Reality show characters

Let’s be honest; we’ve all committed the cardinal sin of booting up Netflix to indulge in a reality show till the cows come home, and we don’t blame you. There’s just something so gripping about finding out who’s the next to provoke the ire of the idiot sandwich-crowning Gordon Ramsay, or gasping at the couple who bumped uglies on Too Hot to Handle.

Well, you’re gonna notice a few recurring archetypes once you’ve gone on a binge or 2, so we’ve compiled a list of the most common characters that every reality show has. Coincidentally, we’ve also partnered with the stock trading platform Moomoo to come up with a series of our own called Moomoo Money Master; consider this an attempt at putting our list to the test.

What is Moomoo Money Master?

In case you’ve not caught wind of it, Moomoo Money Master is a gameshow organised by The Smart Local in collaboration with Moomoo, an online global investment and trading platform. Throughout the show, 100 everyday Singaporeans are pitted against each other in various investment-related challenges which mimic the real world ebb and flow of the stock market.

Ultimately, only 1 winner will emerge amongst the money-minded chaos to lay claim to a grand prize of $30,000. The show will be premiering on The Smart Local’s YouTube page on 26th November 2024, so take your eyes off Singapore Exchange’s charts for a moment to watch the drama unfold.

1. The villain that everyone loves to hate

When money’s involved in reality game shows, things get messy fast; after all, who doesn’t like the prospect of walking home $30,000 richer? People will pull all the stops to win, so you’ll get to bear witness to contestants like the villain everyone loves to hate.

Image adapted from: TheSmartLocal YouTube

They subscribe to the notion that all’s fair in love and war, and as such will go about ensuring victory with less- than- stellar means. However, this can come to bite them in the bum, and they might even moan about how the show’s edit made them appear as conniving as possible. We’re speaking from experience here, as we’ve seen this happen on another one of our reality shows, One Week Love.

While there’s no clear-cut antagonist to rally against on Moomoo Money Master, with 30 grand on the line, you do see some underhanded strategies coming into play.

Just take the show’s opening game for instance, where contestants will have to pick and challenge one another in a quiz-like challenge where the losers are shown the door immediately. There’s almost no time to exchange pleasantries, and if singling out weaker-looking contestants for an easy route into the next round is not ruthless, we’re not sure what is.

2. The cunning fox who doesn’t show their hand

You’ll also most definitely catch the most cunning of contestants in the act over the episodes of whichever reality show series you decide to watch. It goes without saying that they mean no harm whatsoever; just like those who’ve got their eyes solely on the prize, they’re just here to win.

But it is the method in which they go about their business on the show that other contestants will have to watch out for. One prime example as seen on Moomoo Money Master is Cheryl, 26, who might seem like an innocuous wallflower, but is particularly wily during the games.

From forming secret alliances to drive up stock prices to playing her cards close to her chest, she’s one of the dark horses that we wouldn’t want to cross.

3. The underdog that takes the competition by surprise

Speaking of judging fellow competitors based on how they look, you’ll find that it’s often the most unassuming individuals that take everyone, contestants and the audience alike, by surprise.

Image credit: @gen_lxn via Instagram

We’ve even had the chance to sit down with one from MasterChef Singapore ourselves, Genevieve Lee. Despite being the youngest contestant on the first season of the competition, she managed to hold her own against other seasoned chefs at the age of 19, and was eventually crowned as the runner-up for the show’s inaugural season.

Similarly, Moomoo Money Master has its own underdog to keep an eye out for. Samuel, 28, is not your typical finance bro, with his stylish silver locks and lax demeanour. Heck, unlike the majority of competition, he’s not even working in the field of finance, hailing from the gaming industry instead.

But, you’ll want to keep tabs on him, as he may or may not pull off potentially game-winning stratagems during his stint on the show.

4. The extroverted one that doesn’t shy from the spotlight

On the flip side, a personality that the cameras absolutely adore is the extroverted character who has no qualms about taking centre stage. You’ll hear them before you see them; be it their booming laugh or the crowd’s chortle when they crack a joke to break the ice.

One animated character you’ll immediately notice on Moomoo Money Master is Jay, 42. We’ve been on the set and witnessed his shenanigans in-person; we won’t spoil them for you, but what we can reveal is that certain contestants might shy away from the friendly giant because of his over-the-top demeanour.

5. The average Joe who’s all too relatable

Of course, not everyone might resonate with themes surrounding Moomoo Money Master. Perhaps you’re watching it with your friends just for the heck of it, or an SO who’s really into the whole finance schtick.

However, that doesn’t mean you won’t relate with some of the contestants on the show. If you’ve no idea about the intricacies of trading and investing, but would still like someone to cheer for, look no further than Zee, 32.

Apparently, the estate and succession planner absent-mindedly agreed to signing up for the gameshow as his wife told him about it while he was bottle-feeding his newborn child. One Google form submission and a promise of a grand holiday trip later, there he was walking onto the set, albeit not entirely by his own accord.

A new father who faces the wrath of his wife should he not bag the prize money; what’s there not to root for?

6. The risk taker who takes big gambles to pull ahead

Image credit: @millionairetv via Instagram

It wouldn’t be a show about managing finances if there wasn’t an element of volatility involved, and the risk taker will never shirk away from these challenges. In fact, they are aplenty on all kinds of reality game shows; just take a look at the foolhardy contestants that’ve been on Who Wants To be A Millionaire who’ve let thousands slip away just because they couldn’t resist the allure of a bigger payout.

Similarly, it was go big or go home for a particular Moomoo Money Master contestant, Jian Wen, 30. The show’s second game had contestants receiving envelopes containing varying amounts of money that only they themselves would know, and had to avoid being the one with the least moolah in order to be safe from elimination.

While others were apprehensive of leaking even the slightest of details, Jian Wen then pulled off the bold move of revealing exactly how much was enclosed in her envelope. Was this risk a calculated one, or did it blow up in her face embarrassingly? We’ll leave it to you to find out.

7. The unsung heroes: the background cast

No better scenario springs to mind than Squid Game’s very first trial, Red Light Green Light.
Image credit: Netflix

Now, this is a bunch that deserves way more credit than their screen time suggests – the background cast of characters. In order for the above personalities to shine, not everyone can share the limelight, and so the bulk of contestants will have to contend with playing second fiddle.

Thankfully, those participating in Moomoo Money Masters won’t face a fate as cruel as those who tango with death on Squid Game, but having essentially half of the competitor pool eliminated during the first game is pretty brutal.

But, can they really say that they’ve lost? Although they didn’t stick around for long, at least they walk away with a killer fun fact, that they’ve been on a reality game show. You’re welcome for the amazing conversation starter to bust out at the bars.

Catch these common reality show characters on Moomoo Money Master

A varied cast of characters makes any reality show palatable, even if its whole premise revolves around villa-dwelling hunks and babes asking one another “Where’s your head at?” every other minute. As such, give Moomoo Money Master a shot; even if you’re not a finance guru yourself, there’s no harm in watching the sparks fly in each bite-sized 20-minute episode.

This post was brought to you by Moomoo.
Photography by Jaslyn Tan.