Friday Lulz: Stars Earn Stripes

[terminator44.livejournal.com]

You may remember this being mentioned in an earlier thread, but a new show has debuted in the vapid wasteland quality programming that is America's reality television. Eight celebrities you're only vaguely aware of-such as Terry Crews and Todd Palin, because being related to a famous politician automatically makes you famous as well-will compete in challenges based on military training exercises. Each will be shadowed by a former special operations soldier (including two Navy SEALs, a Green Beret, a Delta Force operator, and a SWAT team leader). The winner will receive cash prizes which they will donate to a charity for military veterans. The show is being hosted by Samantha Harris (of Dancing with the Stars) and retired four star general Wesley Clark, commander of the NATO campaign in the Balkans and former presidential candidate. The show has been denounced by nine Nobel Peace Prize recipients (no, Obama isn't one of them) for glorifying war.

I'm not sure what to think about this show. On one hand, militarism is bad (mmkay?). I also have to wonder how much the former soldiers got paid to cheapen their profession like this. Are military salaries really that bad? On the other hand, is it really any dumber than what you normally see on reality TV? Also, the fact that the show uses live ammunition means that we are one step closer to having a bona-fide modern bloodsport, which I approve. :D

Comments

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

No it is not dumber than what you usually see on TV. Which is why when I moved, I never got around to getting a tv again. Just never really came up. And yes, I do think it cheapens the military profession. Maybe. Depends on how the show goes. I mean at least the money is for charity, but the real focus of the show is to get viewers for the corporate sponsor. Military whores. Maybe it is a metaphor for the US.

[rick-day.livejournal.com]

I no longer have working knowledge of this thing you call "television", therefore I shall refrain from commenting.

[devil-ad-vocate.livejournal.com]

I'm disappointed in Wesley Clark.

[terminator44.livejournal.com]

He seems to have that effect on people.