Has reality TV gone too far?

Some may say yes, in the case of octo-mum as she’s now affectionately known, after it has been reported she is about to get her own show.

Octo-mum, Nadya Suleman

Yet to be sold to an American TV station, the reality show has been pitched as less intrusive than normal reality shows and won’t film the mum and her 14 children 24 hours a day but rather focus on special occasions and birthdays. Does that make it more ok? Once again we see a parent (think Denise Richards) exposing their children to millions of people around the world and the children don’t get a say. They are too young to understand what’s going on and of course too young to speak for themselves.

Octo-mum, real name Nadya Suleman, rose to ‘fame’ when she gave birth to 8 babies in January after already having 6 children. I don’t doubt the single mum is struggling financially but is a friendship with Dr Phil followed by a reality show the answer to all her money worries. I doubt it.

You may remember footage of when some of the babies were released from the hospital and she had trouble getting into her own garage safely with all paparazzi. How on earth does she think that by having a reality TV show it will make her immune to any more of this paparazzi attention? Oh well I guess it’s another classic case of greed and money winning over commonsense.

Is the fairytale over?

Sadly it has just been reported that Susan Boyle has collapsed and has been rushed to hospital following a breakdown. It may come as no surprise to some people who have watched the quiet 48 year old woman rise to fame on what can only be described as a bumpy journey. On the other hand I myself was actually a little shocked and saddened. Yes a part of me was not shocked after she has been thrust into the spotlight but the other part of me can’t believe how this has happened and the people involved in the show Britains Got Talent didn’t take extra care with Susan.

Just like millions of people around the world, I thought she was a sue in to win the competition, but last night that dream didn’t come true for Susan as she was beaten by a young dance group. Was Susan wrong to expect to win? If I was in her position I too would have had my hopes up pretty high thinking I would be crowned the winner. Does this make the media and public somewhat responsible for what has happened today? Absolutely. And more so the media than the public.

I praise her courage that she has shown during this time and I think we can all only hope that she can pick herself up and use this experience to further her dreams.

Can you think of other instances where the media has gone too far?

This is what it all Boyle’s down to…

…Pardon the pun! I haven’t yet written anything on Susan Boyle but I thought she was quite appropriate given my last piece on creating your own opportunities.

Susan has certainly got out there and creating one hell of an opportunity for herself, and good on her! Like millions of others around the world, her first performance blew me away. I shared in her satisfaction when she opened her mouth and that beautiful voice came out which quickly shut many of the audience members up who had sniggered and rolled their eyes before Susan sang.

Now as I’m sure you all saw on last nights news, and current affairs shows, Susan was back, and after a little shaky start (who wouldn’t be nervous) she once again blew everyone away. A classic case of never judge a book by its cover!

But having said all that Susan copped her fair share of criticism. I originally started typing this with the view just to post her performance here, but seen as I’m on a roll I’ll keep going. So first it was “the never been kissed” backlash, then came the style police and when she did “dress up” or wack a bit of make up on and venture out she was said to have been trying too hard. My gosh what a silly world we live in sometimes.

Thankfully most of the negativity has died down and she can get back to wowing everyone, which is exactly what she did last night – with a little bit of make up this time! GO SUSAN!