******* Warning - Bad Language Alert - My parents won't like the language in this Blog - thus, will probably not like the blog at all. Read on at your own risk *********
I have not been drawn to reality TV. The first example I recall seeing sent me running in the other direction – it was an episode of Survivor in its first season, and I was left feeling like it was designed to bring out the human races worst traits: selfishness, greed, dishonesty, and all around bad behavior in a deserate pursuit of money and five minutes of fame. The bits and pieces I caught over the past ten years have not been encouraging… especially MTV stuff. The absurd Flavor-Flav’s Flavor of Love – The disturbing Tila Taquila’s quest for a partner, with no gender or species differentiation – and what was that Paris Hilton one? Where she’s made to live with normal people and it made everyone miserable; Paris, host family, and viewer alike.
So it was a pleasant surprise when I was talked into watching The Biggest Loser last night. Here’s a show that people are winning, even when they lose. Win or lose, contestants seem to leave the show better off, with a much better chance of continuing a healthier life than before they joined the show.
The truly astonishing thing to me however, is the fact that they took a perennial, negative (and insulting) phrase and turned it into a positive thing. They’re all wearing t-shirts that say “The Biggest Loser” and they all say, “I’m going to be the Biggest Loser!!” and the winner will proudly shout to the heavens, “Ha!! I’m the Biggest Loser there is!!!” AND, people say, “Way to GO!!” This is good mojo. Excellent karma. Negatives into Positives.
Soooo… I was thinking…. Along these same lines… by structuring phrases and reality shows correctly, what other negative phrases can we change the scope of? What phrases can we reinvent, thus turning their current cultural and social stigmas on their heads and diverting that negative mojo in a different direction and understanding?
How about this for a concept – much like the bachelor(ette) – a woman will chose a mate - in this case from the predominantly red-neck sector of eligible bachelors. And we will call it, “The Biggest Dumb-F@*K” - where all season long, contestants can exclaim, “Hell yes!! I’m gonna be the Biggest Dum-F@*K!!” And the winner receives $100,000, a Burger King franchise, and a gun rack (First and foremost, however, he’s getting laid – hence the name of the show. Not that we would broadcast that segment. Ick) And we can spin that off, where we follow some of the losers - as in “I ain’t the Biggest Dumb-F@*K – but just because I got kicked off the show doesn’t mean I’m going to quit trying to be a Big Dumb-F@*K - give me another chance and I promise I’ll be the Biggest Dumb-F@*K ever!!”
Or, hey! More in the spirit of the Biggest Loser, how about the Biggest Dumb-A$s!! People who have uncontrollable flatulence will be brought together at a camp where they are given new diets and activity regimens designed to reduce flatulence and help quiet those talkative butts! Thus, the Biggest Dumb-A$s!! Contestant one: “I’m the Biggest Dumb-A$s – blaattt!! Damn!”. Contestant two: “Come on I know you can do it – but for today I’m the Biggest Dumb-A$s!! It was only a few weeks ago I could fart the whole alphabet – today I can barely get two vowels out!”
So as I see the future of reality TV, we have concepts that not only entertain, but actually change the way our society views the use of soon-to-be former insults. In the spirit of forward thinking and the assured continued improvement of our enlightened society, I’ll leave you with a departing phrase that, given the above identified trend, is sure to have a positive connotation in the near future.
Go F@*K Yourself! (I’m working on a concept for this one – it will be grand!!)
I have not been drawn to reality TV. The first example I recall seeing sent me running in the other direction – it was an episode of Survivor in its first season, and I was left feeling like it was designed to bring out the human races worst traits: selfishness, greed, dishonesty, and all around bad behavior in a deserate pursuit of money and five minutes of fame. The bits and pieces I caught over the past ten years have not been encouraging… especially MTV stuff. The absurd Flavor-Flav’s Flavor of Love – The disturbing Tila Taquila’s quest for a partner, with no gender or species differentiation – and what was that Paris Hilton one? Where she’s made to live with normal people and it made everyone miserable; Paris, host family, and viewer alike.
So it was a pleasant surprise when I was talked into watching The Biggest Loser last night. Here’s a show that people are winning, even when they lose. Win or lose, contestants seem to leave the show better off, with a much better chance of continuing a healthier life than before they joined the show.
The truly astonishing thing to me however, is the fact that they took a perennial, negative (and insulting) phrase and turned it into a positive thing. They’re all wearing t-shirts that say “The Biggest Loser” and they all say, “I’m going to be the Biggest Loser!!” and the winner will proudly shout to the heavens, “Ha!! I’m the Biggest Loser there is!!!” AND, people say, “Way to GO!!” This is good mojo. Excellent karma. Negatives into Positives.
Soooo… I was thinking…. Along these same lines… by structuring phrases and reality shows correctly, what other negative phrases can we change the scope of? What phrases can we reinvent, thus turning their current cultural and social stigmas on their heads and diverting that negative mojo in a different direction and understanding?
How about this for a concept – much like the bachelor(ette) – a woman will chose a mate - in this case from the predominantly red-neck sector of eligible bachelors. And we will call it, “The Biggest Dumb-F@*K” - where all season long, contestants can exclaim, “Hell yes!! I’m gonna be the Biggest Dum-F@*K!!” And the winner receives $100,000, a Burger King franchise, and a gun rack (First and foremost, however, he’s getting laid – hence the name of the show. Not that we would broadcast that segment. Ick) And we can spin that off, where we follow some of the losers - as in “I ain’t the Biggest Dumb-F@*K – but just because I got kicked off the show doesn’t mean I’m going to quit trying to be a Big Dumb-F@*K - give me another chance and I promise I’ll be the Biggest Dumb-F@*K ever!!”
Or, hey! More in the spirit of the Biggest Loser, how about the Biggest Dumb-A$s!! People who have uncontrollable flatulence will be brought together at a camp where they are given new diets and activity regimens designed to reduce flatulence and help quiet those talkative butts! Thus, the Biggest Dumb-A$s!! Contestant one: “I’m the Biggest Dumb-A$s – blaattt!! Damn!”. Contestant two: “Come on I know you can do it – but for today I’m the Biggest Dumb-A$s!! It was only a few weeks ago I could fart the whole alphabet – today I can barely get two vowels out!”
So as I see the future of reality TV, we have concepts that not only entertain, but actually change the way our society views the use of soon-to-be former insults. In the spirit of forward thinking and the assured continued improvement of our enlightened society, I’ll leave you with a departing phrase that, given the above identified trend, is sure to have a positive connotation in the near future.
Go F@*K Yourself! (I’m working on a concept for this one – it will be grand!!)
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