‘Hurl’ is the latest ‘reality’ TV program that has commentators in a tizzy. But I’m a bit confused about this misplaced outrage. While it’s possibly the most puerile and physically disgusting reality show to hit the airwaves, it’s not as destructive as the litany of programs imploring viewers to marvel and snicker at much deeper anguish.
Certainly it is more damaging to encourage wanna-be stars and attention whores to lie and cheat their way to a new mate or massive bankroll than it is to drive these same people to puke. The latter experience is mildly embarrassing and could serve as an interesting story at a party someday. The former, however, not only damages viewers’ expectations of relationships and life, it also creates long term misgivings about the participants’ character.
In the end, who would you trust more: the woman who threw up after drinking a half-gallon of milk and being spun in circles or the man who created an alliance, feigned loyalty, hurt several faux friends, and ended up being removed from of a house lies?