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...they are afraid of actual, existing conflict. Who on earth would like to watch these boring housewives or horny thirtysomethings?
Almost as an afterthought, ABC News tossed off a two-hour report on 20/20 that was far more fascinating than either of the above mentioned shows. They'd been sitting on it for two years, and only decided to run it because of the recent political scandals. Rather than fantasize about prostitutes, the program showed what they actually look like, how they live, and they came damn near close to showing how they die.
Not surprisingly, it wasn't sexy. Most of the women didn't have people to do their makeup or hair, like reality show subjects. They didn't even have people to restore the teeth their pimps had knocked out. One of them had filled her bathtub with excrement, since she lived in abandoned housing and had no power or utilities. There were even touches of heartbreaking humanity, like the street hooker showing up for free medical care from a bus, who was encouraged to sing a brief refrain from Phantom of the Opera. She once had dreams of being a singer, before she became a repository for the disgusting fantasies of worthless men.
It was very affecting, which I admit might have been personal for me. Moment of genuine self-disclosure, instead of the Havrilesky kind; when I discovered my older brother patronized prostitutes, I broke off relations with him and his family as much as possible. I knew he was a thief, liar and cheat, but this "victimless crime" made him a supporter of human slavery, which was unforgiveable. His funeral was three weeks ago. I didn't go. I might never go to see his grave.
Before anyone claims that I'm hijacking this thread, consider this point. The article's "reality" shows are actually about dodging reality. ABC's prostitution show, or an hour or two examining the destroyed lives of New Orleans, would be examples of genuine reality. It's a moot question as to whether people would actually watch real reality instead of Faux reality, since the megacorporations are determined to remove that choice from us.
