Our thirst for exploitation TV

Andrea Peyser's fantastic column in regards to the disgusting six year old child participating in beauty pageants hits a hard nerve.

I have two nieces.  To their tremendous credit, they have zero interest in participating in things like that.  They want to be kids, not some hardcore pervert's fantasy.  My sister-in-law and my brother keep them rooted to reality.

Watching shows that exploit stereotypes, celebrities, and above all children has its parent in the Jerry Springer show.  When the Jerry Springer show brought in every base stereotype into the mainstream, a lot of ears perked up.  So did Maury Povich.  So did many other shows, raking in the cash on every fight, every "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry" and every "You're not the father."

The Osbournes brought in celebrity exploitation, thanks to Ozzy's doddering speech and call outs to "Sharon."  They beget the equally odious Kardashians.  Producers love rolling in the money when Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed get married, get into fights, and all of the bleeps.

Now it's children and pageant/dance shows that have really solidified gross exploitative TV.  It's not enough for children as young as three to look like painted trollops; it's ratings and advertising gold for the mother/trainer to blow up like a Parris Island drill instructor.

All because viewers have allowed degrading TV shows like this.  We've not just become desensitized to gross violence and hedonistic sexual activities, but watching hicks, ghetto trash and other people do stupid stuff makes people feel better.  Sure, you're two months back on rent and the collectors are calling you every two hours, but hey, at least I'm better than the people on TV, right?

No.  It's not right.  Not even close.

The best resolution is to make these shows so unappealing to watch that people will flock from the shows in droves...the Cousin Oliver syndrome writ large.  Make viewers squirm in total discomfort, outrage them to the point where they call the network and threaten to boycott every advertiser on the show, and soon enough, the series finale will wind down and the show will be relegated to the dustbin of history.  Once people wipe their eyes and see that vile and disgusting shows that exploit minorities, celebrities, children, and racial and sexual stereotypes only enrichen networks, they too will demand them off the networks.  If the fear of God doesn't work, the threat of losing advertisers and their juicy revenue vaporizing does.  The message to producers and networks will then become broadcast exploitation shows at your own financial peril.

Perhaps two decades from now, that six year old eating mayonnaise from a jar will become a better, wiser young woman and a spokesperson against child exploitation in particular and exploitation in general.