how low can T.V.go?

Dwarf-date show sparks controversy
Some criticize, but show has support from little-people group
Friday, January 30, 2004 Posted: 1443 GMT (10:43 PM HKT)


LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Critics may roll their eyes at Fox television's upcoming dwarf-dating contest "The Littlest Groom," but the head of the advocacy group Little People of America says the show could end up giving his members a boost.

While some audiences may snicker at the spectacle of a dozen dwarf women competing with average-sized females for the affections of a 4-foot-5-inch bachelor, LPA president Matt Roloff said the Fox show may benefit people of short stature by depicting them as regular folks "just being themselves."

In other words, a person's size doesn't matter.

"Yes, the radio jocks will have a field day," Roloff told Reuters in a telephone interview. "(But) hiding us behind closed doors or in funny costumes will never give us the exposure needed to desensitize society to us."

Fox said this week that it would air the show, essentially a dwarf version of ABC's "The Bachelor," as a two-part special next month on February 16 and February 23.

The announcement sparked a flurry of angry letters to the LPA from little people and their parents and a debate within the Portland, Oregon-based organization over its response to the show, Roloff said.

"The fact that Fox is doing this reality show is outrageous," Roloff quoted one e-mail he received from the parent of a dwarf child. "It is one more avenue to make fun of their stature."

Roloff credited the producers of the show for consulting with his group in an apparent effort to develop and promote the show in a sensitive manner.

While the LPA neither supports nor endorses the program, Roloff said he would withhold judgment until he sees it. "My sense is that they probably didn't do anything too derogatory."

But the retired software design and sales executive said he remains troubled about the idea of throwing averaged-sized women into the mix, an element of the show he called "ill-advised" and potentially hurtful to his members.

"Personally, I think that the (bachelor) guy might have the same tastes I have and prefer a little woman and reject the average-sized women," he said. "But at the same time, if it did go the other way around, it might be problematic, and make America think there's something wrong with little people."

He said there are roughly 100,000 people in the United States who have been born with dwarfism, a genetic condition that usually results in an adult height of 4-foot-10 or less and disproportionately short arms and legs.

"Littlest Groom" Executive Producer Bill Paolantonio defended the program as a "celebration of diversity."

"We have gone to great lengths to make sure everybody on this program is treated with dignity and respect," he said. "Human emotion is human emotion, no matter what the package is, and this program ultimately is about that"

He said all the dwarf contestants on the program had dated a mix of little and average-sized people, and that one little woman on the show had never dated a little person.

Mmm dwarf bitches

I don't see anything wrong with that, ok there may be some people who look at it as a way to poke fun at dwarves but theres alot of women who like dwarf guys and vice versa, so throwing average sized women in shouldn't be such a big deal.

As Jimmy Kimmel said, "Midgets are great, everyone should own one"

sounds like its gonna be like every other realality show out there



























NOT REAL

Dwarfs, giants, fuckin elves, doesn't matter, the show's going to suck anyway.

Dwarfs, giants, fuckin elves, doesn't matter, the show's going to suck anyway.

Yeah,but we might get to see moppie on the telly. :iceslolan

Bravo ............thats how low it can go :disappoin

Am I the only one who has realised that TV is just a bunch of commercials with a 'show' to keep your attention and to keep you watching?

*with the exeption of a few things...like the superbowl

Yeah,but we might get to see moppie on the telly. :iceslolan


I applied, but apprently Im just to good looking for a reality TV show, they didn't think the average viewer would find it believeable.


However I did pass on your details for thier next show, thier doing a special on how people who look like Roald Dahl charchters fit into society.

I applied, but apprently Im just to good looking for a reality TV show, they didn't think the average viewer would find it believeable.

Translation:

I have a face for radio

Translation:

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally Posted by Moppie
I have a face for radio
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Do right I do...

...Iv also got the balls to back it up :evillol: :evillol:

Am I the only one who has realised that TV is just a bunch of commercials with a 'show' to keep your attention and to keep you watching?

*with the exeption of a few things...like the superbowl
Well, if anyone is aware of a little of TV history, yes, the television was unvailed at the 1939 World's Fair as a means of transporting advertisements to households.

And what are you talking about, the exception of the Superbowl? The Superbowl is the biggest advertisment event of the year!

Naki, I guess you forgot to put "No pun intended" in the thread title :iceslolan

Yea tv continues to go down hill. I'll just stick to watching the shows that are only in re-runs now.

How is this any different then the other reality shows that are out there? They all suck.

How is this any different then the other reality shows that are out there? They all suck.

That's what I said!

How is this any different then the other reality shows that are out there? They all suck.That they do. I watch so much less TV than I used to because most of it now is total crap.

ugh, don't et me started on reality shows.

especially that Average Joe crap.

How is this any different then the other reality shows that are out there? They all suck.

:1:

especially that Average Joe crap.

Wouldn't know - I never watched it :p

All UN-reality TV is stupid. The whole idea of those sort of shows is stupid. I can't see that it would make worthwhile tv, so I just say no. :D

Wouldn't know - I never watched it :p



it was serious shit.

premise of the show : Hot woman is brought in to date a whole bunch of guys (just like the any other show). But the guys are geeks, nerds and average guys. then half way through the show, model guys are brought in to compete with the average guys.

it was so pathetic.

Wouldn't know - I never watched it :p

All UN-reality TV is stupid. The whole idea of those sort of shows is stupid. I can't see that it would make worthwhile tv, so I just say no. :D

My :2cents: = :1:

:gives: >>>about un-real TV. I hate all the people who get so wrapped up in it.

Seems like everybody I hear talking about reality tv (inside the forums and outside) has a negative opinion about it.....I wonder who is watching these shows?

I wonder who is watching these shows?

Thats a great question - how can these shows stay on the air if everybody is sick of them/hates them? I am even starting to find American Idol (and similar shows) a bit boring to watch, however it is ocasonally funny. I used to not mind AI, but now it just bugs me. It just seems like they are all the same/have the same plot and just have NO POINT and do not matter. I for one would REALLY like to know who is exactly watching these stupid/pointless shows.

I for one would REALLY like to know who is exactly watching these stupid/pointless shows.

Half of the people that I work with. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Half of the people that I work with. :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

:lol: lol - same here now that you mention it. I'm the boss, so i don't here about it - as much at least.