Spring Break
Game Show Wrongly Exploits Immigration
Greg Pivarnik
Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: Commentary
Corporate America's lack of shame is clearly evident in a new reality game show called "Who Wants to Marry a U.S. Citizen?" The show is banking on America's love affair with reality TV and the national debate involving illegal immigrants to stimulate interest and consequently high ratings. However, exploiting an intense emotional issue and taking advantage of vulnerable people longing to immigrate to the United States is a despicable display of U.S. capitalism gone wrong. Morality and sympathy apparently play no role when they are pitted in a fight against the almighty dollar.
"Who Wants to Marry a U.S. Citizen" does not address the emotional turmoil surrounding the immigration issue. In fact, the shows producers do not even guarantee U.S. citizenship to contestants, or marriage for that matter. According to Reuters, the show's creator, Adrian Martinez said that, "It's this generations 'Dating Game,' but with a twist - it aims to show that love knows no borders." Martinez, who sounds like he's reading a catchy slogan, was referring to famed "Dating Game" show, in which a contestant asked various questions to other contestants he or she cannot see, then based on those answers, he or she picked a potential mate at the end of the show. This would be the same basic setup for "Who Wants to Marry a Citizen?" except it would involve people who have temporary visas and would otherwise be sent home if they didn't get married. Though the show uses people with temporary visas, it is obviously exploiting the debate over illegal immigration. Martinez went on to say that marriage and legal status are not guaranteed, but Morusa Media, the company backing the show, will pay for the wedding party and honeymoon should a marriage result.
The con that is "Who Wants to Marry a U.S. Citizen?" conjures up memories of other reality shows that displayed poor taste. In 2005, Fox trotted out "Who's Your Daddy?" to the chagrin of adoption agencies everywhere. The premise of the show was that a woman had to pick her birth father from a field of seven contestants for $100,000. "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" series pretend that love can be found when prize money is at stake. "The Flavor of Love," VH1's hit show starring Flavor Flav of Public Enemy, and stupid clock wearing fame, pretended that Flav could even find true love. Despite their tackiness, the contestants on these other dating shows really have nothing at stake, except for their dignity. It has become an American rite of passage for people to sell out their pride and morality for fame and fortune.
"Who Wants to Marry a U.S. Citizen" does not address the emotional turmoil surrounding the immigration issue. In fact, the shows producers do not even guarantee U.S. citizenship to contestants, or marriage for that matter. According to Reuters, the show's creator, Adrian Martinez said that, "It's this generations 'Dating Game,' but with a twist - it aims to show that love knows no borders." Martinez, who sounds like he's reading a catchy slogan, was referring to famed "Dating Game" show, in which a contestant asked various questions to other contestants he or she cannot see, then based on those answers, he or she picked a potential mate at the end of the show. This would be the same basic setup for "Who Wants to Marry a Citizen?" except it would involve people who have temporary visas and would otherwise be sent home if they didn't get married. Though the show uses people with temporary visas, it is obviously exploiting the debate over illegal immigration. Martinez went on to say that marriage and legal status are not guaranteed, but Morusa Media, the company backing the show, will pay for the wedding party and honeymoon should a marriage result.
The con that is "Who Wants to Marry a U.S. Citizen?" conjures up memories of other reality shows that displayed poor taste. In 2005, Fox trotted out "Who's Your Daddy?" to the chagrin of adoption agencies everywhere. The premise of the show was that a woman had to pick her birth father from a field of seven contestants for $100,000. "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" series pretend that love can be found when prize money is at stake. "The Flavor of Love," VH1's hit show starring Flavor Flav of Public Enemy, and stupid clock wearing fame, pretended that Flav could even find true love. Despite their tackiness, the contestants on these other dating shows really have nothing at stake, except for their dignity. It has become an American rite of passage for people to sell out their pride and morality for fame and fortune.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Bill
posted 12/04/07 @ 8:38 AM EST
Wow. I CAN't WAIT to not watch this TV Show. The creators and sponsors of this TV show should be absolutely ashamed of themselves. It just goes to
show once again that the almighty dollar takes precedence over all else. (Continued…)
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