Social Wit List: July 2016

NEW YORK: Of all the new programs to launch globally in July, GMA Network’s Encantadia stirred up the most buzz in social media, according to The WIT.

In this remake of the 2005 fantasy telenovela of the same name, four princesses guard the gems that hold the power to maintain peace and harmony in the land. Around 201,000 tweets were sent about the show during the premiere episode, with many of the commenters saying they were #TotallyInLove with the #MagicalWorld and the #SpecialEffects that transported them #BackToMyChildhood.

Number two on the list of the top ten most-buzzed-about new shows in social media last month is Sharknado: The 4th Awakens on Syfy in the U.S. The fourth movie in the franchise takes place five years after the East Coast was ravaged in Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! There were some 177,900 comments on Facebook and Twitter about the #Sharktastic feature, which some thought was #CheesyButGood. There was already buzz about the #CountdownToNextOne and some were commenting about #TooMuchProductPlacement in the one-off movie.

From TF1 in France, Ninja Warrior, le parcours des héros saw around 44,100 tweets. In the local adaptation of the physical game-show format Sasuke (Ninja Warrior), contestants compete in obstacle races for a cash prize. Those commenting on social media found the show #Impressive, #Entertaining and #Refreshing, though some were #NotSoSureAboutTheHosts.

The return of Robot Wars on BBC Two in the U.K. had around 29,200 comments surrounding the debut episode. This new version of the entertainment format that aired on BBC Two from 1998 to 2001 features amateur-built robotic fighting machines battling for supremacy in a knock-out competition in front of a live audience. The #MuchAnticipated premiere had Facebook and Twitter buzzing with #ThumbsUp for the show and its nostalgia: #RollingBackTheYears and #TheLegendsAreBack.

The talent competition Quiero ser, in which six fashionistas compete to be crowned the next Spanish “it girl,” ranks fifth on the list. The debut broadcast on Spain’s Telecinco generated approximately 27,600 comments in social media, with viewers tweeting about the #DreadfulContestants who were #Superficial. Some said they were having #DejaVu from the show, and others reported #OnlyWatchingForMentorAidaDomenech.

There were some 26,200 tweets about the debut of Tamanho família on TV Globo in Brazil. The game show features teams made up of one celebrity and three family members compete in funny challenges. Throughout the episode, the families share their life experiences. Many of the viewers commenting on social media found the #FamilyFriendly show to be #Funny and #Touching and noted the #CharmingHost.

Stranger Things, the full season of which was released on Netflix globally last month, saw some 25,800 tweets. The thriller is set in 1980 Hawkins, Indiana, where a young boy vanishes into thin air. Social-media comments were about the #AwesomeStoryline and #80sNostalgia of the #Catchy series, and some gave #KudosToTheYoungCast.

A Terra Prometida, which debuted on Rede Record in Brazil, had some 19,500 social-media comments. A sequel to Moses and the Ten Commandments, this period telenovela is about Josué, the biblical character who succeeds Moses to lead the Hebrews to the Promised Land. Facebook and Twitter were buzzing about the #ImpeccableCinematography in the #EpicTelenovela and there was also #KudosToTheEvilCharacter.

The one-off special Jeff Panacloc perd le contrôle premiered on TF1 in France, stirring up some 19,400 tweets. The live show featured the “shy” French ventriloquist Jeff Panacloc and Jean-Marc, his excited puppet monkey. Many of the viewers commenting about the broadcast thought it was #FunnyAsHell or said they #ShedATearAtTheEnd, with overall sentiment being that #JeffPanaclocRules.

Number ten on the list for July is Eo Eo Eo, which debuted on TVN in Chile. The variety show features nearly 100 artists in a festival broadcast live, mixing dance, humor and songs. Around 18,300 tweets were sent about the #FamilyFriendly debut, which had a #FeelGoodVibe and #ImpressiveLineup that was ripe for audiences to #SingAndDanceAlong with.

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