Broadcast Blight Date Thursday, April 18, 2024 - 11:33 AM PST Topic Rant A couple of weeks ago I betrayed my better judgment and turned on the television. Only one word comes to mind that can accurately express the phantasmagoria of despicableness that played on the screen: Oi... I have never been a fan of "reality" television, partially because I shun social drama like the friggin Plague but more than anything because it is a statement about the contemporary mindset the media spoon-feeds the United States populous. This new show entitled "The Swan," however, is a new low. For those of yoo with the intelligence which I so pitifully lack to keep the television turned off, the premise is this: Take a dozen or so "ugly duckling" women, give them tens of thousands of dollars worth of cosmetic surgery then restrict them from seeing a mirror until three months later when they compete in a beauty contest. And just to make it interesting, the women selected for the show all seem to have crippling emotional issues to begin with. No, I'm not kidding, this actually is a TV show. And here I was thinking the media isn't chauvinistic enough. Jeez, could we objectify women any more? As if things such as beauty contests and "reality" television aren't fucked-up enough as they are already, some severely fucked-up television executives sat around a table and chuckled at how rich exploitation has made them and how we ain't seen nothing yet. If there is such a thing as a soul, these TV producers obviously have vortices where their souls should be. Oh yeah, then there's this blight known as American Idol. Here we have the prime example of everything that's wrong with music today. Once upon a time, people got on the cover of Rolling Stone by putting together a band, writing some excellent songs, playing their instruments well, and generally being good entertainers. Today yoo get on the cover of Rolling Stone by giving a panel of record producers (and now a live national audience) a better metaphorical blowjob then the whore next to yoo. All yoo have to do is have a "pretty" face (and oh how I loathe what is considered attractive on these shows) and be able to carry a tune (not necessarily sing very well). Yoo don't actually write any music, yoo will be told what to sing. Yoo don't have to play an instrument, the band will play for yoo. "Trendy" clothing and haircuts will be provided for yoo. Remember the song "Pull my Strings?" Of course not, the Dead Kennedy’s weren't a boy-band (although I'm sure Brittany Spears' producers tried to get a DK patch for her to wear in a Pepsi commercial or something). This is, of course, the RIAA's last futile attack (900 numbers and fast food commercials), and I'm quite anticipating their certain demise. Oh yes, and who can forget Paris Hilton's antics? I don't know about yoo, but the only thing I thought was attractive about her was her hair and she cut it off. She was the reason that stupid "Simple Life" show was watched by anyone. Oh, so a girl who's famous for a home sex tape got leaked onto the internet must be reason enough to make a hundred million people shut their brains down for a half hour or more every night. Oh my, the rich girl doesn't know what Wal-Mart is, how entertaining! So what's my point? My point is American culture is being steered back into a 1950s mindset only with a sensationalist, almost P.T. Barnum sort of twist and I for one think it's disgusting and does a disservice to us all. I should clarify that I don't for one second agree with censorship. Quite the contrary, I strongly believe that any society in which censorship exists is oppressed. No, I am simply outraged at the implication of what this sort of programming means for the masses, which is a downward spiral of collective IQ. This article comes from Shmeng http://www.shmeng.com/ The URL for this story is: http://www.shmeng.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=694