If you've been tuning into the current installment of
The Amazing Race, you're probably aware of the "incident" from last week's episode. Actually, now that I think about it, even if you haven't been tuning in, you probably know about it.
The team of Jonathan and Victoria self-destructed on air during the final segment of last week's leg of the race. Jonathan verbally abused Victoria several times and then actually shoved her for picking up his backpack. (He dropped it to try and run faster and make it to the finish line first). Victoria was sobbing violently at the end and wandered off, prompting host Phil Keoghan to tell Jonathan he might need to go and talk to his wife.
Previews for tonight's episode don't show that things are going to get better quickly.
Of course, the response has been enormous.
According to USA Today, there are message boards flooded with posts about Jonathan being a "scumbag." Jonathan and Victoria have
a web-site where he posted his defense of his actions last week. There's also a newer post from Victoria assuring all of us that she is "fine."
Reading the
USA Today article, it sounds like this may be the end of the Jonathan's bad behavoir (at least in terms of such a huge explosion of anger toward Victoria) . I certainly hope that it is--for his sake and the sake of his wife. I cannot imagine anyone treating their wife the way he has Victoria over the course of the first installments of the Race this year. I've read some stories where Jonathan claims he was playing the "bad boy" character to win over viewers and be more memorable.
This debate over Jonathan makes me wonder. We all know that "reality" TV is not really "reality." It's all edited for storylines and drama, to get us to tune in. I mean, as much as I enjoy
The Amazing Race, I don't think I'd want to spend a couple of hours watching teams sleep while they're on a flight to the next leg of
the Race. Also, we've heard reality show "villains" come out and say--I'm not bad, I'm just edited that way.
It does make me wonder--is Jonathan really that bad? Or is he edited that way?
Personally, I think he's not as bad as portrayed, but on some level, there is something fundamentally wrong with the way he treats Victoria. I am sure we're not hearing a lot of how the story ended because it would ruin the end of the
Race for us...but honestly, you've gotta think these two need some serious counselling at the very least.
posted by Michael Hickerson at 12/21/2004 08:56:00 AM |
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