า
in hot water – in trouble ยุ่งยาก, มีปัญหา
popular – a situation in which someone or something is liked by many people เป็นที่นิยม, เป็นที่ชื่นชอบ
allegation – an accusation; a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved ข้อกล่าวหา
air – to broadcast; to send out a programme on television or radio ออกอากาศ, กระจายเสียง,กระจายข่าว
inappropriate – unsuitable ซึ่งไม่เหมาะสม
content – the subject, ideas, or story that a piece of writing or a radio or television programme deals with เนื้อหา,สาระ
condemn – to criticise something or someone strongly ประนาม
broadcast – to send out a programme on television or radio กระจายเสียง,กระจายข่าว
breast – either of the two round soft parts at the front of a woman's body that produce milk when she has had a baby หน้าอก
critics – people who don’t like something and who state their opinion about it  นักวิจารณ์
in advance – before the time that is expected; before something happens ล่วงหน้า
rating – a measurement of how good or popular someone or something is, in this case, a television programme  การประเมิน, เปอร์เซ็นต์ผู้ขมหรือผู้ฟังของรายการหนึ่ง
badger – to put pressure on somebody by repeatedly asking them questions or asking them to do something ยั่วเย้า, รบกวนอยู่เรื่อย, ทำให้รำคาญ
contestant – someone who competes in a contest ผู้แข่งขัน
mental – connected with or happening in the mind; involving the process of thinking เกี่ยวกับจิตใจ
get on the wrong side of – to cause someone to be dissatisfied or unhappy with you
unenthusiastic – not showing a lot of excitement and interest about somebody/something ไม่กระตือรือร้น
absent – without; not including ขาด
male – being a man or a boy ผู้ชาย
irk – to annoy someone รบกวน,ทำให้รำคาญ
prompt – a word or words, action, etc. to help someone decide what to do next การเตือนความจำ
strict – demanding that rules are obeyed; very careful and exact เข้มงวด
manners – behaviour that is considered to be polite in a particular society or culture มารยาทสังคม
virtue – goodness; good, moral qualities or habits คุณธรรม, ความมีศีลธรรม, ความดี, คุณงามความดี
bewildered – confused and not certain what to do งุนงงอย่างที่สุด
frustrated – feeling annoyed and impatient because you are prevented from achieving something ผิดหวัง,ท้อแท้ใจมาก, หงุดหงิดใจ
disqualify – to not allow someone to do something  because they have committed an offence ทำให้หมดสภาพ
immediately – happening right after something else with no delay; right away ทันที
inappropriate – unsuitable ซึ่งไม่เหมาะสม
behaviour – the way that someone acts or behaves พฤติกรรม, การกระทำตัว
theme song – a song that is especially associated with a particular performer, show, etc. เพลงประจำของรายการภาพยนตร์ โทรทัศน์ หรือวิทยุ
prompt – to cause something to happen or be done ก่อให้เกิด
jeers – shouting or laughing at someone in an unkind way ตะโกนด่า เสียดสี
audience – the people who watch an event happen ผู้ชม
berate – to criticise or speak in an angry way to someone ด่า,ตำหนิอย่างรุนแรง
episode – an event or set of events that forms part of a longer series but is considered separately กรณี, ตอน,ฉาก
spark – to make something happen ก่อให้เกิด
criticism – comments that show that you think something is wrong or bad การวิจารณ์
producer – a person who makes the practical and financial arrangements needed to make a film, play, television or radio programme ผู้อำนวยการสร้างภาพยนต์, ผู้ผลิต
mentally retarded – less developed mentally than is normal for a particular age ปัญญาอ่อน
wonder – to think about something because you want to know more facts or details about it สงสัย
set-up – a situation planned in advance to make something appear true/real when it is not
scripted – planned before and therefore not natural เป็นบทละคร
submit a petition – to formally give a document (often signed by many people) to someone in power asking them to do something ยื่นคำร้อง
National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) – the independent government agency which oversees and regulates the Thai telecoms and broadcasting industry สำนักงานคณะกรรมการกิจการกระจายเสียง กิจการโทรทัศน์และกิจการโทรคมนาคมแห่งชาติ
no matter if – it makes no difference if
disrespect – to treat someone or something without respect ไม่นับถือ,ไม่มีสัมมาคารวะ
violate – to do something that is against a law, rule, or an agreement ฝ่าฝืน, ละเมิด
dignity – respect that other people have for you or that you have for yourself ศักดิ์ศรี
meanwhile – at the same time ในเวลาเดียวกัน
controversy – a disagreement that a lot of people have strong feelings about ความขัดแย้ง
threaten – to put at risk; to put in danger ทำให้ตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยง
spotlight – the centre of public attention จุดสนใจของผู้คน, เป็นที่สนใจ
outstanding – clearly very much better than what is usual ยอดเยี่ยม, ดีเด่น
dramatic – sudden, very great and often surprising; exciting and impressive น่าทึ่งใจ, ตื่นเต้นเร้าใจ
plea – an urgent and emotional request คำร้อง, คำขอ, คำขอร้อง, คำวิงวอน
violence – physical force with the deliberate intention of causing damage to property or injury or death to people ความรุนแรง, การใช้กำลังทำลาย
border – the official line separating two areas, regions or countries  เขตแดน อาณาเขต