TLC- The Learning Channel, when you think of this network you tend to think educational. But, with their own form of reality TV growing faster than ever, is it educational or just a new way to insult people?
With shows like What Not to Wear and Ten Years Younger you have to wonder are these shows just making people feel better out of the goodness of people’s hearts or is it another way to make fun of people disguised as a pat on the back and a hand up, that way the people watching it feel like they are watching a good deed being done, but still get backhanded jabs thrown in.
I mean, I admit it, I watch these shows on a regular basis and in general I like them, but I can’t get over the fact that there is this callousness hidden inside a good deed.
In the case of What Not to Wear the two hosts constantly poke fun of a person that they say is a fashion nightmare. They film random people in unflattering moments, call them sloppy, force them to look at themselves in a horrendous three-way mirror that could quite possibly make a Victoria’s Secret model look awkward, throw all of their old clothes into, get this, a trash can and then they tell them how a proper person in society should dress.
Sure the fashion victim gets a shopping spree in New York and ends up looking like a movie star for at least the TV appearance, but what about all of those harsh comments that are made about them on national TV? I mean almost every guest cries in their hotel room after they are told how bad they look. Is that part necessary? Why does TLC feel the need to stoop to the level of other networks reality shows by adding in snide comments and public humiliation? I mean honestly, I would rather be put in the stocks than have to step into a three-way mirror on national TV in an outfit that I would wear in the morning to go get my coffee. Why can’t the so called fashion reject be treated as more than an illiterate individual when it comes to reading designer labels and treated as a person that works hard and simply deserves a trip to NYC, shopping and a little advice from two friendly people? That sounds like quality programming to me, no drama no rudeness.
In the case of Ten Years Younger, the public humiliation is even worse. They put a person in a sound-proof clear box and have people in the middle of a busy street guess the age of the person in the box of shame. Really? I would never subject myself to this all for a makeover. Sure the person gets great prizes like dental work and clothing and hair and make-up overhauling but is it worth the public humiliation? Why can’t TLC just say lets give these people makeovers minus all of the drama and unnecessary harsh edges?
TLC is trying to keep up with the big guys. They want people to watch their shows and feel good about themselves, but the guys in suits in the corporate headquarters know that reality TV has to have a little bite to it or people won’t watch it.
I say, look at Extreme Makeover Home Edition that show leaves out the rude judgments and cuts to the point of helping people. I get it TLC, you think your on to something people love to watch other people have something good happen to them, but in some weird way also like to see others put down to make themselves feel better so you wrap it all together in to one neat and tidy package. But, is it classy and kind or is their just a little bit of that reality TV harshness wrapped up with a big pretty bow to disguise it?