Mommy XXX

Well now that Jon & Kate Plus 8 has halted production, hopefully forever, there is a void. Millions have suddenly lost their "reality" television drama fix. They are bereft of their ability to feel better at the expense of a marriage and several small children. This will not do.

It won't have to either. Some television executive was reading the tea leaves and came up with a sure-fire attention grabber. Actually I expect that the exec was doing something far different, but I won't describe it.

Thus we now have Mommy XXX. Yes, the "real" lives of a porn star as she raises 2 teen kids. Kids that are fully aware of what mom does for a living, the people in the industry, and newbies hoping to get into the limelight.

If this doesn't create a controversy, I'm scared where television will go next.

But to be honest, I am in a quandry. On the one hand I hate all "reality" television shows. They are the dregs of television creativity. They provide nothing but an opportunity to vegetate in front of a television and then again at work with colleagues.

On the other hand is the fact that the porn industry is being shown in a light that is for once not negative. Not that the taboo of porn has ever hurt its sales. The industry makes more money every year than all the Hollywood studios put together, combined with the sales of GM. Well maybe not GM, but you get my point.

Still my thought is that porn is not the horror that the main media industry makes it out to be. It has real people, doing their jobs, and raising families with the money like any other industry. So a bit of respect is due.

Yet, I don't like the idea that porn will be promoted to young teens. Because in all reality that is the target group. Young boys and 20-something young men. Watching the show to get a hint of titilation without getting labeled as perverts or "dirty".

Presented on Crackle (some kind of internet television I think - I'm sure my younger readers know what it is) the show features women feeling each others breasts - in an episode about breast implants - as an example. The breasts are mostly covered with hearts and smiley faces, but that is more than enough for a hormonal 15 year old. And the message to young women, I can't even begin to imagine.

Plus I can imagine how internet searches for all the various porn stars (especially lead Demi Delia - who has 3000+ web items in just a quick google) will explode. As likely will porn video sales. Which is good for the economy, and the entertainers, but inevitiably will rub the Bible Belt raw. Especially when in one episode that I saw, an actress is promoting working in the industry. I'm sure NOW will love that.

So is this a bad idea? Has television - "reality" television - gone too far?

Yes and no. I doubt that more women will be racing to the doors of the porn industry than already do. Young men likely know all the actresses already (though their moms will assure you they don't). Porn will not corrupt anyone more than they already are. But for the few that might have been on a fence, this will likely push them over the edge. And it's not exactly family entertainment. Plus it still is as vacuous as any other "reality" program.

Thus I bet this will become the new controversy. It has everything that the tabloids and executives could hope for. Water cooler conversations will never be the same.

And after contemplation, I decided to include the episode I was speaking about above. Thus you can draw your own conclusions based on the show itself. Not everyone will agree with my decision, but so be it.

And as a side note, I agree with the son.