Ant-Shimmin Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 Endemol in 'win a kidney' TV show rumpus Big Brother creator under fire By Lester Haines → Published Tuesday 29th May 2007 10:37 GMT Find your perfect job - click here from thousands of tech vacancies Dutch TV station BNN is rejecting calls to axe a TV programme in which a terminally-ill woman will choose one of three contestants to receive her kidney, the BBC reports. The Big Donor Show - spawn of Big Brother creator Endemol - is due to screen this Friday. The 37-year-old organ benefactor, known only as Lisa, will select the lucky recipient "based on the contestants' history, profile, and conversation with their family and friends". Viewers can chip in their two cents' worth by sending advisory SMS's during the 80-minute spectacle. Reaction to the planned airing has been predictable enough. Joop Atsma, of the ruling Christian Democrat Party, decried: "It's a crazy idea. It can't be possible that, in the Netherlands, people vote about who's getting a kidney." BNN has defended the project, and claims "it will highlight the country's shortage of organ donors". The station's former director died of kidney failure after spending years on a transplant waiting list, the BBC notes. Alexander Pechtold of Dutch social liberal party D-66 agreed with the need to raise the organ donation issue. He told Radio Four's Today programme: "For years and years we have had problems in the Netherlands with organ donations and especially kidney donations. You can have a discussion about it if this is distasteful, but finally we have a public debate." ® http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/29/kidney_show_rumpus/ Jaysus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Odwin Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 As the guy says somewhere else that I read, the contestants have a 33% chance of winning a kidney - that's a better chance than the waiting list. I see the objections to it as a piece of TV, but if I was on a waiting list I'd want in on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant-Shimmin Posted May 29, 2007 Author Share Posted May 29, 2007 As the guy says somewhere else that I read, the contestants have a 33% chance of winning a kidney - that's a better chance than the waiting list.I see the objections to it as a piece of TV, but if I was on a waiting list I'd want in on it. Yeah thats true but it's besides the point, it's literally watching someone compete for their survival it isn't right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conzer16 Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 It really drives home it's point more than anything else. The shortage of Kidney donors is what it's trying to highlight. I say well done. Shock tactics at its best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Odwin Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 Yeah thats true but it's besides the point, it's literally watching someone compete for their survival it isn't right. Is it more wrong than it not being on TV and them having less chance of survival? As long as we don't see it's okay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant-Shimmin Posted May 29, 2007 Author Share Posted May 29, 2007 Is it more wrong than it not being on TV and them having less chance of survival?As long as we don't see it's okay? I know what you mean but people would see their plights as entertainment, I know they might have a better chance, but it should not be broadcasted on television. Not at all. It's horrific and is a shocking sign of things to come in terms of the extreme reality of realty tv. This isn't a matter of life and death in the producers eyes, it's a show, that's all it is, it's taking advantage of the vunerable for entertainment purposes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conzer16 Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 I don't think it's meant as an entertainment program - not all tv is entertainment. It's a high profile shock tactic show designed to shock people into realising a truth that they tend to turn a blind eye to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarka Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 I don't think it's meant as an entertainment program - not all tv is entertainment. Yeah, I see nothing wrong with it. Just like how Comic Relief shows the plight of dieing children. And it's not really competing. They're not running around, completing obstacle courses or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoolFunkMan Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 Okaaaay... this is one of the most stupidest ideas I've ever heard! It's horrific and is a shocking sign of things to come in terms of the extreme reality of realty tv. This isn't a matter of life and death in the producers eyes, it's a show, that's all it is, it's taking advantage of the vunerable for entertainment purposes I agree there, this is hardly what I call good television. Taking advantage of people like this is not just bad taste, it's sick. This even makes Big Brother look like gold (and I detest that show.) I don't think it's meant as an entertainment program - not all tv is entertainment. It's a high profile shock tactic show designed to shock people into realising a truth that they tend to turn a blind eye to. True, and I hope it stays to a more serious angle. Although the article doesn't show it in a good light really. Still, such an idea for a TV show is sick in itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaggle64 Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 I can't say I agree with the winner of a life saving kidney being decided by what is nothing more then a popularity contest, even if you are genuinly trying to raise awareness of donor shortages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayseven Posted May 29, 2007 Share Posted May 29, 2007 ... but I agree with Mr_Odwin. all those involved are willing - sure, Endemol are getting money out of the situation, but it could be a hell of a lot worse - Bumfights springs to mind as a 'show' that actually took advantage of the people. Nobody has to watch it. Is it really fair that we blame the suppliers of entertainment for the moral or ethical issues? Surely taking that line is the same as having a go at violent video games/movies? I think the ball lies in the consumer's court, ultimately. Having said that - I won't be watching *insert some sort of John Locke reference here...* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eenuh Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 Bump! The show was aired (though I didn't watch it), and in the end no kidney was given out to anyway. Basically, the show was a "fake" one and they were never going to actually give away someone's kidney. The person who was supposedly incurably ill and going to give away her kidney to someone, was an actor. The people who needed the kidney are really in need of one, but they were in on the stunt. Basically, it was just a big stunt to raise awareness about donors and how people should be more open to being a donor for people who need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeyking87 Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 Jaysus!!! Thats a bit of a mad twist, they should have at least gotten someone a kidney!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EchoDesiato Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 I'm glad it turned out to be a stunt. They're bringing this problem to the attention of the entire world like this. If it just would've been a charity show it would't have gotten this much attention. I was disgusted by the initial idea. Basically, the winner lives, the losers die. Thankfully it was just a hoax. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shino Posted June 2, 2007 Share Posted June 2, 2007 Sounds like damage control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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