Balloon boy media saga continues. (flickr user: JMC Photos (cc: by-nc-nd))
Everyone’s talking about the "Balloon Boy": not just about the hoax, but about the Heene family in particular and reality TV families in general. What does Falcon Heene's story tell us about parenting in the spotlight, and about those people who want to parent in the spotlight? Kate Dailey, Health & Lifestyle editor for Newsweek.com, and Liz Gumbinner, from the blog Mom101, share their insights about reality TV, families and fame.
"Kids would love drinking anti-freeze if they had the chance, and that's not good for them either. Kids can't be the arbiter of whether or not they should be on TV."
—Kate Dailey, Health & Lifestyle editor for Newsweek.com, on children's ability to decide whether or not to participate in reality TV
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Comments [3]
I listen to The Takeaway for real news on real issues. What's up with spending so much time and focus on today's program with a non-story: the bubble boy-a hoax. One that is rewarded and encouraged with attention.
Is this the new direction of your show? Bubbles?
John, Celeste and company C'mon...
I can get this crap on the morning zoo shows or FOX. Get back on track with what you do best- unraveling the spin. STOP participating in 'The Grand Diversion'.
There's nothing 'real' about reality TV families. So 'back seat parenting' doesn't enter into it.
"What does Falcon Heene's story tell us about parenting in the spotlight, and about those people who want to parent in the spotlight? " -- Nothing. Today's early Takeaway does tell us that John and Celeste seem hypersensitive about 'back seat parenting'. I bet they have no problem with 'taking a village to raise the child' so long as the village confines its input to paying taxes.
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