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

[Wishing on a star]

First, I hate Charles Gibson... If you have seen some of what I have seen... He is ten times worse than Barbara Walters at portraying the smiling easygoing 'nice' person. But, I have seen the REAL Charlie Gibson come thru on a few NEWS pieces that he has done. (and Diane Sawyer too!!!)

Second... No matter how they do the PROMO... This is still NOT in any way a documentary... This whole situation, with a child 'playing God' and these couples opening up their lives on national (international in today's global world) Television... this is just sickening.

ABC can try to back-pedal all they want, but here is NO WAY that this is an informational documentary about Adoption.... This is a dog and pony show, based on ONE situation.... With loads of money and national TV exposure involved. Has anybody thought about the childs rights and future concerns over this!!!!???? (even the pregnant girl.... she is a 16 year old minor for goodness sakes!!!)

Should we jump to condemn this.... yes... obviously many already have! ABC has already produced the show, done the damage, and will air it as planned...

 

[TerriP]

Originally posted by pammypooh
One of the clips they showed on GMA had the mother say something to the effect "I get to play God".

Pam

Are you serious??? Oh my...my heart breaks for that child. You assume parents have thier child's best interest at heart, but clearly that's not the case here. How awful!

As someone who has to consider adoption if I want a child, I thought this would be a documentary showing what really happns in an open adoption. I thought this, although promoted poorly, was a real documentary. Now I have to wonder...

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Second... No matter how they do the PROMO... This is still NOT in any way a documentary... This whole situation, with a child 'playing God' and these couples opening up their lives on national (international in today's global world) Television... this is just sickening.

ITA, sickening, definitely a dog and pony show. Why would these people agree to this?

Has anybody thought about the childs rights and future concerns over this!!!!???? (even the pregnant girl.... she is a 16 year old minor for goodness sakes!!!)

I also totally agree with this. Where the hell are her parents? They must be some kind of people!!

 

[TerriP]

Ok..dumb question coming...sorry.

If this "mother" here is 16, is she the legal guardian of the child? I mean, I've never looked at it like this before, but at 16 she wouldn't be old enough to enter into a contract (with ABC or with an adoption agency or anyone). So did her parents have to consent? But if she's the legal guardian of her child, she should have to give conset...but she's not legally old enough. So are her parents technically the legal guardian of her child?

Sorry if this is a dumb question...but I had never thought of it like this before.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Just wanted to point out that my biggest concern here is for the BABY's rights and concerns... (secondly, I mentioned the 16 year old in parentheses....)

This child will have enough to deal with as an adoptee, without knowing that his mother 'ditched' him/her for 15 minutes of fame on National TV!!!!!

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

As someone who is trying to adopt currently, this whole thing makes me sick.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Originally posted by Wishing on a star
Just wanted to point out that my biggest concern here is for the BABY's rights and concerns... (secondly, I mentioned the 16 year old in parentheses....)

I understood, and it makes me sick too. But I also feel that the parents of the 16 year old are selling their daughter for their 15 minutes of fame also. WTH is wrong with people???

 

[kpgclark]

Yes the 16 year old does have parental rights. She is the one who signs them away when the baby is placed for adoption-- she and the birth father that is.

As the mother of two children who happen to be adopted I find this game revolting. I understand that they may be following her decision process and it is not really a game, but the way they promoted it is gross. Barbara Walters saying that nobody would watch if they didn't make it raunchy speaks for what a sleeze she is. You know her daughter is adopted too! Now the baby has no privacy. The entire country knows who the adoptive parents are and the whole situation with the birth mother. I just think it is really wrong.

 

[disykat]

I glad I wasn't the only one offended by the whole thing.

I do have to defend the birth moms "I get to play God" statement. I saw the promo and I don't remember her exact words but it looked to me like the birthmom was making a statement about what an uncomfortable position she was in trying to choose - not an evil 'I've got the power' statement!

 

[momof2inPA]

This is a sick concept, and I think the premis has already been done on Dr. Phil, or some other daytime talk show. The pregnant girl chose a couple, got to know them and kept her baby in the end. I felt so sorry for that couple.

The only good thing that might come of the show would be for a desperate pregnant girl to see one of the couples on tv and arrange an adoption after the show. Just how desperate must those couples be to adopt? How sad.

 

[Duchie]

I just got done reading an article in this week's "Newsweek" regarding ABC's prime time programming woes. Given their current state of distress, hearing this doesn't really surprise me all that much. Distasteful, hurtful, intrusive... yes. Surprising... no.

 

[Hillbeans]

This picture makes me want to vomit:


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040429/photos_en/mdf552175

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Just the way Barbara is posing in that picture is truly nauseating!!!! Do the only thing you can do in this kind of case, don't watch it!! Heck, write a letter to the advertisers and tell them you rufuse to watch it. I'm disgusted!!

 

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

I don't see how this is any different from couples with children airing their family matters on a talk show (Maury, etc). The process which is being shown happens all of the time. A mother who is giving a baby up for adoption chooses between several families. Is it really such a big deal that it's going to be on tv? All aspects of personal life are now shown on tv, this is no different. I probably won't watch it unless I'm home, but I see absolutely nothing wrong with this.

 

[AZKathy]

As an adoptive mother of three wonderful children, I find this whole show revolting. I will not watch this and plan on writing ABC my feelings. Shame on you, ABC!

 

[MosMom]

http://boards.abcnews.go.com/cgi/abcnews/request.dll?LIST&room=abcnews_2020

There is a message board for 20/20 and you can tell ABC what you think. It is interesting to read some of the posts.

 

[AZKathy]

Thanks for the link. I am glad to see I was not the only one offended by this show.

 

[goofygirl]

Why just blame the show? These couples CHOSE to be on tv, nobody forced them. I think its more disturbing that these potential parents are willing to go on tv and let themselves (and their child) be exploited. Anyone who wants to be on tv this way is out for 15 minutes of fame and a ride on the (short) gravy train. I suppose they will all write books and get agents as well.

They rank right up there with people who have lost a child or loved one in some publicized tragic way (think Columbine or 9/11, etc) and then start appearing on the Today Show and the like. These people have no class. They disgust me much more than the media who is using them for ratings.

 

[lindajo]

I had not seen this, it just shows that television has sunk to a new low. Although I am sure there is another "low" just lurking around the corner.

The show should be called to task for preying on these 5 couples at a very vulerable stage in their lives. There must be no greater longing than wanting a child and not being able to have one. And unfortunately this will attract other couples out there in the audience who feel the same way. Shame on you ABC. I would expect this from FOX, but not you....

 

[Keli]

What an awful way to promote a show on a sensitive subject. That truely makes me sick!