The Schnitt Show, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Parents Say Enough to Reality TV
Conservative talk show host Todd Schnitt is rolling out some strong objections about the amount of sex, aggression, and provocative behavior liberally aired on today’s reality television shows saying it is “killing our kids.”
Today’s genre of television programming is packed with unscripted dramatic situations and events using sensationalism to attract a hungry young audience.
The participants, or actors, are usually placed in exotic locations or abnormal situations to act in a specific way. Critics say America’s youth are imitating these characters prompting an entire generation of bad behavior.
One show that has caught Schnitt’s attention is “Jersey Shore.”
In the past, MTV’s Jersey Shore received a backlash from New Jersey residents and Italian American Groups.
Now advertisers, parents, and conservative talk show hosts are pulling away from the show saying the show is causing America’s youth to “act badly.”
Some critics say they cannot seem to turn on their television sets or pass a magazine stand with out seeing “Snooki,” “Pollizi’s poof,” Mike “The Situation,” or “Sorrentino’s abs.”
The show has gone from brave to brasin resulting in this week’s announcement by clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch to pull their clothing line from the show.
The company said it would offer “substantial payment” to MTV’s The Jersey Shore’s cast members to stop wearing the brand on air.
The giant retailer, which caters mostly to young people, said they are concerned that the audience is relating their brand to the characters on Jersey Shore saying that it “could cause significant damage to our image.”
“We are concerned about Mike “the Situation“ Sorrentino’s association with our brand and have also extended this offer to other members of the cast, and are urgently waiting a response,” an Abercrombie & Fitch spokesperson said in a statement obtained by The Christian Post.
MTV, a unit of Viacom Inc, released a statement in response that called Abercrombie’s offer a clever PR stunt, according to media reports today.
But the strongest voice so far is radio personality Todd Schnitt. He commented on air that while America’s children are watching shows like Jersey Shore they are texting, phoning, and tweeting about the show – thereby spreading the “silliness and provocative behavior” to their friends.
Schnitt said shows like Jersey Shore and other reality-type programming disasters are bad for kids because of a laundry list of behaviors sensationalized on air including sex, aggression, and actions that show zero moral values.
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