I'm watching a blonde with a very thick Hungarian accent -- Dr. Denese of the Manhattan Anti-Aging Clinic -- talk about how to battle wrinkles and restore elasticity. She's recommending her sunscreen, her glycolic treatments, her moisturizer, etc. There are few things I enjoy more than skincare, so I'm watching with rapt attention.
But this is on Chicago's Channel 11. WTTW. Our PBS station. Should an infomercial about minimizing fine lines really be on our PBS station?
What about the McLaughlin Group? What about an architecture tour along the Chicago River? What about a panel discussion about the condition of Cook County Board President John Stroger, and the public's right to know? What about Arthur and his sister, DW? What about Arthur's glasses? Since his ears are on the top of his head, what holds his glasses on? (But I digress.)
I'm not against infomercials on PBS, really. But if Channel 11 is going to air these half-hour commercials, then I'd prefer it if there weren't pledge breaks, too. They keep cutting away from Dr. Denese to the Channel 11 studios so we can see the operators standing by, waiting to take my call. There's something about this set up that just seems wrong to me.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteIt's wrong to use taxpayers' money to fund an infomercial. Period.
ReplyDeletePBS is supposed to inform. I watched, in horror, as this "Dr." spoke of "using science," yet never educated the public in the specific, scientific basis for her arguments. Instead, she referred to applications with so-called, "power" ingredients, never stating what those were or in what proportions they would be used.
I saw her pander to the most base self-hatred and body image dysmorphia among women in this culture.
I also saw that NOBODY on this so-called "special" was a woman of color. And of course, there were no men!
This program was geared to upper middle class white women of privilege who waste tons of money, time and attention on an irrelevent issue.
It certainly wasn't in the best interests of women. And PBS has a dirth of programming on women's issues.
And her "science" is flawed. At no point did she ever address issues of diet and hydration. Drinking water was never even mentioned!
She hawks her junk on QVC and the shopping network. She should stay there and let programming be better developed for serious women's issues, science and health programming.
How can I ever trust PBS again?
Rogi, thanks for your thoughtful comments. I hadn't looked at it in terms of gender issues, but you certainly do have a point about that. Since this post, I've also seen Suze Orman on PBS and that disturbs me, as well. I appreciate your input.
ReplyDelete