Posted By susanharrow on July 18, 2006

I was just reading an article titled “Tyra Banks On It” about the Tyra Banks top-rated reality show, America’s Next Top Model overtaking the Oprah Show in ratings (not!) in the July issue of Forbes Magazine. She said viewers loved seeing her eyes bugging out shouting at the model wannabes who had no idea what it took to reach super model status. Apparently aggressiveness sells. Who loves Simon on American Idol? Everyone. Bill O’Reilly makes his living making his guests feel small. This political correctness crap has gone waaaaay too far. So far, in fact that we’ve become a culture of wimps, unable to say what’s really on our minds. My cousin can’t get her kids into day care in San Francisco because they’ve filled their quota for white kids. But say anything against affirmative action and you may need a bodyguard. I mean the Dixie Chicks getting death threats for publically disagreeing with Bush? Has our culture gone mad? Americans want to see snotty–as long as it doesn’t upset the political applecart.

The positive flip side of that is that I think we crave truth and honesty. We sure don’t get enough of it. I loved Pauline Kael’s movie reviews. She had opinions about who could act, direct and write great movies and she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Nowadays all you get from most movie reviewers is a plot summary with milquetoast analysis. Let’s bring back the Pauline Kael’s of the world. I’m all for snotty as long as it’s smart, entertaining and true.

Category: Celebrities & The Media, Image
Tags: affirmative action, American Idol, Bill O'Reilly, Dixie Chicks, reality TV, Tyra Banks