KUALA LUMPUR: Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, more people are getting glued to their mobile phones for some entertainment.
With Instagram Live being frequently used these days, local online production The Nite Nite Show with Alvin Anthons has become the country's first entertainment programme made available live on Instagram.
Filmed on a studio set with Anthons himself as the host, The Night Night Show has special guests come on board via Instagram remotely.
They talk about trending issues affecting Malaysians, and participate in special games, tailor-made for each guest.
Anthons said that it was the first time a show was able to configure a Live-Multi-Output that included simultaneous broadcasting of visuals of both parties, along with the host's audio, the remote guest's audio and live music.
"The English format late-night talk show has just concluded Season 1 at the end of July. We have featured 13 A-list celebrities from Malaysia, Singapore and the United States," he said.
He added that the guests who had appeared on the show were Datuk Hans Isaac, Datuk Norman Abdul Halim (KRU), Gurmit Singh (Phua Chu Kang), Amber Chia, Allan Wu (Amazing Race Asia) and Justin Bratton (Asia's Got Talent).
"We come on Instagram (@Alvinanthons) every Tuesday and Thursday at 10pm," said Anthons.
He said that the show not only featured A-list guests but also ensured entertaining content.
"The entertainment-worthiness of the show has ensured steady viewership. And the games created for each guest utilises unconventional mechanics and props.
"Each hilarious episode features interviews with guests and two game segments. First, a unique game for each guest such as inhaling helium while reading a tongue twister and singing a song while eating a bitter gourd.
"Second, Rapid Fire, where guests are required to answer heated and sometimes embarrassing questions within a short period of time with weird punishments if they fail to do so.
"The show engages the audience in its games and the weekly contest for the audience offers them prizes in the form of official merchandise," said Anthons.
Aimed at Malaysians aged between 21 and 55, the show has garnered an average of 500 live viewers for each episode since going on air in June.
The recap show posted on YouTube has reached over 5,200 views average for each episode.
The Nite Nite Show is Anthon's second talk show, the first being Let's Talk aired on TV2 in 2000, which ran for three seasons with a million viewers per episode.
Anthons who is fluent in Malay and English, has also presented live shows in Paris, Dubai, Osaka, Seoul and Bangkok.
The Nite Nite Show can be viewed on Anthons' YouTube channel www.youtube.com/alvinanthons.