changing offensive television through blogging

After reading Dawn's post this morning about an upcoming 20/20 adoption show, I responded to her plea for help and sent this email off to 20/20 today:

Dear ABC,

I am aware that you are promoting a show which treats open adoption as if it were a "contest." This very idea is repugnant and shows a huge disregard for the parties involved. To treat the adoption of a baby as if she/he were a dream date minimizes the trauma involved for all parties. I have no idea whose idea this was or how Ms. Walters, herself an adoptive mother, could support such a distasteful show. Generally, I like your show and other investigative reporting shows. But trying to compete with Reality TV by caving to their sensational and crass elimination-type/humiliation aspects in this case is cruel, and unacceptable.

I am extremely offended by this show or the use of a "contest" to decide which parents get to adopt a baby. I think this is possibly the most offensive thing I could ever see on TV. It is in fact, worse than any Super Bowl blunder or celebrity cursing at the Oscars. And it is unacceptable for highly-regarded journalists to use the exploitation of human pain and suffering for ratings and entertainment. Shame on you 20/20 or as your own John Stossel would say "GIVE ME A BREAK!!"

So all you bloggers out there, take a stand against offensive TV, and send your own email to 20/20.  Enough is enough.  This offensive crap has to end soon.  Or I may just skip TV altogether and stick to the blogosphere.

Comments

[Liz]

My letter:

I was made aware that you are promoting a show which treats open adoption as if it were a "contest."

I've often watched your show and found it both informative and thought-provoking.

I cannot believe that you have succumbed to the useless exploitation tactics of reality television.

Ms. Walters, and adoptive parent herself, should know that this is an extremely difficult, personal and often heart-breaking process.

Shame on you ABC. And shame on you Ms. Walters for turning adoption into something a kin to Beat The Clock.

[toni]

Liz, what a terrific letter. I am inspired to do the same. Thanks for putting that up there as a great example. (And belated thanks to Dawn for posting about it earlier.)

[gina b]

Thank you! I had almost forgotten seeing the ad for that this morning and the physical illness that accompanied it. Email sent, hooray for you Liz!

[toni]

Liz, did you (or hey, did anyone) end up watching it after they started backpedaling about how the marketing was done badly, that wasn't really the tone, etc.? I meant to, as much to see if it was an attempt at spin, then we went out for dinner and I forgot to tape it.