quote: NEW YORK — The star of Fox's new reality show, "The Littlest Groom," (search) is a guy named Glen, who happens to be 4 feet 5 inches tall - and who's watched a lot of reality TV.
"I've watched 'The Bachelor' and 'Survivor,' and I thought, gosh, if they did a show about little people, that would be so rad," said Glen, talking for the first time about his role in "The Littlest Groom," airing Feb. 16 and 23.
"I mean, they have 'Boy Meets Boy' (search) and 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,' (search) so this is really showing the diversity of what America is all about.
"Heck, we're as normal as everyone else."
The premise of "The Littlest Groom" is simple: Can Glen, 23, who works in tech support for a cellular company, find a sweetheart among 12 women, all little people? Or will he choose one of the "average-sized" women thrown into the mix?
I can't decide if this is a new low or a new high for reality TV.
Posts: 13123 | Registered: Feb 2002
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quote:The announcement sparked a flurry of angry letters to the LPA from little people and their parents and a debate within the Portland, Oregon-based organization over its response to the show, Roloff said.
"The fact that Fox is doing this reality show is outrageous," Roloff quoted one e-mail he received from the parent of a dwarf child. "It is one more avenue to make fun of their stature."
Roloff credited the producers of the show for consulting with his group in an apparent effort to develop and promote the show in a sensitive manner.
While the LPA neither supports nor endorses the program, Roloff said he would withhold judgment until he sees it. "My sense is that they probably didn't do anything too derogatory."
posted
I was worried that this was going to be about some families marrying their four-year-old kids or something. *shudder* Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
KAT, you know, that's kind of my feeling, but then, you have to ask yourself whether it's better to have a show like this that at least allows people to see people who are 'different' interacting in normal ways, or nothing at all. (Hopefully. Though I wouldn't put it past FOX to have some kind of contest between the little people or something.)
The thing is is that you can't really point the finger at FOX and say 'You're trying to make money off of the 'wierd' factor of having midgets on parade.' Because they'll act innocent and say, well clearly there's a problem with you that you even noticed it. There are Black shows and shows for gay people, is that 'wierd'? Just because you're prejudiced against little people and want them to be hidden away doesn't mean they don't exist, etc.
So, what's the answer here?
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posted
I think that if it could be considered completely "normal", then they could have made Glen the star of the "Bachelor", rather than making him his own little people show.
Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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quote: "This show fit with what my life was all about - I was completely looking for true love," he said. "Sure, this has a little twist because it's people of short stature, but I think the average-sized person will look into the glass and see what it's like to be a little person.
"It's not every day you see a little person - let alone get to know their personal lives," he said. "All I know is that I had a great time doing this show and never for a second felt exploited.
"If someone is going to be close-minded, then they don't know what reality is themselves," he said. "This is the world we live in - people need to get over themselves."
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Well PSI, they could have put any one of the guys from "Average Joe" on "The Bachelor". Or they could even have put the guy from "My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance" on "The Bachelor". But they didn't, because if it isn't a tall, thin, good looking, "normal" guy, then our culture will lable the show as being weird.
I think the sad fact is that unless they're given their own shows, people who aren't considered "normal" won't be taken seriously on these shows. Not that I, of course, take these shows seriously anyway.
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I was so embarrassed last Thursday. I turned on NBC to watch "Scrubs" (wait, I'm not embarrassed yet) only to find it had switched spots with "The Apprentice." I watched the whole thing. My husband came in after work and said "What are you watching?!" I couldn't believe that I never turned it off. It's almost like I enjoyed it. Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
I'm also one of those people who don't really understand the popularity of the so-called "reality shows." I haven't been tempted to tune into any of them - and I don't anticipate making "The Littlest Groom" and exception to this trend.
Unfortunately, I lost all right to ridicule other people's TV viewing habits when I publicly admitted to being a fan of "Buffy," "Angel," and "Smallville." Posts: 4344 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Enough of these shows already! I'm sick of them. They are useless and not entertaining. They just annoy me. Though American Idol is amusing for some reason.
Posts: 9942 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Thank you for respecting me for my intelligence, but...
both Diane and I watch Smallville, but for different reasons. Diane is fascinated by the relationship stuff. I watch mostly for what we all know is the inevitable descent of the Lex Luthor of now into the Lex Luthor we all know will be. So if Lex isn't a big factor in the episode, I'm usually off reading a book somewhere. Or online...
Don't knock Angel - if NBC hadn't cancelled the show, I was going to post something that proved that Lyon's Den was a blatant ripoff of Angel.
And as for Buffy...
I'll have you know that the fact that I watch it belongs somewhere on the list (still in construction) of:
The Top Ten Reasons SNDRAKE is Cooler than Peter Singer
Suggestions for the list gratefully and graciously accepted. Posts: 4344 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
sndrake, if Diane likes the relationship stuff, did she ever watch Lois & Clark? Does she know that there's a thriving, fanfic-writing fandom? She should check out the archive and the boards.
I found the Lex stuff intriguing first season, but far too predictable -- PAINFULLY so -- second season. If it has improved this season, I wouldn't know -- given the choice between Enterprise and Smallville, I usually choose neither. Given some of the reviews I've seen by fellow L&C fans who likeSmallville, I don't think I'm missing much.
As far as the other two go . . . well, the Peter Singer thing is an interesting point. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
You know, I vaguely recall a show called Moonlighting and a show called Miami Vice, neither of which I was allowed to watch because I was still six months away from being 18. (Super-protective - call that controlling - parents.) Now in my mid-30's I don't think I've missed a thing.
But I feel sooooo out of the loop as you all go on about whatever the latest TV fad is . . . Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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quote:I never saw "Lyon's Den"...how was it an "Angel" ripoff?
*** Angel is a vampire with a soul
Jack Turner (main character of Lyon's Den) is a crusading lawyer for the downtrodden (I don't have to explain that, do I?) ***
Angel and his allies, help people who are in deep trouble with dark forces, whether they can pay for help or not.
Jack Turner directs a pro-bono legal clinic. ***
Angel ends up taking a position that leaves him as the director of a legal firm, which may still be in the control of evil senior partners.
Jack Turner accepts the role of managing partner in a legal firm which is probably in the control of evil senior partners.
(there's more that can be done, but since Lyon's Den has been cancelled, it takes a lot of the fun out of it.)
Posts: 4344 | Registered: Mar 2003
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quote:You know, I vaguely recall a show called Moonlighting and a show called Miami Vice, neither of which I was allowed to watch because I was still six months away from being 18. (Super-protective - call that controlling - parents.) Now in my mid-30's I don't think I've missed a thing.
Heh. I watched Miami Vice in 2nd grade. But that was do to a severe lack of shows in English.
Posts: 2149 | Registered: Aug 2000
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<---*still mourning the loss of Cordelia*
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