http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:30:15 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/12/16/114437.php#comment-691056 They came to our state and the local news did a follow up. All the volunteers did ALL the work, Ty and the other designers were on set for about an hour out of the whole week, since they were also "building" another house in a neighboring state. One of the designers actually came in with the camera crew and asked a volunteer to step aside. She grabbed a sledgehammer and pretended to nail in some stuff then left and the volunteer finished the work. ABC also apparently doesn't pay for anything - a big local company paid for all of the materials and a local catering company had to pay for all of the food to feed the volunteers. Then ABC covered up most of the logos strategically with black tape yet some logos were allowed to stay. Then later, my mom found out through a co-worker of hers who was doing a temp job in the town that the family ended up having to petition to be exempt from taxes because now that their house was bigger, they had to pay taxes they couldn't afford. When one of the volunteers was asked if they'd ever watch the show again they replied, "No. All the magic's gone". Sad but true. This show seems great but like most reality TV, it's heavily controlled and certainly not what it appears to be. As a student of Film and Television Studies, I've been told this multiple times both by Professors and guest speakers, some of which being actual TV Producers. I think people should know the reality in what they're seeing. I don't think it's right to brainwash people to the extent that this goes on for money. Reality shows are so popular to produce because they cost 1/3 of the cost of a regular scripted TV show with actors. So, if it's so much cheaper, then why are local companies paying to build the houses that "ABC is making possible"? Think of how much money people are pocketing for Extreme Makeover, with all of the advertising that happens within. It's not right. 691056@blogcritics.org Mon, 28 Jan 2008 01:30:15 EST