It appears that 'race' remains one of realityTV's greatest commodities.
The following is taken from The Learning Channel's (TLC) "series description" of its new show, Guess Who's Coming Over, which attempts to explore "racism in modern America." The show aired Sunday 3 May:
Self-described 'redneck,' David hosts Chuck, an African-American from New York. Will this experience leave a lasting impression on David and eradicate his preconceived notions about African-Americans? Or is he too set in his ways to change?
To see a 30-second clip of the show go to BlackSpin: BlackVoices Spin on the Headlines
From the TLC press release posted on BlackVoices blog:
TLC explores the sensitive topic of racism in modern America through a social experiment that brings two lives with different experiences together under one roof. In the one-hour special GUESS WHO'S COMING OVER – premiering Sunday May 3 at 10 PM ET/PT – viewers travel along with Chuck, an African American from New York City, as he moves in with the white family of David Turner, a self-described "redneck," in Dawsonville, GA (population: less than 700).Chuck has been invited by David's daughter, Michell, in an attempt to eradicate David's preconceived notions about people of African-American descent. After a few days, the tables are turned, and David goes to New York to see Chuck's hometown and meet Chuck's family.
Will the experiment help David overcome his prejudice? What will Chuck take away from the experience? What will be the lasting results of this emotional and intellectual journey?
I saw the show with sister and her family. We are African American I thought the show was very good. There are still some deep rooted issues as pointed out in the taxi seen and I am sure the taxi driver was not a red neck. Now it seem as though they have pulled the show from everywhere.
The series Morgan did is called "30 days"
I wood like to find out how and were I can buy a copy of guess who's coming over? The one in Dawsonville GA Thank you.
I never watched the show. I guess I'm completely cynical and critiquing a show like this can make one sound like a misanthrope. But I just hate the way in which notions of race and difference continue to be highlighted by a mediated construction of (ab)normative inter-social relationships. RealityTV keeps hacking away at the same dang characters who try to redeem self or group (in this case a whole "race") at the feet of an almighty societal father.
I saw the show last night. I turned it on, already cynical, ready to turn the channel because I thought it would be predictable. It was actually pretty good. Both participants are on a life changing path as a result of their encounter.
Morgan Spurlock did a series like this that is available through Netflix. One was a Bay area gay man who hosted a straight "cowboy" from the midwest - another was a white Christian who was hosted by a Muslim family. I forget the others but they were very interesting. Overall, I seem to remember that the results were positive although the journey was not easy.