I recall screaming into the void when The Biggest Loser premiered, turning weight loss into a competitive event for entertainment was the complete opposite of how healthy, sustainable weight loss is meant to occur. I knew that those contestants were going to face lifelong repercussions from being on that show. The Pussycat Dolls Presents The Search for the Next Doll has a whole episode where all of the contestants got a fast moving stomach bug, the show reveled in shots of these young women vomiting into bushes and toilets. They were then forced to perform while still sick, hooked up to IVs backstage as the judges watched with glee. None of that had to happen, pushing their performance back two days would not have killed the production, it was all in service of allowing folks to gawk at a bunch of desperate young women who were willing to do anything for a shot at being in an exploitative singing group (all the news that has come out since then about The Pussycat Dolls has been grim). The winner of the show didn't even end up joining because her dad took one look at the contract she was meant to sign and told her that it was terrible.
As a real housewives watcher, yes it’s often really dumb and the fights border on pro-wrestling style pageantry—BUT it’s one of few major entertainment franchises that centers women over 40 as the protagonists of their own lives. Husbands, lovers and kids are the supporting players.
Kayleigh, I really appreciate this analysis and the series! As someone who also doesn’t watch a lot of reality tv but knows their role in the culture, I am glad we can look at these with critical eyes.
I’ve been thinking about how shows like Toddlers & Tiaras and Dance Moms paved the way for the rise of mommy blogging and kids becoming content. But OG for that would be Teen Mom IMO and it’s worth getting into how damaging/exploitive that show seems to be and how the individual who made it through least scathed seemed to be the wealthiest one to start with (Macy). I also think continuing with the Honey Boo Boo analysis would be powerful, since that felt like as a society we were sanctioned to laugh at these poor white bumpkins (the Anna Nicole dynamic but without the proximity to celebrity to frame it)
I recall screaming into the void when The Biggest Loser premiered, turning weight loss into a competitive event for entertainment was the complete opposite of how healthy, sustainable weight loss is meant to occur. I knew that those contestants were going to face lifelong repercussions from being on that show. The Pussycat Dolls Presents The Search for the Next Doll has a whole episode where all of the contestants got a fast moving stomach bug, the show reveled in shots of these young women vomiting into bushes and toilets. They were then forced to perform while still sick, hooked up to IVs backstage as the judges watched with glee. None of that had to happen, pushing their performance back two days would not have killed the production, it was all in service of allowing folks to gawk at a bunch of desperate young women who were willing to do anything for a shot at being in an exploitative singing group (all the news that has come out since then about The Pussycat Dolls has been grim). The winner of the show didn't even end up joining because her dad took one look at the contract she was meant to sign and told her that it was terrible.
Maintenance Phase and Fad Camp both did episodes on The Biggest Loser and damn was it bleak.
The podcast You're Wrong About did a great episode on Anna Nicole
As a real housewives watcher, yes it’s often really dumb and the fights border on pro-wrestling style pageantry—BUT it’s one of few major entertainment franchises that centers women over 40 as the protagonists of their own lives. Husbands, lovers and kids are the supporting players.
Kayleigh, I really appreciate this analysis and the series! As someone who also doesn’t watch a lot of reality tv but knows their role in the culture, I am glad we can look at these with critical eyes.
I’ve been thinking about how shows like Toddlers & Tiaras and Dance Moms paved the way for the rise of mommy blogging and kids becoming content. But OG for that would be Teen Mom IMO and it’s worth getting into how damaging/exploitive that show seems to be and how the individual who made it through least scathed seemed to be the wealthiest one to start with (Macy). I also think continuing with the Honey Boo Boo analysis would be powerful, since that felt like as a society we were sanctioned to laugh at these poor white bumpkins (the Anna Nicole dynamic but without the proximity to celebrity to frame it)