AUTHOR: Dave Sypniewski DATE: Thursday, July 28, 2005 ----- BODY: Just when you thought the well was runnung dry for crappy new ideas for reality TV shows, along came came ABC with a splendid idea for 2005. The show, "Welcome to the Neighborhood" has already been thrown into the recycling bin and the few episodes that were already finished and supposed to start airing last week will never be seen. This was supposed to involve neighborhoods in middle America located on cul-de-sacs. The idea was that one of the homes which was "up for sale" would be purchased by a family of a different race. An Arab American family moves into a white neighborhood...stand back and let the games begin as the neighbors first begin talking amongst themselves and later confront the new family on the block face to face with name calling, references to 9/11, you name it. The shows producers told the families that this was a documentary of sorts. It would show how stereotypes and prejudices are still running rampant in Anytown, USA. They were going to do the same thing with a black family and a gay couple. At what point would anyone consider this stuff entertaining? As expected, things got off to a rocky start once filming began. There was tension in the air. By the end of the 2nd or 3rd taping, things got so heated up in one of the neighborhoods that it nearly ended in a riot. People got hurt, and people were arrested. Because of this, ABC decided this was too much of a liability and "may" be in bad taste. At the last minute, programming wizards yanked the show. Oh, it was no big deal. A lot of other crap was already waiting for the green light. "Brat Camp" has taken the spot of "Welcome to the Neighborhood". I suspect we WILL see those missing episodes surface on DVD at a Blockbuster Video near you by Christmas. THAT'S the way I see it today! -------- Squealing Pig WORLDWIDE!: The reality show that was too real for ABC television

Squealing Pig WORLDWIDE!

Thursday, July 28, 2005

The reality show that was too real for ABC television

Just when you thought the well was runnung dry for crappy new ideas for reality TV shows, along came came ABC with a splendid idea for 2005. The show, "Welcome to the Neighborhood" has already been thrown into the recycling bin and the few episodes that were already finished and supposed to start airing last week will never be seen. This was supposed to involve neighborhoods in middle America located on cul-de-sacs. The idea was that one of the homes which was "up for sale" would be purchased by a family of a different race. An Arab American family moves into a white neighborhood...stand back and let the games begin as the neighbors first begin talking amongst themselves and later confront the new family on the block face to face with name calling, references to 9/11, you name it. The shows producers told the families that this was a documentary of sorts. It would show how stereotypes and prejudices are still running rampant in Anytown, USA. They were going to do the same thing with a black family and a gay couple. At what point would anyone consider this stuff entertaining? As expected, things got off to a rocky start once filming began. There was tension in the air. By the end of the 2nd or 3rd taping, things got so heated up in one of the neighborhoods that it nearly ended in a riot. People got hurt, and people were arrested. Because of this, ABC decided this was too much of a liability and "may" be in bad taste. At the last minute, programming wizards yanked the show. Oh, it was no big deal. A lot of other crap was already waiting for the green light. "Brat Camp" has taken the spot of "Welcome to the Neighborhood". I suspect we WILL see those missing episodes surface on DVD at a Blockbuster Video near you by Christmas. THAT'S the way I see it today!

posted by Dave Sypniewski at Thursday, July 28, 2005

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