That's Outrageous!
Just reading the headlines this morning, and I have to admit I'm amused by The Outrage. Please understand, I don't condone illegal/immoral behavior, but I'm a realist. Which is why I read books about handsome pirates who never manage to steal anything and rich noblemen who marry their penniless wards and women who fall asleep on park benches and wake up in medieval Scotland.
Outrage #1- Kate Moss Snorts Cocaine! Isn't this the girl whose image popularized the term "heroin chic?" Imagine. Fashion is an industry that takes beautiful 17 year olds, throws them into high octane business and personal parties with 45 year old men who are always looking for the next big thing, demands that they look like a swizzle stick with boobs or they're fired, and gives them armies of agency flunkies whose job it is to keep them going no matter what. And there's a drug problem there? Who'da thunk it?
Outrage #2- John O'Hurley Wins the Dance-off! The number of people typing angrily last night and this morning is mind-blowing (or numbing, depending on your view) no matter which non-dancer you like best. I imagine ABC execs are laughing all the way to the bank. "What?" you say. "You mean this whole competition wasn't geared to garner votes from rabid soap fans and men hoping for another wardrobe malfunction? And then have certain industry people start rumors of rigging and confusing voting practices and press releases that stated with assurance that Everyone Knows O'Hurley Totally Won This Thing? And ABC benevolently giving us all another chance to view their surprise ratings hit and vote for J. Peterman- all for us, of course. They care. No. They wouldn't do this to gain summertime viewers while Lost and Desperate Housewives are in reruns." Honestly, I expected computer graphic charts explaining the hanging chads.
Outrage #3- Wife Swap Contestants Harrased! Jeremy and Vicki Felix are shocked, and so am I. They've probably seen the show before, and its tendency to show one couple as saints as the other as trailer trash, but they totally thought they would be portrayed as nice people. Even after his admitted use of the N word to the black woman who switched places with his wife. Yes, he knew the cameras were on, but surely this show wouldn't capitalize on that one itty-bitty thing. And all his neighbors wouldn't view the show, and start treating him like a pariah. And his kids wouldn't be teased at school. And he wouldn't look a Jerry Springer reject on national television.
To all this I cannot stop myself from uttering the totally requisite DUH. I'm not cynical, am I?
Outrage #1- Kate Moss Snorts Cocaine! Isn't this the girl whose image popularized the term "heroin chic?" Imagine. Fashion is an industry that takes beautiful 17 year olds, throws them into high octane business and personal parties with 45 year old men who are always looking for the next big thing, demands that they look like a swizzle stick with boobs or they're fired, and gives them armies of agency flunkies whose job it is to keep them going no matter what. And there's a drug problem there? Who'da thunk it?
Outrage #2- John O'Hurley Wins the Dance-off! The number of people typing angrily last night and this morning is mind-blowing (or numbing, depending on your view) no matter which non-dancer you like best. I imagine ABC execs are laughing all the way to the bank. "What?" you say. "You mean this whole competition wasn't geared to garner votes from rabid soap fans and men hoping for another wardrobe malfunction? And then have certain industry people start rumors of rigging and confusing voting practices and press releases that stated with assurance that Everyone Knows O'Hurley Totally Won This Thing? And ABC benevolently giving us all another chance to view their surprise ratings hit and vote for J. Peterman- all for us, of course. They care. No. They wouldn't do this to gain summertime viewers while Lost and Desperate Housewives are in reruns." Honestly, I expected computer graphic charts explaining the hanging chads.
Outrage #3- Wife Swap Contestants Harrased! Jeremy and Vicki Felix are shocked, and so am I. They've probably seen the show before, and its tendency to show one couple as saints as the other as trailer trash, but they totally thought they would be portrayed as nice people. Even after his admitted use of the N word to the black woman who switched places with his wife. Yes, he knew the cameras were on, but surely this show wouldn't capitalize on that one itty-bitty thing. And all his neighbors wouldn't view the show, and start treating him like a pariah. And his kids wouldn't be teased at school. And he wouldn't look a Jerry Springer reject on national television.
To all this I cannot stop myself from uttering the totally requisite DUH. I'm not cynical, am I?
posted by Robyn | 7:25 AM
3 Comments:
LOL. Hey, tv is all about the ratings. They will find a scandal or if they can't, they'll make one up. That's the fun of reality shows.
cynical? you? never!
Well, actually, they had a snafu while the show was running, where the number to vote for J. Peterman was wrong, so he lost a buttload of votes, yet still made it to the final dance off. Then they cut out audience voting on the last show, which people complained, rightly, wasn't fair. So, ratings, yeah, but there were a lot of people who thought he and his partner should have won in the first place. Sad for the chick, but that's showbiz.
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