20/20 this friday - 5 couples trying to adopt one baby

[Hillbeans]

I saw a promotion for this a few days ago and was pretty shocked because they made it sound like a reality show where the "winner" will get a baby. Apparently ABC was flooded with phone calls and changed the way they are promoting the show - as a documentary now rather than a reality type of show.

I just find it very sad that these poor people are going to be on television divulging very personal information and knowing that 4 of the 5 couples will not have a baby in the end. I can't imagine how sad it must be for these couples to not be able to have a child and then being shown on television "losing" this contest.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

I saw a promotion for this a few days ago and was pretty shocked because they made it sound like a reality show where the "winner" will get a baby.

I saw the same thing, it made me sick.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

That does sound awful! Are they really going to make it like a contest? Who chooses the "winner"?

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Are they really going to make it like a contest?

I don't think it's really a contest, that's just the way ABC was promoting it. Like a reality show, the winner gets a baby!! It was disgusting, and if I was Barbara Walters (she was in the promo) I would have had a cow.

 

[Kallison]

Apparently no concept is off limits to television. I agree, I thought it sounded like baby trafficking also, don't plan to watch it.

 

[Hillbeans]

I'm all for educating people about the rigors and ups and downs of adoption, however there has to be a better way to do it than this.

I also think in a way it's glorifing this 16 yo who is pregnant.

 

[airhead]

...anything for ratings! I really don't care for this woman.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Sounds like the latest in quality 'reality' TV programming. Whatever sells, bottom line, trash TV.

 

[TerriP]

Wow...we're all so quick to condemn.

Both ABC and Barbara Walters issued statements yesterday apologizing for the way the promo was worded. This is *not* a reality show or a contest to win a baby. ABC has canned the original promo and already has a different one running.

 

[airhead]

This isn't the first time I thought B.Walters was involved in promoting a tacky show. My opinion of this woman is that she'll do anything for ratings. She exploits people and she should know better. Class? Not in my opinion.

 

[kpgclark]

I still think it is disgusting. Why shouldn't people condemn them? Why don't these people think before they air these things? Barbara Walters makes me sick anyhow. She pretends to be so moral/ethical and yet she is a big part of sleeze TV.

 

[perdidobay]

Well, I guess the next step (downword) for reality TV is 5 people with kidney failure fighting for 1 kidney transplant

 

[kpgclark]

Yeah, and then you get to vote from home on who gets the transplant! Following that you win a prize if you guess who dies first.

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by TerriP
Wow...we're all so quick to condemn.

Both ABC and Barbara Walters issued statements yesterday apologizing for the way the promo was worded. This is *not* a reality show or a contest to win a baby. ABC has canned the original promo and already has a different one running.

So they changed the promo - big deal - the damage has been done - the show has received the kind of publicity they were seeking in order to get ratings for May sweeps.

I personally think it is a new low for 20/20 which touts it self as a "NEWS" program.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Originally posted by TerriP
Wow...we're all so quick to condemn.

Both ABC and Barbara Walters issued statements yesterday apologizing for the way the promo was worded. This is *not* a reality show or a contest to win a baby. ABC has canned the original promo and already has a different one running.

Why shouldn't they be condemned? They made it look EXACTLY like they were trying to portray it as a reality show, and the winner gets the baby. It was sleazy and disgusting. If you feel that's fine, then have at it, but don't expect the rest of society to agree with you that a 'giving away a baby' reality show is ok with us.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

BTW you're awfully quick to condemn us for condemning them. Now for some reason that's perfectly ok?

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by kpgclark
Yeah, and then you get to vote from home on who gets the transplant! Following that you win a prize if you guess who dies first.

I wouldn't be surprised.....

Personally I find the idea behind this show disgusting. It's in reality giving a 16 year old kid the power to give her unwanted child up to the "winner" of her little contest. I truly think it glorifies teen pregnancy.

(edit) In addition, these parents have to go through a dog and pony show to show how responsible they are, yet this 16 yo obviously isn't responsible.

Ugh...all I wish is that people who truly want to adopt a baby never have to go through something like this.

 

[pammypooh]

Barbara was on GMA this morning and Charlie questioned her on this. (I should state here that I love Charlie.) He basically said exactly what OP said, "promo looks like a reality show with baby as the million dollar prize." Barbara responded that the promo was done in that way because they thought that with the word adoption the channel would get changed on the remote control...they have since changed the promo. Also stated that they had nothing to do with the outcome of the adoption process, who would actually get the baby, if the mother would go through with it. One of the clips they showed on GMA had the mother say something to the effect "I get to play God". This statement alone upset me and my heart breaks for the couples involved in this that so want to have a child. I hate that it is being shown as a "documentary" (according to Barbara). I will not watch it.

Pam

 

[MelessaG]

I was alerted to this by a good friend of mine who adopted her only child last year. She and I both participated in a huge email/telephone campaign to ABC protesting its newest 'reality TV game show.' I'm sorry they are still going to air it, but when I saw the apologies on behalf of ABC-I was happy to have played some very small part by putting in my $.02 to ABC, 20/20, and the producers of the show and encouraging others to do the same. Yesterday on The View Barbara did mention the protests, but stood by the segment. I have no desire to see 4 couples' heartbreak or a 16 y.o. getting her 15 minutes of fame over something that-in my opinion-should be a private and personal matter. It goes without saying that I won't be watching and I hope ABC will think good and hard before airing any other programs with similar content.

 

[TerriP]

Originally posted by ToriLammy
So they changed the promo - big deal - the damage has been done - the show has received the kind of publicity they were seeking in order to get ratings for May sweeps.

I personally think it is a new low for 20/20 which touts it self as a "NEWS" program.

I agree with you about the publicity...this very thread means they accomplished what, I assume, they intended. People are talking about it...whether or not they watch is another thing, though.

airhead....I couldn't agree more. B. Walters does not define "class" for me, either. And I do think she exploits for ratings. Unfortunatley, I think most all tv shows (news and reality) do this.