“Mafia Nights” is an Iranian game show directed by Saeed Aboutaleb streaming on Televika. The show is based on the Mafia, a social deduction game. Mafia was first invented in 1986 by students of the psychology department of Moscow University and it has become an international and popular game over the years. Over the past two decades, with the popularity of reality shows, the Mafia game and the way it is played have been the source of inspiration for many TV shows or even movies such as “Citizen vs the Mafia”, an Iranian game show on the health channel currently airing its seventh season.
Saeed Aboutaleb is known for his popular reality shows featuring movie stars and celebrities. “Iranian Rally” and “Iranian Dinner” are among his popular shows. What Aboutaleb does best is creating competition in the structure of a reality show but instead of using ordinary people, he uses celebrities as competitors. The game is done in a real way, and there is no scenario involved but using well-known celebrities such as comedians in the show gives the audience a guaranty for having a good time. A guaranty that is not necessarily the result of a specific game but only those who play it.
But here the difference between “Mafia Nights” and shows such as “Iranian Rally” or “Iranian Dinner” is more obvious and important. This time, we see comedians, actors, writers, and singers in a tense and dramatic game. A game whose structure is not jeopardized in any way. Hence, “Mafia Nights” attracts viewers who are not satisfied with the dull melodrama of reality shows. First, because the game and its dramatic details are engaging enough without considering the competitors’ popularity. And then adding popular competitors to the equation gives the audience a chance to watch well-known figures go through the same situations a normal person would go through in such a game. The audience Watches their intelligence, emotional behaviors, and nervous reactions to situations they do not expect. Their reaction when they are knocked out from the game or when have won by ingenuity and manipulation.
Mafia Nights has aired four seasons. The fourth season which is considered the finale includes the best players from the last seasons. Seasons which the first and the third include male celebrities. The second includes female celebrities and the fourth and the finale is mixed with the best players.
The formal costume design gives the game a special mood and increases the sense of fake realism of the situation. The interesting thing is that in all seasons, the competitors who win are those who are less likely to win in the eyes of the audience. Something that is a direct result of the dramatic and thrilling structure and procedure of the game. This has turned “Mafia Nights” into a fascinating and spectacular game show whose outcome is almost impossible to predict. On the other hand, each season includes three games with the same and knowing each competitor’s style of play gives the audience a more exciting experience watching the next games.
You can reach this popular Iranian show on Televika. enjoy it.
