Re: Making of Stars Shows
Dave, on host 208.164.234.234
Friday, January 31, 2003, at 15:27:29
Making of Stars Shows posted by Sam on Friday, January 31, 2003, at 13:20:19:
My reaction to what you're describing (and I refuse to watch any of these new wave of "reality" programs, including Survivor, American Idol, The Bachelor/ette, or any of their ilk, although I have to say I used to love the old Star Search and wouldn't mind watching a few episodes of the new one) is basically the same as Matthew's. In general I think being brutally honest with these people is right and proper, but filming it to sell as entertainment is not. And it seems to me that this guy is probably being as brutal as he is precicely *because* it's being filmed and sold as entertainment. The huge amount of hyperbole he apparently uses isn't justified except to either (a) really get a point across to a particularly thick or self-deluded auditioner, or (b) because it plays well to the unwashed masses and that = ratings. I can't believe the situation *always* falls under the first category.
I'm all for hurting people's feelings if that is what is required to get them to learn and grow. Sometimes it's clear that the person will not learn or grow no matter how you rip them, so in that case sometimes the prudent thing is to just refrain from comment. But for the most part, I see no reason to go out of your way to preserve someone's feelings if your job is to give them a critical evaluation of their performance. Likewise, there's no reason to go out of your way to find things to rip them on, either. However, since for whatever reason seeing a person get humiliated seems to equate to ratings on TV, I think this guy is being as rough as he is because he knows it sells, and that I can't really get behind.
Personally, I hate seeing people get humiliated, usually even if they deserve it. It's part of the reason I absolutely despise almost all forms of the "practical joke" and TV shows like Candid Camera that revolve around it.
-- Dave
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