Archive for February 20th, 2008

Down the Tube

I hope, for America’s sake, that the new TV show “The Moment of Truth” does not do well. It is setup to embarrass people or damage their relationships.

The TV show “The Biggest Loser” seemed at first to be not a nice show. Just watching the previews, I thought that the show was making fun of fat people.

The TV show “Average Joe” seemed at first to be a nice show. Just watching the previews, I was thought that the show was helping average guys.

After watching both shows, I switched my opinions of each. It seems that a bunch of people have the same opinion, as Biggest Loser has continued success but Average Joe is gone. Some of that may be due to the element-of-surprise nature of Average Joe.

I believe that America likes Biggest Loser because it is a show with a good intent – helping people. Average Joe had the guise of helping people but turned out to be a mean show – humiliating people.

I believe that “Moment of Truth” is a mean show – the goal is to humiliate people. And I do not want to watch it. The show is meant to capitalize on the bad parts of human nature. The contestants are, in effect, selling their souls. They are trying to win money and are apparently ready to sacrifice other parts of their lives (friendships, marriage, dignity) for that money.

Both the contestant and the network share blame for any fallout. The contestants have a choice in the matter and are responsible for their actions and words. But who is writing the questions? Who is placing the contestant is such a predicament? Just as the participants are placing money above all else, so the producers are placing ratings (and therefore money) above all else.

“But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”
– I Timothy 6:9