Is anyone else digusted by "The Swan" reality show?

[ShuisFan584]

I definitely won't be watching this show. I really don't like how they call these girls ugly in the previews. It's basically telling people that if you don't look like a supermodel, you need to get a makeover.

 

[danacara]

Let me pose this then: What would be the "right" kind of reality TV show, the one that satisfies both objectives: matching your personal value system and enticing to viewers? Is reality TV entertaining at all if it doesn't make you uncomfortable in some way? Remember your reaction the first time you heard the premise of Survivor?

 

[stinkerbelle]

Originally posted by danacara
Let me pose this then: What would be the "right" kind of reality TV show, the one that satisfies both objectives: matching your personal value system and enticing to viewers? Is reality TV entertaining at all if it doesn't make you uncomfortable in some way? Remember your reaction the first time you heard the premise of Survivor?

I actually REALLY like TLC's (and BBC's) What Not to Wear. They offer some great advice that the 'home viewer' can apply to themselves.

All of these people just exude confidence when they are dressed correctly for their body type, have a smart haircut, and some subtle makeup. (not viva las vegas makeup like the Swan.) and not one of them had to lose a single pound. (well - running around NYC shopping, you might loose a pound or 2! hehe)

 

[snoopy]

Good question, Dana.

I like a good train wreck, but I don't want to see carnage all over the tracks, ya know?

This thing last night was a little more real than I care to be privvy to. They went out of their way to find contestents with serious emotional and self-esteem issues, which is already sick. And then they pit them in a contest, as if to say "this is the best you can possibly be and it's still not good enough."

This really squicked me, coupled with the fact that these women looked fine and to set the standards with them as the "ugly ducklings" is sure to bring forth insecurities of women all over the country. I just can't see the entertainment value in that.

 

[Winka]

I have to say that I find the Fox shows in some ways LESS dissembling than the ABC ones (and I point to Joe Millionaire as Fox's response to The Bachelor and now The Swan as their response to Extreme Makeover).

ABC "glosses" over the motivations of people in both their shows as seeking "true love" or "inner peace" and "self-confidence" and then as in the case of The Bachelor, the editing team will carefully set up the self-interested villain up against the one with the "heart of gold."(as if their motivations were so cut and dry.) Extreme Makeover shows us tearful views of people who are portrayed as genuinely good-hearted and selfess but who would also just feel a wee bit better if they had $60,000 worth of cosmetic surgery.

Fox does the dirty and I think, incisive job of stripping the "Disneyfied" coating of the ABC shows. I'm still out on whether I think offering these kinds of shows that pander to the lowest of human motivations becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy or if it provides a much needed mirror to show humanity at its ugliest.

If I were to give Fox the benefit of the doubt, that it's manned by philosophers instead of frat boys, I don't mind "uncomfortable" TV. But it is sad that it has to use so many seemingly gullible, weak-minded individuals to drive home its point.

 

[Winka]

Originally posted by Winka
If I were to give Fox the benefit of the doubt, that it's manned by philosophers instead of frat boys....

Not that philosophy and fraternities are mutually exclusive...

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I think this show is absolutely repulsive. I do remember my reaction the first time I heard about Survivor and it was nothing like my are-you-kidding reaction to this.

The show is not only saying if you don't look like a supermodel, you need a makeover.....it's saying if you don't look like a supermodel, you need plastic surgery, which is way, way worse. Makeovers can be alot of fun and can instill alot of confidence. Plastic surgery is a serious procedure that can have dire and possibly life-threatening consequences.

I, like so many others, hate my nose. Always have. No one else sees it or seems to understand, but I actually decided to research rhinoplasty at one point. I was very uncomfortable with what I found. Most people were dissatisfied with their new noses, and many operations were actually corrective procedures to fix some other doctor's mistake! This stuff isn't cheap, but you can imagine the slew of shady doctors who charge low prices for horribly done procedures to take advantage of those who can't afford it. Which is almost everyone.

Anyway, shows like this are only promoting the point of view that "plastic surgery will cure all your problems". What a dangerous thing to say. I can't believe they cancelled Wonderfalls for that!

 

[J&D]

That one girl did not look better, imo -- she looked more porn star-ish though!

I agree. It was way too much. I kept thinking that she looked just like The Joker when she smiled. I think the Dr. gave her a crooked pair of lips.
I thought Kelly's face did look better, but her hair and chest took away from it.

I also think that they didn't look that bad before surgery. I think they could have skipped all of the major plastic surgery. I think they would have looked better if they had someone to help them with: makeup, finding a hairstyle to flatter their face, clothes to flatter their shape, work with the trainer and a nutritionist to help them get into shape, etc. I think Oprah's show does a good job of doing that.

 

[GlennandAnn]

I think both of them should have skipped the plastic surgery and spent the time in heavy duty therapy!! Both of these women were obviously psychologically fragile- the one crying all the time and the other surrounded by men telling her how inadequate she was! Who wants to bet the red-head kicks that husband of her's to the curb ASAP?

Ann

 

[mommyseven]

If they would have had their teeth whitened, hair done, therapy, clothing makeover, makeup makeover, and some weightloss help they would have been equally improved but naturally prettier.

They did look very fake.

 

[Puffy2]

It's pathetic and the producers of the show (and anyone else making money off of it) should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.

 

[stinkerbelle]

You know...I was reading this on another message board - and it made so much more sense.

The people who appear on TLC's "What not to wear" turn out 100 times better, in my opinion.

It's amazing what a flattering outfit, decent haircut, and NATURAL makeup will do for someone.

And those people seem to exude (sp?) more confidence after 1 week then these ladies did after 3 months of surgery/recovery.

 

[snoopy]

Who wants to bet the red-head kicks that husband of her's to the curb ASAP?

Oh yeah. He's not long for her world.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Originally posted by snoopy
Oh yeah. He's not long for her world.

Yeah, and it seems like he deserves it too! Wasn't he acting weird on the phone?

The whole show is weird. I can't believe that they can make people look so different!