Oct 12 2009 - 8:00am Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver has slaughtered a chicken on television, reformed school lunch in England, and is now onto his next mission: shaping up America's "fattest and unhealthiest" city — Huntington, W. VA — for all the world to see on reality TV. Huntington was given the title of fattest city from an Associated Press article that ran last year.
I don't think the premise of the show is exploitative per se. But, this is a reality show, not a documentary, and it will inevitably be exaggerated for the sake of "entertainment." The
brother of one of my friends was a bachelor on a dating show, and her family was portrayed very differently from how they actually are. I think you have to have thick skin to be on a reality
show of any kind - I know I would never do it!
I see nothing exploitative. Jamie Oliver did a mini-series in the UK about bringing nutrition education and healthier foods to school children (some of which asked, point blank, "what's a
vegetable?").
After the show aired, Jamie testified in front of British Parliament about the poor quality of school lunches. As a result of the public awareness his show raised, the gov't gave £280m for
better school lunches and more nutritious training for cafeteria workers.
So, what could possibly be exploitative about this show in America if we see similar public awareness raised on the poor state of nutrition across the country?
I think he will help the participants that keep an open mind. Getting people that eat poorly to change habits can be tough. I'm sure since this is reality tv, there will be a bit of the
exploit that comes along with that sort of show.
Even here in Boston, MA where it's supposed to be a healthy city, kids don't know what most vegetables are. I'm always correcting the cashiers ringing up my veggies, they don't even know what
a zucchini is!
Niami I get that with the young cashiers at our local stores here too! I'm always amazed that if it's not corn, broccoli, or cauliflower, that I have to explain what vegetable it is. There is
a seriously lack of education when it comes to eating healthy.
I have no clue how this will play off but I can't help but feel there will be some exploitation, although if in the end this town is healthier, better educated about food, you have to wonder
does the end justify the means?
Maybe someone can clarify something for me: how else would the residents of the unhealthiest place in America be portrayed?! I understand they don't want the bad P.R., but the majority of
residents in an obese town don't get that way for being active and leading healthy lifestyles.
I'd be curious to see the show. The residents of the "unhealthiest" city in America probably have a lot in common with a lot of people around the country. I know there are a LOT of people in
MY city that have extremely unhealthy lifestyles, so maybe this show will be somewhat educational for a lot of people.
Exploitative or not, this whole country needs to get a grip on our relationship to food and how we eat. It is getting ridiculous, because food is basically killing us.
I like these little tv specials of Jamies. I recall when he took 10 people ranging from normal weight range to morbidley obese, and came up with solutions to their eating problems. One obese
guy said take out was faster, so Jaime made a pasta sauce in about 3 minutes for him, that was uber healthy, filling and cheap.
If these people don't want to be shown how to eat healthily then they don't have to participate!
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it's "reality" tv - OF COURSE it will be exploitive! my guess ? the residents will be portrayed as fat, lazy, stupid slobs.
1Please - not ANOTHER reality show!
2I don't think the premise of the show is exploitative per se. But, this is a reality show, not a documentary, and it will inevitably be exaggerated for the sake of "entertainment." The brother of one of my friends was a bachelor on a dating show, and her family was portrayed very differently from how they actually are. I think you have to have thick skin to be on a reality show of any kind - I know I would never do it!
3I see nothing exploitative. Jamie Oliver did a mini-series in the UK about bringing nutrition education and healthier foods to school children (some of which asked, point blank, "what's a vegetable?").
After the show aired, Jamie testified in front of British Parliament about the poor quality of school lunches. As a result of the public awareness his show raised, the gov't gave £280m for better school lunches and more nutritious training for cafeteria workers.
So, what could possibly be exploitative about this show in America if we see similar public awareness raised on the poor state of nutrition across the country?
4I think he will help the participants that keep an open mind. Getting people that eat poorly to change habits can be tough. I'm sure since this is reality tv, there will be a bit of the exploit that comes along with that sort of show.
Even here in Boston, MA where it's supposed to be a healthy city, kids don't know what most vegetables are. I'm always correcting the cashiers ringing up my veggies, they don't even know what a zucchini is!
5Niami I get that with the young cashiers at our local stores here too! I'm always amazed that if it's not corn, broccoli, or cauliflower, that I have to explain what vegetable it is. There is a seriously lack of education when it comes to eating healthy.
I have no clue how this will play off but I can't help but feel there will be some exploitation, although if in the end this town is healthier, better educated about food, you have to wonder does the end justify the means?
6Maybe someone can clarify something for me: how else would the residents of the unhealthiest place in America be portrayed?! I understand they don't want the bad P.R., but the majority of residents in an obese town don't get that way for being active and leading healthy lifestyles.
7I'd be curious to see the show. The residents of the "unhealthiest" city in America probably have a lot in common with a lot of people around the country. I know there are a LOT of people in MY city that have extremely unhealthy lifestyles, so maybe this show will be somewhat educational for a lot of people.
8Exploitative or not, this whole country needs to get a grip on our relationship to food and how we eat. It is getting ridiculous, because food is basically killing us.
9why are we resorting to Reality TV for every problem now? Is life only about that? Sad...
10I like these little tv specials of Jamies. I recall when he took 10 people ranging from normal weight range to morbidley obese, and came up with solutions to their eating problems. One obese guy said take out was faster, so Jaime made a pasta sauce in about 3 minutes for him, that was uber healthy, filling and cheap.
If these people don't want to be shown how to eat healthily then they don't have to participate!
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Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.