Human Rights Vs. Ratings: America's Next Top Model and Survivor in China

The ninth cycle (not series or season) of CWs America's Next Top Model begins September 9th. This group of ladies is mostly college students and around twenty years of age, according the CW website. There is no change to the basic premise of the show and the prizes are the same. All the judges are back, Tyra, Nigel, Twiggy and J. Alexander. Jay Manuel will still be directing the girls.

They are touting two "angles" to this cycle. One of the contestants has Asperger Disorder, a form of autism. Executive Producer Ken Mok was quoted in Entertainment Weekly, "We delve into that disability and how she deals with it." The other is the color green. Green is the new hue for the season. Transportation is via a biodiesel fueled vehicle. Inside the house, not only is the decor green, but the girls are given tips on how to limit the use of electricity and water. How environmentally correct is that.

The CBS hit reality show Survivor is back for its 15th series. The big controversy around this season was the WWE lady wrestler, Ashley Massaro joining the cast. That seems to have blown over as the season premier approaches. On September 20th Survivor begins the new season in China.

No exile island this season. The producers decided there wasn't enough drama in a person alone on an island. This time the winning tribe will "kidnap" someone from the other tribe and take them home. Who will be spying on whom?

Contestants will start in Shanghai. Reality World TV quotes Probst, " . . . leaving the bustle of downtown Shanghai and traveling to HuangPu Mountain's Mi Tuo Temple. Once there, they will participate in a Buddhist ceremony and be instructed to "leave all of their worldly possessions behind."

Here are two reality shows with no real concept of reality. ANTM brags about the medical condition of a contestant and their concern for the environment. Will the models strike poses in a Buddhist temple or stupa? Unknown at this time.

Survivor: China is bringing the contestants to the Mi Tuo Temple in the Huang Pu Mountains to be blessed before their suffering begins. How noble of the Chinese government to allow that. China invaded Tibet in 1955 and many of the governments of the world turned their backs. The Chinese government has systematically been eradicating the Buddhist culture, religion and people of Tibet with impunity. The ceremony will certainly look good on TV.

It seems that the lure of money, on the parts of CW, CBS and the Chinese government far outweighed any other consideration. Someone is ready to say, "The money paid will go to the Chinese government to improve the lives of their people." Don't be naive enough to believe that.

Money talks, and people, well people can just fend for themselves.