It’s been a while since I watched a locally produced reality show, because many of them simply do not appeal to me, what with the more prominent reality shows in recent years being that of scantily-clad bimbos, and of a seductress getting hunky men to fight over her, etc. It may be good entertainment, but it definitely holds no value if you are looking for real content.

Then came along ‘The Rookie’. This internet-popularized reality show shown online is actually a Nokia campaign aimed at promoting the Nokia E72 executive phone. This handset is definitely a sleek-looking, high performance mobile phone, that will appeal to a range of audience, from business owners, to yuppies, to social-networking fans, to gadget-loving youths! The Nokia E72 comes in 4 classy colours: Zodium black, Metal grey, Topaz brown, and White.

Fashioned in a similar way to Donald Trump’s ‘The Apprentice’,  this show, hosted by Bobby Tonelli, caught my eye because of the set of challenges that the Rookies had to complete. The challenges put to test their business acumen, strategic planning skills, creative talents, interpersonal relationships and team play. The 12 contestants, grouped into Team Alpha and Team Bravo, had to work together to complete the challenges, while also trying to shine as individuals. Perfect setting for organizational politics? YES!

While I’m not saying that  ‘The Rookie’ or Nokia promoted politics within work teams, I thought that this was a pretty good portrayal of what real work life is all about. The contestants, some of whom were undergraduates or even fresh grads (and the show’s viewers alike) were spared no disillusionments, nor were they dished sugar-coated scenarios of what working in an organization might be like.

Many-a-time while watching the show, I found myself agreeing or disagreeing with what contestants did, and thinking about what could’ve been done better, or what I would do instead – now did someone say engaging and intellectual? One thing that I’m surprised with, however, is that none of these contestants were actively participating in online conversations, despite the many who were talking about them on Twitter, using the #rookiesg hashtag. But that’s probably just the social media consultant in me speaking.

With tight budgets, looming deadlines, difficult ‘client’ demands, and clashing ambitions, the contestants each tried to impress the judges, and also garner votes of confidence from the audience, who had chances to interact with the show by predicting the eventual winner of this reality show. Audiences who predicted the right winner would stand to win themselves a set of the drool-worthy Nokia E72, which was also used by all the contestants in their communications during the show.

Now tell me you don’t already feel empowered by just looking at this phone! With the Nokia Messaging instant messaging feature and its business communications solutions, it takes only 3 simple steps to sync up as many as 10 email accounts (it supports Google Mail, Windows Live Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, MS Exchange mail servers and even Lotus Notes!) so that you can always be connected via email. A dream come true for all workaholics who like to travel light without notebooks! Also awesome for social networking lovers like me, cos the Nokia E72 allows you to download apps that support your social needs, such as Skype, Snaptu, Gravity, Facebook, and many many more!

Voted Editor’s Choice for Best Lifestyle Mobile Phone by HWM and HardwareZone.com, and also CNET Asia’s Reader’s Choice, the  Nokia E72 is definitely a strong contestant in the arena of business mobile phones.

Oops, pardon my inner geek for gushing about this phone - ‘The Rookie’ has concluded its final episode, and has crowned the winner at the finale held at Zouk last Saturday. 6 finalists appeared at the finale, with 4 eventual winners crowned and awarded highly-coveted internships at major brands and companies like Nokia, Microsoft, Standard Chartered and Zouk.

Find out who the four are, and follow the drama, the adrenaline highs, the challenges, the business ideas, the politics, and the kanchiong-ness at ‘The Rookie’ . There are also clips from ‘Behind the scenes’ online, at the website, so don’t miss out on what everyone’s been talking about!

[This advertorial entry was written in support of Nokia's The Rookie Campaign, and may contain statements that are of the author's own opinions, which neither reflect that of Nokia and its partner companies for this show, nor that of her own employer or its clients.]