Sheesh! They’re Searching for a Show Called “Bet Your Baby”

Tags

Bet on Your Baby, search engines, search terms

 

 

Last week I wrote about a new television game show called “Bet On Your Baby“.  So that we don’t waste any time, I will tell you that I am most definitely NOT a fan of either the show or the concept of betting on your baby in front of millions of viewers, just to win prizes. In fact, I think it’s teetering on the border of reprehensible.

Now turning to the far side of reprehensible … today more than one googler found my original article by looking for a show that they called “Bet Your Baby”. One was even looking for the show’s time slot. Oh boy…now doesn’t THAT sound like fun!

Look, I know there’s a lot of bad television out there, and I am certainly not too proud to admit that I watch some of it, but please oh please come back googlers and tell me that search term was just a typo!  Do you really think it’s called “Bet Your Baby” and still want to watch it? Just imagine what THOSE kids would tell their therapists one day about being lost in a bad bet their parents made on some game show. Not even a good game show.

Once again…sheesh!

What??? There’s a New TV Show Called “Bet On Your Baby”!

Tags

"game shows", babies, Bet on Your Baby, new TV show, TV shows

I just found a new show that blows my mind. In fact, I had to look twice at the listing. Yup…ABC has a new television show where parents actually bet on their babies to win prizes. Now isn’t that something you want to grow up and one day find out about!

Look…I watch some pretty bad TV shows. Ones that I know probably set my brain’s development back at least a few years.  But this is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen on TV – and I’ve watched Sean from The Bachelor as a dancing “star” on Dancing with the Stars.

Maybe it’s a joke. I know it’s not April Fool’s Day, but maybe they are going to stop near the end of it and tell us they’ve been pulling our collective legs.

Ok. Now a father walks his kid into the “baby dome” where we will watch to see if he lets go of a ball.

Trivial Pursuits and the FOX Network

OK. So…I’m having this fight with my inner voice (MIV) about what’s important in life and what isn’t.

MIV: I want you to devote your time to things that really matter from now on, ok?

Me: But doesn’t everything matter?

MIV: Like the reality TV show Hell’s Kitchen?

Me: I get a kick out of it.

MIV: But you know that Chef Ramsay is horribly mean to people. Aren’t you ashamed to support something like that?

Me: Well…kinda. But the contestants knew what they were getting into.

MIV: Exploitation? Unfair editing? Challenges that make them look bad despite their many talents? Being screamed at mercilessly?

Our New Ambassador to Iraq…Dr. Phil?

Tags

Dr. Phil

I heard a fascinating thing on NPR this morning. People in Iraq listen to Dr. Phil. In fact, for Iraqis with satellite TV access (on those days when they have power) watching Dr. Phil’s show has become an oasis of comfort.

And one of the most amazing things Iraqis are learning is that they are not so different from U.S. citizens. Both have family problems as well as hopes and dreams. Although they can’t imagine actually putting their problems on TV the way they think all of us would – the shame would be too great – they find the real-life problems, along with Dr. Phil’s homespun delivery of his wisdom, mesmerizing.

One man, a journalist, admits he is sad when he misses the show. “I don’t cry,” he says. But he does feel better when he gets to watch. Looks like Dr. Phil is making more headway than our State Department!

One thing people wish Dr. Phil would talk about is how to help their families deal with the daily, unrelenting violence and the fear that forces so many people to keep confined to their homes. This war right outside their doors has been going on for years and the toll on the human psyche is unimaginable.

David Letterman loves to poke fun at Dr. Phil. OK…let’s be honest – many of us do. But I also love knowing that Dr. Phil McGraw and his show are bringing some much-needed moments of happiness and comfort to the Iraqi people.

I only hope one day soon the Iraqi people get to live in peace again. Clearly, Dr. Phil and his show cannot possibly undo the damage these poor people will have to live with the rest of their lives. But at least I’m glad he helps make their days a little better.

——

To listen to the report on NPR:

Dr. Phil Finds an Audience in Iraq

Reality TV Stinks! (Except for MY Favorite Shows, Of Course)

I just love it when I hear people going on and on about how horrible reality TV is and then you find out they actually have a reality show they watch.

“Oh…but my show (insert any name) isn’t like the others. It’s classier and has terrific production values!” And then they go on with some other explanation like “And I get to learn about haute cuisine.”

Oh really? Nothing to do with the fact that someone is getting yelled at by a rabid chef while others talk about him behind his back? Or they say it’s about “the sociological aspects of people living together.” Uh huh. Sure. Nothing to do with people having virtual breakdowns in front of our eyes while we get to gape at their misery? Or it’s about “people with hope and talent getting their chance to shine.” Nothing to do with our eyes-wide front-row seat for witnessing audition humiliation or the painfully close look we get at a loser’s courageous heartache?

Of course, my own favorite show “Project Runway” really does have excellent production values and gives us a chance to see truly talented creative people getting a chance to design clothing and shine in the process. And I really don’t enjoy the moments where people are bitching about each other or feeling devastated by their loss or sweating to try to make the incredibly tight deadlines. See? That’s different. (Sure it is.)

Now I’m not going to get into the relative value of this genre or whether it’s threatening our cultural core and hastening the downfall of society. It’s here. Sure it’s weird. Get over it.

For those of you who have never seen reality TV, just think of the raw intensity of the blogosphere with a commercial production team behind it, making sure we get a good show whether or not anything all that exciting is actually happening. And the partcipants sign up knowing, on some level, what they are getting into. I actually admire their courage. I could never expose myself to public humiliation like that! (Oh wait…I’m a blogger. Talk about putting ourselves out there in front of everyone! But at least we can do it while wearing our jammies.)

And to those of you who look down your noses at reality TV en masse while extolling the value of “classier” shows – like the one about the angst of being a mobster or shows filled with violence or titillating sexual innuendo (I do love Boston Legal) – lighten up, ok? They each have value to the beholder. And it’s all just entertainment in the end – with a life lesson or two gleaned in the process, no matter what the format.

As for the rest of us…ain’t it fun? A delicious (at times) secret pleasure almost as good as cheating on a diet.

Why Vote for the Worst Bugs Me So Much

Tags

Melinda Doolittle, Vote for the Worst

This is about something far more important than just television. It’s about where we put our energy.

Do we use it to build wonderful things that help heal and provide joy or do we use it in a negative way, tearing down the efforts of others? Although clearly acting as the spoiler for American Idol has been entertaining to the creators and friends of Vote for the Worst, it’s still working on negative energy since it spoils the fun for so many others.

I always wonder what kind of world we’d have if everyone – for just one day – put their energy toward loving each other – loving all mankind – and healing the planet. I know that’s corny, but damn it…just imagine! As John Lennon said:

“Imagine all the people
Living life in peace…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one.”

Do we always have to be doing things that take away from others? Can’t we stop being so self-absorbed and short-sighted and instead think about how our actions affect others – and even how aiming our actions toward the negative affects who we are as people?

I think there’s a cumulative effect of always finding fault in others and focusing our energy on what’s wrong rather than how to build something better. It becomes a habit and slowly builds us in a direction we might not admire years down the road – although at the time it may feel very energizing and even rewarding since we get social approval from countless others who are also looking to tear down rather than build up. I think when people are secure with who they are, they can smile at others’s joy and go on and create their own joy in a positive way – adding to rather than taking from.

Sure it’s easier to tear down something someone else did – criticism is the laziest form of self-expression. A quick fun jaunt at the expense of others. But just think of all the problems we could solve if we decided to dedicate our days to creating beautiful and joyful things!

The creators of Vote for the Worst are very clever people. Imagine what they could come up with if they put their talents to solving problems that are really problems. Imagine what wonderful art forms or technological innovations they could come up with. Imagine how exciting to see them come up with things that advanced the planet.

Just imagine.

Vote for the Worst Gloats Over Melinda Doolittle’s Farewell on American Idol

Tags

Melinda Doolittle, Vote for the Worst

On their website, Vote for the Worst takes full credit for pushing Blake Lewis into the final two on American Idol, leading to the hugely talented Melinda Doolittle going home. For me, this is a sad thing on many levels.

From the VFTW website:

“MELINDA WENT HOME!!!!!! VFTW VICTORY!!!! Holy crap… who saw this coming? Our votes made all the difference this week, and even the pimp spot didn’t save her. This is a glorious moment, let’s all celebrate! Blake is driving the VFTW bus to the finale, even if he hit a speedbump along the way. Go Emo-Skunk”

You know…I get that they think they have a big statement to make about American Idol just being commercial reality TV. But what the hell is Vote for the Worst now but another commercial entity, so selfishly heady in its own perverse “victory” it doesn’t care about the people who actually enjoy Idol as it is?

Television is entertainment. Idol is television. Ipso facto…Idol is just entertainment. The producers have a right to put together what they consider to be a good show. And fans have a right to enjoy their show and not be subjected to a spiteful lesson at the hands of self-congratulating buttinskies who claim to be waging some kind of righteous battle. Seriously… what is so cool about being the ones to take candy out of the mouths of smiling fans? VFTW is just a nasty spoiler with a message that stinks of self-satisfaction and a mean spirit.

Melinda knocked it out of the ballpark each week. She is no second-rate star. So their points are really lost when they celebrate the fact that they kept a rare talent from feeling the joy of winning. Melinda deserved the chance.

Shame on you, Vote for the Worst! Or should I call you Gloat for the Worst?

——-

Note: I decided not to provide a link to the VFTW website since each click means $$$ for them. Making money on being spiteful goes against everything I believe in.

American Idol: Manufactured Commerciality? Sure. And Yet…

Tags

Sanjaya, Vote for the Worst

Last night we said good-bye to Sanjaya Malakar. Some of you cheered and are happy he’s finally gone. Some of you are sad to see him go – even if you didn’t actually think he deserved to be the Idol. As for me…I think he did an amazing job of keeping his spirits up and also keeping us entertained (not always with his singing) under some really tough circumstances – especially considering he’s only 17. But I must admit I’m also glad to see him finally move on. The entertainment value of the phenomenon had run its course and it was time to get back to the show.

But what exactly is the show? Is it as pure as some loyal fans make it out to be? This is a reality show after all, first and foremost designed to entertain. And also…let’s face it…designed to create stars guaranteed top selling CDs by the built-in audience. Lord knows not all the Idols are so talented that they would have risen to these sales levels and adulation without the commercial nature of the franchise that’s spinning them out. Basically, we root for them and because we root for them we begin to love them and when we begin to love them, we want to buy their products. And so, the clever show reels us in and manufactures not only a star but a consumer fan base. (As if the music industry hasn’t manufactured stars before.)

That idea of Idol’s producers unfairly manipulating us to embrace manufactured sometimes talent-challenged idols is some of what was behind the whole Vote for the Worst movement. But the people who started Vote for the Worst also feel we’re being played in another way, with the producers purposefully including some clinkers among the finalists to keep it fun. So Vote for the Worst (VFTW) decided to play too. According to their website:

Sanjaya: Why Are We So Angry?

Tags

Sanjaya

I just found this ad online: “Download Sanjaya Idol Ringtones.” Jeez Louise! Can you imagine being next to someone on a subway and having THAT ring tone go off? I swear – there would be a riot.

I did some online research and went to a bunch of different sites that talk about Sanjaya Malakar and no matter what the point of view, the comments are seething! Lots of caps. “HE SUCKS! BOOOOO! GET HIM OUT OF THERE!”

So why is everyone so angry? American Idol has had less than stellar finalists before – and even a less than stellar winner or two. It’s not the first time better singers have had to wave good-bye to adoring fans of the show. This is the way American Idol works. It is, after all, a reality TV show with a high entertainment factor. And, like him or not, the whole Sanjaya story certainly has been entertaining.

People who usually wouldn’t spend time talking about reality TV shows are finding something fascinating about all this. I even heard Brian Lehrer, the erudite, insightful, delightful host of WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show discuss the issue: (scroll down to segment) Fallen Idol.

And the amount of press this has gotten would almost make me think that American Idol is helping to fan the flames. Could that be part of it? Simon wants to resign? Oh really? Because America is voting for someone who doesn’t deserve to win? It wouldn’t be the first time.

Basically, Sanjaya has been good for business – not that he intentionally chose to be the object of so much national debate and hatred. But this is a topic Americans can get their heads around – unlike the Iraq war, global warming, healthcare, and other more serious issues that in theory should be occupying our brains but are way too painful. At least we can be angry at Sanjaya and know where we stand.

Look…the kid is 17. He entered a contest. The judges and/or producers selected him to move on. He’s giving it his all. Sure he’s not the greatest – but he’s not voting for himself. So why is HE getting all the anger?

Apprentice 2007: The Semiotics of Mean

Tags

Donald Trump, Trump

(NOTE: The original post was written January 23, 2007. There are updates by date below the original post.

I must also note that as of March 25, the show has thankfully returned to some of its former glory. But the original post still holds for prior episodes.)

Donald Trump has taken a perfectly good reality show and turned it into a trash heap. Now I know there are many who look down on reality shows in general and certainly The Apprentice has its detractors even among the faithful, but the show was based on a clever idea bolstered by the powerful persona of Trump. A winning formula. True…its ratings were sagging and some tweaking was certainly called for, but this year’s offering borders on offensive.

With all respect, Mr. Trump, young people watch this show and actually view it as Business 101 – and in some ways, it used to be. But this year, it’s a lesson that can be skipped. One comment from a college student I found on an Apprentice website basically said that she loved the show this year because she enjoyed watching the losers suffer. Is that really the classy lesson you want to show?

For those of you who don’t watch, The Apprentice selects people from top-ranked schools and/or those who excel in their field. These people then compete against each other, week after week, with their eyes on the prize of becoming an apprentice in Trump’s company. The viewer gets to see two teams compete against each other in a task such as creating a new product for a well-known company. Some of these tasks have really been fun to watch. A young person – or anyone – could learn a lot by seeing the importance of things like listening, planning, cooperation, delegating, carrying your share of the work, etc.

While each season wasn’t equally great, we were almost always left with a remnant semiotic image of a positive, hard-working business environment. We felt good about what we were seeing and usually, at the very least, admired the determination and principles of those who succeeded. And, like him or hate him in real life, we couldn’t help liking Trump on screen.

So what changed? So far this year, we’ve seen the losing team forced to live outdoors in tents while winners reside in luxury conditions. Many of us would have loved seeing the losing team rally and win to get to the goodies, but when the losing tream lost again, all we got to see is what happens to people when they are treated as losers. Perhaps an example for managers of the importance of positive vs. negative rewards in motivation and performance?