Layered Realities (Another Evening On The Learning Channel)

I know I'm speaking against reality t.v a lot. While the idea isn't bad, the use television networks make of it is often appalling. In most case, the very notion of reality can be disputed. In those silly dating shows, the only thing separating them from clever metafiction is the fact that the contestants aren't scripted characters. Even then, sometimes they are. Since now you're rewarded with air time for being a jerkoff, more and more people embrace a persona in their real life, hoping to be so bad, they will be famous. Yesterday, I have watched about four hours of reality television on The Learning Channel. I don't do that often, but last night I had a very good reason. I have discovered that seemingly long-running show and international success UNDERCOVER BOSS. There was a whole marathon of it.

For those unfamiliar with it, let's quickly explain what it's about. The CEO of a big company spends one week undercover as an employee of his own company, so he can see how his employees work. At the end of the week, he reveals his true identity and rewards the workers if they did well. Meanwhile the workers think they are participating in a reality show where two unemployed guys compete for work and train another guy off-screen. What's really great about this is that it's the only show I can think about, that displays the working class reality. It's not trying to make it sexy or anything. Instead, it's putting emphasis on the hardships of life as an average Joe. Most CEOs suck at their jobs and they are often humbled by the skill and the dedication of their employees. For example, the Chief Development Officer of Subway spent a week working behind the counter. Suddenly, you bridged the gap in between the minimal wage salary world (as Henry Rollins would call it) and the executive assholes who insist on calling their workers "sandwich artists". That's awesome right there.

Now, I know what you're going to say.

Ben, this is scripted. The reality of this show is as filtered as any other. Maybe, but to a certain point, none of that matters. Yes, those people are most likely screened and picked for being exceptional employees. This is only fair. Nobody wants to see a CEO fire (or even worse, reward) a whiny asshole that hates his job. I don't have any problems with good people who take pride in what they do. It's even cathartic sometimes. Seeing a stressed out warehouse manager rough up the DIRECTV CEO or a maintenance supervisor at the Wrigley Field fire the owner of the team has something empowering. Not everybody can handle the work they dish out to the others. Even if the whole cast of every episode were actors (which is really doubtful), it would be still all right, because the show displays unglamourized work. That's Reality 101 for you. The 9 to 5 grind, made interesting and the vague hope that it can get better for normal people sometimes. I can get behind that reality.

But at nine pm, the UNDERCOVER BOSS marathon finished and the werewolf came out.

I was never crazy about JON AND KATE PLUS EIGHT. I know the Gosselins first did it because it would be tremendous support to their kids, but putting themselves on the spot right there was recipe for disaster. And it happened. Kate turned heel like in the glory days of Macho Man Randy Savage and morphed into this supernatural-trailer-park Paris Hilton. John hit the curb, fell in the arms of a young, psycho nymphette and disappeared. The show now called KATE PLUS EIGHT was broadcasting one of its last shows yesterday and holy shit. That's the one of the worst, most evil shows I've seen in a while. While Kate Gosselin is to blame for this, she bears maybe 25% of the responsibility. The architects of her family's downfall (who has just begun, let's not kid ourselves) are the productors of the show.

Here's the method to their madness. They felt Kate was a vulnerable girl coming from a poor upbringing, so they pampered her and transformed her into the worst possible pop culture princess ever. Then, they put her in impossible situations. Like putting her in charge of a trip for fifteen people on the Colorado River and filming her inner prima donna exploding out under stress. That's wrong if I've ever seen anything being wrong in my life.

For the whole hour, she scolds her "paid help" (which apparently consists of her two friends), gives them shit for a yes or for a no in front of the kids. Then they film the "paid help" talking shit about Kate...in front of the kids. All to build up to one of them folding under pressure and leaving. While talking shit about Kate. In front of the kids. Those who think the nightmare of the Gosselins is going to end with the show, you're wrong. It's only beginning. Those kids, especially the older twins girls, are scarred for life and as they will grow older they will understand how really bad they've been exposed to the public judgment and will grow up to hate their mother. Their parents, probably. They will grow up inside the reality TLC has fabricated for them and maybe have a revenge reality show one day. The only winners here are the network and the executives who seemed to be the only ones doing long term planning. At that point, I hit the sack.