Andrei, A: Extreme Makeover

The purpose of this paper was to investigate how the global and the local interact within the adaptation of a foreign programme to a new cultural context. The main question guiding this study was how an American format, namely "Extreme Makeover" has been adapted to the Romanian market and culture. Reality television is one of the most prolific television genres of the present. Reality shows are cheap to produce, attract large audiences and they have the capacity to cross borders by means of the format. The format is a set of guidelines for the adaptation or re-production of a certain programme in a place different than its country of origin. The format of "Extreme Makeover" has been sold and produced in many countries over the world, including Romania. The circulation of formats is seen as a manifestation of cultural globalisation. A format can be adapted to a new cultural context, but it still carries values common in the country it originates from. These values are being interpreted and negotiated within the adaptation of a show to a new context.