We Are Sick, Sick, Sick

So what am I doing during my summer vacation? Not much really. Catching a few rays. Catching some Zs. Catching fireflies. And catching up on my blog, of course.

One activity I'm ashamed to fess up to, is that I'm also catching up on recent episodes of MTV's Real World Austin. I watched every episode of the original Real World in New York, which first aired like 15 years ago. This was before reality television and Richard Hatch had really hit it big. I've only caught a few episodes of other "Real Worlds" over the years -- Real World San Deigo, Real World Philly, Real World Boise -- but not of them seemed to have the energy of the original.

The most-recent cast based in Austin, TX doesn't seem to be any different. The whole concept is basically the same -- pitting differing cultures and values against each other in an over-modulated and artificial microcosom. There's always the innocent country girl who's never left her home town and the slutty sexpot. There's a "playa" and an angry blackman. And of course a gay or lesbian or both. Except this cast is surprisingly lacking the token homosexual. (The last group of seven, living in Philadelphia, had two!) Perhaps by the end of the season, someone will come out of the closet for some added "reality."

The show has gotten into some pretty heavy issues before. There was once a cast member living with AIDS. And probably more than half of the Real Worlders have had to struggle with some sort of alcohol-related addiction. But this past week, MTV presented what I think is the most powerful moment of "reality" TV I'd ever seen.

MTV had been using this moment of drama as a teaser in ads for months. One of the roommates is seen crying on the phone. He's gotten some bad news. Had he gotten a call from an ex-girlfriend? Was his dog hit by a car? Did he learn the spoiler of the new Harry Potter book by accident?

No.

One of the roommates, a dude named Danny, got a call from his father. Danny's mother had died.

The camera drew in close. Danny sat in stunned silence. Fade to commercial.

After 4 minutes of commercials for acne wash, diet vanilla cherry Dr. Pepper (Mahna Mahna) and Tampax, we return to "the worst moment in Danny's life already in progress."

The power of this scene was truly moving. Watching a young man receive word that his mother had died was unbearable to watch. He sobbed. He spoke of regret and guilt. (And of course had a cute blonde's shoulder to cry on.)

In the midst of all this powerful drama -- a young man mourning the news of his mother's sudden death -- MTV actually ran a pop-up ad in the corner of the screen. It was a flashing ad for another of their hit reality shows. It was an ad for "Date My Mom." This is no joke. While a character on The Real World was mourning the death of his mother, MTV is simultaneously showing an ad for "Date My Mom." This is sick, sick, sick.

It's not just the poor timing of the ad that is sick. It's the whole thing. When Danny signed his release waiver, little did he know the worst moment of his life was going to be captured and replayed over and over and over again. Worse yet, it will be replayed over and over again in teaser ads and among commercials for The Dukes of Hazzard.

The producers of the show surely knew this news was coming. Danny's father had been trying to reach him all day. So when he came back to the house the shots were all lined up, ready to catch the big moment. And after watching it myself, I just feel sick. I feel sick and sad. And by watching it, I'm no better than the network execs who thought it would be appropriate to put this on the air.

I thought I reached my limit with reality TV when I saw the Osmonds on Celebrity Fear Factor. But this is a new low. It really makes me want to...

Wait.

Hang on, I got distracted. The newest episode of Surreal Life 7 is on and Omarosa looks pissed! Gotta run!!