MANILA, Philippines?Watching television is supposed to be a daily delight, but it?s occasionally a confounding and off-putting experience. Current and recent irritants on the local small screen:

Judged

On the noontime talent search, ?Showtime,? a weird innovation has been effected that must be a first in the televiewing world: Each week, viewers have the power to vote one judge off! The astounding innovation flies in the face of what the talent judging process is supposed to be all about: It?s the judges who judge, not the other way around.

Any self-respecting judge of talents would refuse to agree to such a weird set-up, but the current jurors on ?Showtime? appear to have no such compunction?or pride in the value of their work.

To make things worse, the judges are expected, not just to judge, but also to ?entertain? the viewers by singing, dancing, doing comedy or otherwise showing off their talents. The fact that some of the ?performing judges? aren?t really talented or entertaining is beside the point. All they should really be required to do is come up with insightful and objective decisions, period.

Only on Philippine TV, indeed?

Contested

Also confounding was the recent occurrence on ?Wowowee,? when a contestant decided to accept the cash prize rather than taking a risk in the hope of making a lot more money?but , the hosts and studio audience were making so much noise that nobody heard her final decision!

Only after she protested and the show?s tape was played back did the hosts realize that they had made a big booboo, and she was given the cash prize that she was entitled to. Just the same, the show ended up with egg on its collective face.

This is a sad example of TV hosts focusing so much on ?energy!? and ?excitement!? that they forget the basic focus of a game show should be on its contestants and their all-important decisions, not on loud and livid ?fun? and games. How amateurish can you get?

Undeserved

We?re also turned off by the number of Fil-Am TV ?hosts? who can?t speak Tagalog well, but are still made to mouth spiels in the most stilted and silly way. Erring show producers obviously don?t care if they tick viewers off, as long as their tisoy proteges are given the breaks that they don?t deserve.

The bottom line is, new TV hosts should first learn the language really well before they dare to say a word in front of the TV cameras. It?s not about you, guys, it?s all about the viewers or should be, so don?t ?practice? on TV at their expense!

Compromised

More: We?re getting a lot of complaints from viewers about TV shows? irresponsible use of child talents. Among the complaints are ?too adult? portrayals by juvenile talents, who are sometimes made to play bar girls, sexy ?models,? dirty old men, gays, etc.

The excuse is that the roles are supposed to be funny and thus shouldn?t be taken seriously, but the young talents? welfare is still compromised. TV people should treat child talents with the special care and consideration they deserve.