The Transformative Narrative: Pimp My Ride
Pimp My Ride had a network life spanning from March 2004, through to December 2007, producing 6 seasons and 73 episodes. Playing into the typical conventions of its genre transformative narrative the show utilizes rapper Xzibit as an expertise figure (T. Lewis (ed.), 2009)
as he takes on the role of the host where his team takes cars in poor condition proceeding to ‘Pimp’ them.
The term transformative narrative outlines a narrative that depicts a certain transformation, this applied to a television cultures filter see’s various shows utilize a genre blend in order to produce something that is going to captivate audience’s attention, and ensure their viewing week after week. What sets Pimp My Ride apart among what has become a saturated genre environment is the fact that rather than making over the person, like in shows such as “Snog, Marry, Avoid” or “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy,” they are making over a car.
Xzibit working as the expertise figure throughout the show attributes to a narrative voice through being seen within the time context as a high profile public figure-hence viewers were more likely to tune in as they were familiar with their host externally to the show while getting to know them within the show as well.
Pimp My Ride reflects social conventions and movements between 2004 through to 2007, as seen through the flashier/tackier final product cars i.e. As seen through Season 3 Episode 5: the final product is a purple car with candy green and silver flames which however probably much more unlikely to appear in 2015 was in 2004 it was seen as much less tacky and much more as a status symbol.
The main appeal of the show was the way it selected people from within their viewer demographic i.e. everyday people who typically were unable to finance the restoration or ‘pimpin’ of their rides, thus through the funding of MTV and the kind will of show host Xzibit, everyday young Americans are seemingly given the car of their dreams, all while capturing viewing audiences through making it relevant to them by presenting individuals each week who are similar to the viewers the shows creators wish to engage with.
In an article by Huffington Post however, its was outlined that the show contained various misrepresentations, such as the total time frame in which the episode was shot, as each episode was presented in a cameo style which made it permissible to believe the entire overhaul was conducted across a weekend while in reality most “pimps” took 6-8 months. Another point outlined within the article was that some of the more impractical and nonsense overhaul items, which were tacked on for luxury purposes were typically removed after filming such as back seat cinemas, fairy floss machines and a tablet PC that emerged from the glove box in Season 3 Episode 5, due to logistical and general safety issues. However upon being an avid viewer of the program throughout my childhood and based on the four-year long air life of the show, certain scripting such as the time period of overhauls and the more lavish customized items did not detract from the naturally cultivated feeling of the show. Aside from coming out of some episodes such as season 6 episode 8 thinking, “now why the hell would any human being need a fairy floss machine in their boot”, the transformations and the individuals responses typically through editing and careful scripting leave audiences with the impression of it being an organic process, i.e. what actually happened, which is the beauty of its transformative narrative. However the creators embedded the actual narrative with stretches of truth, or falsities it does not detract from the overall viewing experience, and still allows audiences to relate to and appreciate the products overall makeover.
References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8eIYcWpgtY
https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/18187n/i_was_featured_on_an_episode_of_pimp_my_ride/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k1BsUotZ8I
http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2015/02/25/pimp-my-ride-cars_n_6663840.html?ir=Australia
T. Lewis (ed.), 2009, TV Transformations: Revealing the Makeover