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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

Cheaters

12:57 / 14.04.02

OK since my social life is seriously handicapped this weekend, I find myself watching yet another episode of "Cheaters." This show is mezmorizing!

Let's look at all of its fine elements:

More morally questionable than "Temptation Island," "Making the Band," "WHo Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire," etc. One must always be forced to grapple with the question, "Why would you ever agree to spy on your girlfriend/boyfriend to find out if they're cheating on you - and also agree to have that aired on television?" "Why would you stay with someone who had hired anyone - let alone the 'Cheaters' TV show - to spy on you?"

These are REAL people, not the model/actors that populate "Temptation Island" et al. Fat people, thin people, ugly people, gay people, straight people - reality tv as "great equalizer."

Great trash moments that are BETTER than "Cops." Having the big "I know you've been cheating on me" confrontation go down after the cheater in question has been caught on film making out with their new paramour at say, Applebees. Last night featured a prize of a man (who didn't know his new gal had a boyfriend who'd been spying on them with 'Cheaters') wearing a classy American Flag bandana and shouting, "You know why she's with me?!? THIS is why!" as he grabs his dick. This after saying, "Guess what? The bitch (yes, the bitch) is staying with ME, loser!" Class. %And I can sure see why that lady left with such a charmer!%

It's voyeurism in which you feel guilty for watching - but at least you're not on "Cheaters!"

Great "Case File" "suspect" terminology and graphics and serious narration, making it seem like the people being spied on are criminals, when in reality they're just making out with someone down at the local Applebees.

"Cheaters": Television taken to its natural hyperbolic conclusion.

I LOVE IT!

05:25 / 15.04.02

I have yet to watch Cheaters directly, but I did catch a segment of it on the Daily Show, and by the gods, it was emotionally pornographic. Watching all that anger and betrayal and- to a great degree- stupidity, it was indescribable. I particularly liked the girl who made her boyfriend get down on his knees to beg her forgiveness and then laughed and laughed at him.

I have yet to watch the actual show, for I am a coward. I'll become an addict, I just know it...

The Natural Way

10:25 / 15.04.02

I edited an ep of Cheaters the other day.

No, really, I did. It's true.

Very funny and very wrong. I mean, can you imagine a whole camera crew bursting through the door, complete w/ boom operator, the next time you meet up w/ yr saucy love-on-the-side for an illicit shag? And the presenter moralising at you, and yr partner's other half in tears brandishing a crowbar......

Great stuff.

21:52 / 15.04.02

I think "emotional pornography" is an excellent description.

15:52 / 16.04.02

Oh, my dear lord.

My brother left the TV on this morning after he left for work. During the daytime there's always the danger that I'll be sucked into Jenny Jones or Ricki or something. Today, it was Maury.

It was a show on people who got caught on video doing nasty things. There was a whole segment with the Cheaters guy. I almost threw up. Even the audience, who usually scream for this sort of thing, just sat quietly and shifted in their seats.

Possibly the worst part (non-Cheaters) was the piece on the Video Vigilante. This guy hangs out on the street with his video camera, and when he sees a prostitute pick up a john, he follows them and gets it on tape. He then gives the tape to the police, which includes the driver's license, and then gets a tape to the family of the john. The VV said that he does it to clean up his neighbourhood, but it creeped me out to know that this guy was walking around taping people and the cops were ok with it.

Invasion of privacy and surveillance by non-governmental groups and individuals is scaring me more and more.