Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Queen (strike that) -- Big (Kidney) Donor for a Day

For those of you not old enough to remember, Queen for a Day was television show in the 1950's and 60's, one of the original big prize giveaway shows and a forerunner to today's 'reality television." It was popular, in part, because it evoked sympathy with viewers who hoped to see those with hardest of luck catch a break once in a while, at the same time fantasizing that it might be one of us 'regular folk' -- but a Dutch TV executive has taken this concept to a new level (a new low, one might say):

A Dutch reality show that claims to be trying to draw attention to a shortage of organ donors said Tuesday it would go ahead with a program in which a terminally ill woman will choose a contestant to receive one of her kidneys. The program, "Big Donor Show," has been attacked as unethical and tasteless.
At least one member of the Dutch parliament plans to ask the government to block Friday's broadcast.

Does anyone seriously believe that a show like this would highlight the need for organ donation and the plight of those waiting in a useful manner? Or does it just appeal to the darker side of human nature?

1 comment:

Dr. David said...

I think the show will highlight the need for organ donation and the plight of those waiting by appealing to the darker side of human nature.