Two Reality Shows Stir Publicity and Anger

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NY Times reports on controversy surrounding two upcoming reality shows: ABC's Find My Family and MTV's Jersey Shore. The ABC show, whose premise is an attempt to reunite adopted children and their biological parents, is accused of exploiting adopted children, while the MTV show is accused by three Italian-American groups of enforcing negative "guido" stereotypes. Notice how in the report that the organizations, advertisers, show contestants, and MTV all offer contradicting accounts of matters such as whether the show is racist or which advertisers withdrew. For example, Domino's Pizza withdrew its ads from the show; MTV claims that no advertisers withdrew.

Here's the ironic thing about MTV's programming decision. It's been noted for being "politically correct" in censoring whichever music videos it shows. For example, in 2004 it banned Incubus's "Megalomaniac" because it showed a depiction of Adolf Hitler and people drinking oil. It also banned Soundgarden's "Jesus Christ Pose" alleging that the video's scenes of crucifixing various religious symbols amounted to blasphemy. Wikipedia has an article with more detail.

And I wonder if ABC is sinking to tabloid Maury/Jerry Springer levels with its new show. Oh well, there's much better shows on Monday, like Two and a Half Men, House, or NBC's much more worthy The Sing Off (temporarily replacing Heroes) over the holidays).