Blogcritics Comments on TV Review: Black.White - Episode One

Comment by Caroline

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 21:11:16 EST

Yes! I definately knew that the girl had been on Movie Surfers (DISNEY) but no one in my family had believed me! You have to admit, though, that especially Rose was a bit un-real. She was exactly like her reporter-self on disney.

Comment by Scott Butki

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 21:54:24 EST

Oops, let me try my link again to my more recent review of the show.

Comment by Come On People

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 18:00:41 EST

The white daughter is a Disney Actress and Dad isn't even Dad or Husband..Infact I just saw him on a re-run of JAG a couple months ago..

Comment by Scott Butki

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 09:26:23 EST

Tyler, I'm going to copy your comments over to my next review and I'd like to hear more about this.

Comment by Scott Butki

Sat, 18 Mar 2006 11:39:07 EST

Here is my review of the second episode where I talk about some manipulation going on but i'll have to look into these allegations you're making.

Comment by I wonder

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:41:25 EST

I wonder why there are no articles about how this is staged. I am very disappointed and will not watch this faux reality show again!

Comment by TylerNewton

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 14:23:22 EST

Check out this link for all the proof you need.

Comment by Tyler Newton

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 14:21:36 EST

I read on imdb, confirmed on tv.com, that the white family, at least, are actors not related to each other. Bruno is an actor, Carmen is NOT his gf (first they said they were married), and Rose is not related to either. In fact Rose is one of the stars of a Disney Show called Movie Surfers. Her name is Rose Bloomfield, not Rose Wuergel. I can't believe RJ Cutler would produce a "Reality" show, but use actors. That is quite pathetic.

Comment by Scott Butki

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 08:06:38 EST

Great. Thanks, Joanie. Here's the question I'm wrestling with regarding this week's episode: So the white mother said she did not realize it was inappropriate to refer to the black woman as "bitch," saying she thought that was a term of endearment among blacks. So... which is worse: her being clueless or her being ignorant?

Comment by Joanie

Fri, 17 Mar 2006 05:50:20 EST

Congrats! This article has been placed on Advance.net

Comment by chantal stone

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 22:09:11 EST

ok Scott :) Rich....race relations as a whole can hardly be summed up by the actions of one black family and one white one interacting with each other. try not to make such broad generalizations. thats the problem with a show like this....people who normally are not exposed to different cultures and ethnicities too often will form their entire opinion of a certain group based on the (very often) ignorant actions of one particular show or event. let's broaden our horizens people.

Comment by Scott Butki

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 19:26:06 EST

I'm with Manon on this one. Chantel, I'll sum it all up in my next review which is half written.

Comment by Manon Maru

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 18:08:30 EST

This reminds me of that song by Pulp, Common People where he basically tells this girl she'll never live like common people because no matter how bad she "slums" it, she'll always know that "if you called your dad he could end it all." Bruno is the perfect example, can't wait to be able to say "the N word" with impunity. But I imagine that even if he experiences true racism, he still won't truly understand because all he has to do is take the make up off and he's right back in the white world where people don't treat him badly just because of the way he looks.

Comment by Rich

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 16:39:55 EST

I am not sure that it is actually that simple in prctice however how far does one group have to go to be understanding and accomodating to another? And are the blacks reciprocating our efforts? On this show I did not see the white family being highly critical on a personal level to the black family. I did however observe the black family making personal and hurtful remarks and observations about and to the white family. At least they were trying, right? Does the future of race relations rest solely on the shoulders of whites willingness to accomodate in every way shape and form every minority's idiosynchrosies? Can I be proud to be white and not be labelled a racist?

Comment by chantal stone

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 14:06:30 EST

"...the entire topic of race relations is one sided. It is not an actual discussion but more accurately it is blacks telling us over and over that we are racist and whites saying over over that we are sorry." thats how you define race relations? really? i had no idea it was that simple.

Comment by Rich

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:50:55 EST

In fact sometimes it seems to me that the entire topic of race relations is one sided. It is not an actual discussion but more accurately it is blacks telling us over and over that we are racist and whites saying over over that we are sorry. This show was more of that. The black participants constantly lashing out in indignation at the whites lack of understanding. Not once did I see the black family making an honest effort to empathize with the white family.

Comment by rich

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 13:44:31 EST

It seems to me that this show is more of the same. Another opportunity for white people to look silly trying to fit in and be cool and understanding about black culture. Why is no one discussing what it is like to be white.

Comment by chantal stone

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 00:10:26 EST

worse how, Scott? i must have missed something when i was with the baby.

Comment by chantal stone

Thu, 16 Mar 2006 00:09:10 EST

i watched part of the show tonight...i didn't get to see all of it (i have a 3 year old who wouldn't go to sleep until i laid down with her)... anyway....as stated before, this show seems like an interesting concept. however, i'm not so sure its the location that's wrong--i have no idea, never been to LA...but i think the PEOPLE are wrong. they should have chosen families who are genuinely interested in learning about a different culture. from what i saw, it seemed like the only people who seemed to be sincerely interested in learning about the other culture were the white daughter and the black father (i'm horrible with names). the black mother, Renee, seemed to already have her mind made up about how white people are, and no one was going to change that. the black father and son didn't even say or do much---at least from what i saw. the white father, Bruno, thinks he knows everything anyway, so any experience he has is only going to confirm what he already believes. and the white mother, Carmen, i really haven't come to a conclusion about yet, but i felt her pain when she was "attacked" by Renee about calling her a bitch.

Comment by Scott Butki

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 23:59:35 EST

I watched tonite's episode - I'll write it up in the next day or two. I'll say this - I think Bruno's wife is even worse than he is. And that's saying something.

Comment by Scott Butki

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 23:58:32 EST

I lived in Arkansas for about 6 months but it was pretty much an all-white area so it was harder to detect how much racism there was.

Comment by Ty

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 16:01:56 EST

I am not white, black, or latino, and I've never felt uncomfortable in LA. However, in moron/redneck america, I feel so uncomfortable it hurts. I know this applies to blacks too. I've seen Crash, but you've obviously never been to rural missouri, or any other moron/redneck country. It's brutal in those places. I feel so unwelcome in most of the country, it's sad.

Comment by Scott Butki

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 13:23:05 EST

Oops. My review of Crash is here

Comment by Scott Butki

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 12:44:25 EST

Ty, did you see Crash, which I reviewed here? That's all about racism and prejudice and takes place in L.A. While a bit heavy handed it's pretty much what I saw when I grew up near there. It would be more accentuated if he lived elsewhere but there is still plenty of racism in L.A. Chantal, that's not rambling - that's interesting. I hope you do post that item at BC.

Comment by Ty

Wed, 15 Mar 2006 04:11:48 EST

Doesn't anyone agree with my points? I think they are really valid here.