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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

spy tv

15:18 / 29.06.01

OK, TV bad, blah blah blah, you’ll get no argument from me. But I saw something last night that really drove that point home. The show was called 'Spy TV', one of NBC's self-proclaimed 'summer hits' (along w/ that detestable and boring 'Weakest Link' and the marginally entertaining 'Fear Factor'). It's basically a 'Candid Camera' ripoff where people are setup to do stupid things and have stupid things done to them, etc. Which is all well and good, if that's your bag. Anybody seen this? Last night they had a Bill Clinton impersonator more or less propositioning a young woman (who thought she was being more or less propositioned by the real Bill Clinton) in the back of a limousine, and then they had a fake news crew chase and harass her afterwords, until they let her in on the big joke. And then they had another bit where they coerced potential reality TV show contestants into eating what they thought was human flesh. Human flesh, people. And three of the four contestants went through w/ it. They can’t even do that sort of thing in psych experiments anymore. I realize it’s just a TV show, but there seems to be a very disturbing and mean-spirited deception going on here, w/ a generous amount of contempt thrown in for added measure. It is an Endemol production, after all, and we have him to thank for such programs as ‘Big Brother’ and ‘Chains of Love’, so this shit shouldn’t come as all that great a shock. But it does.

I’m overreacting, right? These kinds of shows are the future and we’re going to have to get used to it, right? How much worse is it going to get? I’m scared, very scared, for the children. Jesus now I’m beginning to sound like my fucking grandparents.

16:05 / 29.06.01

I realize it’s just a TV show, but there seems to be a very disturbing and mean-spirited deception going on here, w/ a generous amount of contempt thrown in for added measure.

That is quite a disturbing trend for modern television, isn't it? I don't watch a great deal of TV, but when I do I notice the deepening sense of contempt for the viewer.

Ronald Thomas Clontle

17:28 / 29.06.01

quote:Originally posted by Ierne:
[QB
That is quite a disturbing trend for modern television, isn't it? I don't watch a great deal of TV, but when I do I notice the deepening sense of contempt for the viewer.[/QB]

Are you sure that it is a contempt for the viewer, or for the participents in the show?
I think it is more indicative of reflecting the viewer's contempt for their fellow man and the networks exploiting that. I was reading an interview with Daniel Clowes yesterday, and he was talking about shopping Ghost World to studios. He said that he was shocked that unlike what he had always thought, that all the Hollywood people were really smart, but cynical and pandered to people, the truth was that everyone was quite middle-to-lowbrow, and they were just reflecting their tastes in what they put out. This is probably the same thing...I think the networks are just holding up a mirror to the way a lot of people feel right now, and it's not quite thought-out, other than chasing profits...

01:58 / 11.07.01

At least here in the States, these reality shows all seem to be mean-spirited. Either someone is humiliated (SpyTV) or the game is won by lying, backstabbing, and manipulating one's "co-stars" (Survivor.)

For years there was such an outcry about TV violence and sex. Showing how the "screw your buddy" mentality is rewarded to the tune of a million $$$, however, is apparently quite acceptable. But this is American TV we're talking about. As Tracypanzer said, "TV bad, blah blah blah..."

In my more jaded moments, I just figure, "Hey, it's good for kids to see this, it'll help show them what kind of world they're growing up in."

I pretty much don't watch anything but documentaries and The Simpsons, anyway.

05:31 / 11.07.01

They're just adapting the Japanese game show formatting and mixing in the wild American panache that we all know and love.

Humilitation, backstabbing, lying, cheating. It's what capitalism is all about.

Then again, I've never seen an episode of Survivor... In fact, I haven't seen an episode of Jeopardy in a long while. My knowledge is based solely on hearsay.

Regrettable Juvenilia

07:55 / 11.07.01

I always wondered what the big fuss was about Survivor... and then I watched an episode, and realised that yes, it basically is Lord of the Flies meets The Running Man...

"So we told you that you wouldn't see anything of your friends and family while you were here eating bugs and stabbing each other in the back - but instead, here's a video with a short clip of your nearest and dearest to 'cheer you up' <read: push you over the edge>. Now quick! Do this assualt course: whoever gets furthest gets to watch a much longer video from their loved ones..."

'Tis indeed very worrying. Wind them up and watch them snap.

15:52 / 11.07.01

coool , (as the lizzzzzzard king once sang)thats entertianment

17:46 / 17.07.01

Bloody hell, that could have been worse...

Posted by Flyboy: 'Tis indeed very worrying. Wind them up and watch them snap.

And Yagg: Either someone is humiliated (SpyTV) or the game is won by lying, backstabbing, and manipulating one's "co-stars"

[sick humour] Actually, he went for the throat, not the back...

from the story on the BBC: Background checks after the incident found the 26-year-old bartender had been arrested twice previously, although all charges were dropped.

After the incident? hmmmmm.....

17:59 / 17.07.01

Someone will eventually die on one of these shows. Or, people will get bored and move on to something else. I've seen some Japanese gameshows on cable access where it looks like they've got people tormenting little monkeys until the monkeys get upset and attack their tormenters, and I know I shouldn't watch it, I know I shouldn't be entertained by it, but that is just so funny.