If Reality TV Fails Us, Who Do We Have Left?

Family Faces Eviction After Supernanny Fails to Affect Behavior

alex cruden
alex cruden, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Feb 6, 2007 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
For anyone who has watched ABC's answer to corrective behavioral psychology, Supernanny, we know that it takes about a week to change a brood of bad-word spewing, battering brats into perfect little angels that any mother could love. However, what happens when the Supernanny fails? For a family living in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, the Supernanny debacle could mean that they are losing their home.

The Trillium Park Homeowners Association are demanding that the family of Michael and Tamara Amouri comply with regulations in the condo they rent from another individual, or move out. The lawsuit has been filed in Oakland County, Michigan, and sites the children's "excessive noise" at all hours as the main complaint. ABC is not commenting, saying that due to the litigation they are prohibited from making statements about their Supernanny, Jo Frost.

Now the question arises: If Supernanny cannot help American families control their disruptive and ill-behaved offspring, who can? Nanny 911, perhaps. If the constant presence of film crews and an overweight British woman demanding "time outs" are ineffective in America's fight to correct the spoiled children of the US, what can we as Americans do?

Tamara Amouri, when asked to comment on the lawsuit, claimed that she was unaware of any such litigation. Hmm, perhaps the real problem is that the mother of the family is equally unaware that the Supernanny failed her so. Maybe the children were so completely wretched before Supernanny's arrival, and that now that they are marginally better, thanks to Supernanny, Tamara just doesn't think that her children are bad enough to get the family evicted from the rented condo. And if she doesn't recognize the problem, who else can come to her aid?

Maybe ABC should step in and give the Amouri's another try. Maybe a full two weeks of filming, I mean therapy, I mean nanny-ing is what this unfortunate family needs. I would hate to see the venerable Supernanny and its cross-network rival Nanny 911 take the blame for this. They both do good work for families across the country, and Reality TV should not bear the blame for the failure of one family to learn the appropriate lessons from the oral-hygienically challenged Ms. Frost and her ilk. Every family has its own learning curve, and perhaps the Amouri's just need a little more time.

I would not want to live in a world where reality television shows that help us lose weight, talk to our dogs, win apprenticeships with Donald Trump, or correct our spoiled, bratty kids are considered failures. Supernanny, give the Amouri Family another week.

Published by alex cruden

What I am doing tonight? The same thing I do every night -- planning to take over the world.  View profile

44 Comments

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  • Jen9/1/2010

    For Pete's sake, Alex Cruden, please speak with an English teacher. An apostrophe should only be used in the family's name when you are talking about something that belongs to them (i.e. Michael Amouri's condo.) When you are referring to something that belongs to a pair or group of people, use an apostrophe after the s (i.e. The Amouris' condo.) When the family is the subject of your sentence and they aren't owning anything, there's no need for an apostrophe (i.e. "Give the Amouris another try" or "perhaps the Amouris just need a little more time.") It's hard to take your opinion seriously when your writing lacks good proofreading skills.

  • Wise One10/29/2008

    Tamara you are a broken record of denial. Your family is so messed up that you think it's normal. I hope you get kicked out.

  • guess who10/29/2007

    misss you

  • Nancy8/25/2007

    Can all of ya all stop just shut up. I watched the show and I thought this was a good family who is doing their best for their kids. I have two kids and have a hard time, can't imagine 4 under 4. Well done Amouri family.

  • lllllllllllllllll8/22/2007

    hey tamara what are you doin writting a novel online? shouldnt you be watching your kids.i forgot you dont give a crap about them. and for the record i dont care how messed up my family is i would never want them exploited on national television.

  • anna8/20/2007

    Um, I "watched the show closely" and I had no way of knowing you were Chaldean, in fact I've never heard that word before. So props to Chris and Las, I guess? but criminy, how was anyone else supposed to know what your obscure ethnic background is? And for someone who is so sensitive about your background, you made a rude comment about Arabs.

  • hmmm8/20/2007

    All the songs you download are clean? So who has been downloading songs to your iPod?

  • yourtruecolors8/20/2007

    Tamara, you sound like a real peach! Keep the angry posts up, sweetheart, you're your own worst enemy here. *makes popcorn and sits back to watch*

  • cccc8/19/2007

    haters lol.nice choice of words.your family should audition in the shrine circus.

    chaldeans are cancer to society

  • Tamara8/19/2007

    (Cont'd)Yeah I have four kids who keep me in shape because I am always on them and in their life. No I don't just sit around and watch tv or drop them off to someone's house or call a babysitter to do my job. My kids are my life and they are with their mother all day long. Where ever I go, they go and they love it. It's obvious I'm not lazy and I do what I can for my kids. Mike is working hard to support us and set us up for our future. These kids are not raised on the streets or by a stranger or others. Be yourself and be proud, don't let others negativity hold u back or stop u from accomplishing your goals. Go with your gut and don't worry about what others have to say. Just remember have respect for yourself. Thank you for hearing me out.(I could write a book..naaah..lol)Peace

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