Chima Simone (TVGuide) and Ryan Jenkins (AP)
In just one week, the world of reality television has seen Chima Simone evicted from the Big Brother 11 game and Megan Wants a Millionaire contestant Ryan Jenkins wanted for the murder of his ex-wife Jasmine Fiore.
Two very different circumstances that have both impacted their respective programs.
The genre of reality television isn't on trial here. No laundry list of outrageous reality moments will ensue. Clearly, despite the most tawdry reality show concept, one should never break the rules of the game being played or, obviously, commit the heinous act of murder.
Last week, in an article I wrote about Chima's eviction and the double standard it perpetuated, I received an incensed reaction rivaling that of a town hall meeting on health care.
That piece was never about sexism, as some attempted to allege or merely inferred, it was about the casting practices that many reality shows employ. In a genre that's purposefully getting more racy, unruly, and tasteless, reality shows continue to pursue contestants that play this role to perfection.
But when contestants fly off the handle--when it soon impacts the productions of shows like Big Brother 11 or Megan Wants a Millionaire--should the show runners share some of the blame?
To not know that Chima was a self-entitled, combustible personality would be for CBS to be disingenuous. They knew--and it was no doubt a calculated move to manufacture drama within the house.
I would hope, and will grant executive producer Allison Grodner the benefit of the doubt, that the producers were not aware that Chima had previously been raped, as she later revealed on the show. That doesn't excuse her childish behavior, but the casting of the verbally brutish Russell Kairouz.certainly may have exacerbated it.
When Chima, as CBS claims "self-destructed," her behavior earned the network its highest ratings since Big Brother 9.
Ryan Jenkins and his ties to Megan Wants a Millionaire is a different animal. While the producers at VH1 could never predict that a contestant was capable of murder, they too are responsible for vetting the cast members of these shows.
In a recent New York Times article, Andy Dehnart, the editor of realityblurred.com stated that in the wake of the Ryan Jenkins manhunt, VH1 must take some responsibility regarding the people they cast on their programs.
“The network has built a brand on unstable, crazy people interacting on these idiotic and mindless dating shows, and can’t pretend to not have anything to do with it,” he said.
Along with Megan Wants a Millionaire, Jenkins was also cast on the VH1 series I Love Money 3, a show which Jenkins is rumored to have won. The fate of I Love Money 3 is now in limbo.
No one knows how Megan Wants a Millionaire ended, as the show was canceled by VH1 last week despite premiering on August 2nd.
But it should be asked: had the situation been different and Jenkins had critically injured a fellow cast member from Millionaire, what would be the public reaction? Would casting directors and producers be forced to resign? Would VH1 have to genuinely re-examine their approach to casting?
Once again, reality television isn't on trial here. But fact that Megan Hauserman could have ended up with both a millionaire and a murderer--for the sake of television entertainment and the networks' bottom line--should be disturbing to all.
Click here for more 'Big Brother' news, stories, recaps, and commentary
OTHER ARTICLES:
'Megan Wants a Millionaire' officially canceled
Despite reports, Ryan Jenkins not arrested, manhunt continues
Chima's shocking eviction and the 'Big Brother 11' double standard
Comments
Oh great another person who never sees that it's all about personal responsibility....I hope that you never have to confront that. People doing bad things are guilty of doing them...PERIOD!
What America should have learned from these reality television shows is that they have all ran their course. Since the days of MTV's "Real World" to now, that's like twenty years of that crap. Let's get rid of all of these so-called "reality tv" shows and hire good white, black, asian, hispanic, and indian writers to write their stories with people "who can act", not people "acting to get famous". First show to pull is that racist "Cops" show that never go to the rich or jewish people's neighborhoods, and from then on drop all of the others from cable. Cooking shows have even gotten carried away. If someone can write the "Family Guy", me and others can write a family television show. Let's face it, white America likes reality shows, you can see that with Geraldo and Jerry Springer; just know who's behind the camera and making all the money in the end. Other Americans couldn't give a darn about Flavor Flav, New York, and the white lady with the 8 babies. That's white America tv!
This article is like comparing apples to oranges. Comparing Chima Simone & Ryan Jenkins is irresponsible journalism at best. How dare you compare a murderer with someone who escaped the hands of a murderer. So what she "misbehaved" on a reality show. There is no comparison and Mr. Moore is guilty of sensationalism.
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