Democracy In Action
What picture of America would you form by watching daytime TV?
An Iraqi blogger named Treasure of Baghdad explores that question in his latest post. He's a graduate student and reporter who moved to Philadelphia this summer, according to his profile. He's 26. His tastes run from Hemingway to Whitman to Hope Floats and The English Patient.
He does not care for Jerry Springer:
Before I go to work or school every morning, I turn on the TV as I have my little breakfast hoping I could see something that may make my day. It strikes me to see this "Jerry Springer" is broadcasted at 8 or 9 a.m. every morning showing all these men and women fighting each other like animals.
Unlike Cheaters.com, Oprah or Dr. Phil, Jerry Spring's show reveal problems of cheaters, spouses, relatives and others in a very disgusting way which is by letting the two parts fight each other on the stage while a dozens-people audience shout and scream as if they are watching a kickboxing game.
In one scene, I remember Spring presenting a man who cheated on his wife five times. This man came to the studio to apologize to his wife. The wife and the mistress met up there as well. They were indulged in a sever fight that is even worse than the ones I saw in a cockfight. They tore the clothes of each other in front of the audience making people jump out of happiness to see the boobs and the nipples of these two women whose man was standing at the corner proud of what he has created.
In another scene, a woman challenged a man that she could show her boobs live in front of the camera and she did it. She kept her T-shirt up for few minutes letting people enjoy looking at them as they whistled and clapped.
I really don't know what to make of that image. It was supposed to be sexy. I found it disgusting instead of sexy. What kind of woman does that on air? I think it's better to get some porn magazines or websites to enjoy cool sex images. At least women there know what they are doing!
In the middle of all of these disgusting footages, Jerry Springer moves happily joking and laughing at the absurdity of the stories he brought to his show. I maybe the only one who feels that this show is so frustrating and disgusting despite the fact that women tear clothes and fight in a very sexy way. For me, women should be more respected that being shown in such a cheap way. Thanks to Oprah and Dr. Phil who present real problems in a very respectful ways.
(hat tip, Metroblogging Philadelphia)
I wonder how in the heck the Parents Television Council and the American Family Association don't go after Springer but goes after less sleazy prime-time shows, while the FCC is only concerned about Janet Jackson's nipple and what Nicole Ritchie said on an awards telecast three years ago. Idiots.