Jon and Kate: Exploitation by Popular Demand

I've been fortunate that the reality television programs I have been involved with, like America's Got Talent, were essentially talent shows. As a professional, featured performer all I have to do is attend the rehearsals then do my bit for the camera at show time.

I am relatively used to the pressures associated with the entertainment business. However, being in that situation for a few days at a time is different than having a camera in your face on a 24-hour basis. Anyone who puts every detail of their lives on a television reality show faces a kind of stress that hits a person on an entirely different level.

Producers of shows like ABC's Wife Swap, Bravo's Real Housewives and countless others, have one goal in mind - ratings. Ratings, in the TV world, equal money. The more people watch, the more money a network can squeeze from advertisers.

One of the best ways to get ratings is to shock the audience and that's exactly what the producers are going for - by way of carefully manipulated exploitation and media attention. If you don't agree, have a look at the ratings for the 2009 season premiere of TLC's Jon and Kate Plus 8.

Once word came out that the adult stars of the show, Jon and Kate Gosselin, were having marital problems, a media craze ensued. The first episode of the season delivered the show's highest ratings fueled by carefully crafted previews showing either Jon or Kate alone on the interview couch. Of course, some good paparazzi coverage can help fan the flames too.

On May 16, Kate complained about the paparazzi on her blog. Thanks to a well-orchestrated schedule glitch, Kate was left to manage the kids alone for a day. With Jon noticeably absent and none of the army of nannies available, Kate and kids were swarmed by paparazzi on a shopping trip for party decorations.

"The madhouse awaited us once we set foot (actually 18 feet) outside," Kate wrote. "Each child willingly clutched the side of the cart for safety as we made our way back to the van." Is this not a written admission that she intentionally put the children in an unsafe situation?

If this woman is genuinely concerned for the safety and well-being of her children she would end the program and try to repair her decaying marriage. On television, Kate seems harsh and belittling to her beleaguered husband - something that probably pleases producers since they have all but exhausted the "cute" factor of show's younger stars.

It's hard to say, though, how much of the on-screen drama can be attributed to clever editing since that is exactly what attracts the rubbernecking American TV viewer. That being said, I'll offer up a statement that may seem all but heartless - they asked for it.

No one forced them to participate but producers did wave what I am certain to be a hefty check in front of them with lots of zeros before the decimal. That had to be extremely tempting to a family with 10 mouths to feed. The problem is that when someone signs up to be exploited on a reality show it is doubtful that they consider the long term effects the experience will have on the family. The pressure and fame will change everyone in some way or another.

Materially, the Gosselin children probably have a much better life than they might have if their parents kept their regular jobs. That might provide little comfort to them later in life, however, when they are being shuttled back and forth between parental homes after a lengthy divorce and fiery custody battle.

Those eight little souls had no say in having their every diaper change broadcast on national television and there really is no way to tell how they will be affected later. Fortunately, this cable show has far less of a reach than the average broadcast network program and many people I polled had never even heard of these people.

People say they are sick of reality shows, but more are being produced every day. In reality - pun intended - if you are genuinely tired of this kind of exploitative entertainment simply stop watching and don't buy the products advertised during the program.

If the ratings fall, the advertisers will disappear and these shows will be cancelled making way for better programming. Plus, if it's not too late, maybe these families can start mending the wounds this experience has created in their lives.

Gery L. Deer is an independent journalist and entertainer. Read more online at www.gerydeer.com