Dads Should Take the Cake - But Not All Do
Now, to a not so pretty picture of fatherhood – fathers who exploit their children in the hopes that they’ll make it big in reality TV. It’s gotten to be an awful trend and I don’t know who to blame first – the parents or the TV executives who buy only the most outrageous plots.
The world was mesmerized when 16 year old Abby Sunderland recently set sail to try to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe alone.
Out At Sea At Only 16 Years Old
Her older brother, 17 year old Zac currently holds the record. Abby’s solo adventure came to an end when a massive storm with three-story-tall waves swept over her and snapped off her mast in a remote area of the Indian Ocean. Abby was adrift for three terrifying days until a French fishing crew located her and took her to safety. Then came the shocking news that as Abby was literally risking her life her father, Laurence, had been shopping for a reality TV show featuring his two oldest children! The Sunderland’s have seven children with one on the way and a lucrative TV contract would certainly have helped support the family.
This certainly isn’t the first instance of a parent tossing out the well-being of their child for a shot at one of those mind-numbing reality shows.
Six Year Old Falcon - Forced to Lie by Parents
In Colorado, Falcon Heene will forever be known as the “Balloon Boy” whose father put him at the center of a hoax that ultimately resulted in both parents being jailed for filing a false police report. The out-of-work acting couple had tasted reality TV life as part of the program Wife Swap and were convinced their tale of a runaway weather balloon with their 6 year old trapped inside would be just the ticket to procure their own show.
The Pennsylvania brood known as the Gosselin Gang (a set of twin girls along with their sextuplet siblings) has made millions but the kids will likely never live down their public exposure on The Learning Channel series that bears their name. Their Uncle and Aunt have said they believe the children have suffered “physiological damage” from irrational TV producer’s demands such as potty-training caught on tape and forcing the kids to pretend it was Christmas Day when it wasn’t.
I’m thinking it’s time for an updated version of the Coogan Act.
Jackie Coogan As Child Star, circa 1920
For those who don’t know what I’m talking about – remember the guy who played Uncle Fester in the old Addam’s Family TV series? That was Jackie Coogan, a legendary child star, discovered in the 1920’s by Charlie Chaplin. While he was hard at work his mother and step-father spent as much as 4 million dollars of his earnings. At age 23 Coogan sued his parents and won, but by then there was little money left. The resulting legislation, first passed in 1939 and amended over the years, protectively sets aside a percentage of money in the actor child’s name so thieving adult can’t touch it.
It’s been way too long since lawmakers tackled the problem of stage-struck parents who exploit their kids. Today, only California, New York, Louisiana and New Mexico protect child actors with Coogan requirements. But, really, this is about more than just money. These days it’s shameful the way kids are deliberately put into physical or emotionally dangerous situations by parents who are supposed to love and protect. So much of reality TV today is demeaning and simply not suitable for children to participate in.
Gosselin Gang - All Ten of Them!
In Pennsylvania, where the Gosslin Gang lives, film and TV production is growing by leaps and bounds yet there is no Coogan-type law. That’s why Representative Thomas Murt says he decided to introduce a bill to better protect kids whose parents are blinded by the white hot lights of potential celebrity.
Murt’s legislation would restrict a child’s hours in front of the camera, make sure their educational, supervision, moral and health care needs are met. A ‘set teacher’ would be required to be on hand at all times to make sure what producers ask of the child is appropriate for their age and stamina. And, it includes a Coogan type requirement that at least 15% of the minor’s gross earnings be put into a protected trust.
In many states a teenager like Abby Sunderland isn’t legally able to go on a solo drive in a car let alone sail around the world by herself. Tiny boys of six shouldn’t be forced to lie on national television about their parent hoax to get a show. And, small children photographed in intimate situations like the Gosslin’s are considered victims in any other situation.
As a country we are hesitant to legislate how parents raise their kids but certainly we can legislate how television treats our children, can’t we?
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Talk it Over Radio Fan Sherri Greer writes:
“This is a form of abuse that no one particularly cares about. It’s still falls under the ‘greed factor’ and they are using their kids as bait. Disgusting really!”
Facebook friend Jackie Morin writes:
“OMG Diane, I thought I was alone w/ my distaste & disgust of folks exploiting their kids for a buck. It’s unconscionable. Those people should be dealt w/, once & for all!”
Facebook Friend Lyn Novosel writes:
” I was mortified last week when that 16 year old girls dad wanted to get a reality show. What the f???? She is 16 for Gods sake….why can;t kids be kids anymore these days?? “
Facebook Friend David Townsend writes:
“I may have watched maybe four/five hours of reality TV in my life you have to be brain dead to sit through an hour of those shows.”
Facebook Friend Yvonne Marten Ebstein writes:
” Well written and valuable read, Diane. “
Facebook Friend Sonny Sixkiller writes:
“Reality TV sucks, if nobody watches it goes away !!!!”
Attention high school seniors:
Focus on law school and get that degree. By that time, most of these reality TV kids will be old enough to sue their parents and the production companies who exploited them while they were still in diapers.
Absolutely if not ethics, common sense but when it comes to CASH therein almost always lies the motivation the Dads/parents are making- but most of us are not fooled by these setups making you wonder if not some of these outcomes aren’t planned (besides BB). And the other situations having a bunch of kids to create revenue is just silly but my guess people are watching this stuff. $$$$$$$
On a sidenote remember there was even a media person supporting OJ’s book thing for awhile. $$$$$$
Yeah, definitely pursue this and besides it (these things) may be sending the wrong messages to other people such as “doubleoctomom” the 14 total babies plus the 2 with Tiger Woods.
No one has made much light of this; some coverage, awareness will help. Something needs to be done there- not sure how, where and who.
Linked In Connection Janet Wilson writes:
“I absolutely agree Diane. First the parents let their son Zac Sunderland sail the world at age 16 and then his sister, all to break a record?! They are fortunate neither of their children were attacked by pirates while at sea. This kind of voyage would be perilous for even the most seasoned sailor with the best vessel possible and these parents just blithely send their kids off to sea and say “oh they grew up on the water, they know what they’re doing.” Abby was more than fortunate. Once she gets past any trauma she suffered from the trip, I would not be surprised to see her parents send her out again with their well wishes. Time for an intervention from child protective services, or as you said another Coogan Act.”
Facebook Friend Deborah Parks Bunker writes:
“Excellent points, Dianne. I’m surprised that in this day and age there are still legal loopholes remaining. Isn’t just about every other part of our lives legislated?”
Facebook Friend Andy Shifflette
“It is probably just an extension of parents trying to live vicariously through their children’s sporting events.”
DD Web Site Reader Denny Delk writes:
“This kind of thing has been a bad idea since King George III wanted to put a bunch of babies on a remote island to be raised by deaf/mute monks, hoping to prove that the children would grow up instinctively speaking Hebrew.
Perhaps we should make Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” required reading again. “
Linked In Friend Donny Williams writes:
” Interesting subject. While I partially agree with your interest in a new/revised Coogan act, I cannot completely agree with all of your assertions. Yes, star struck parents who put fame or money above their children need to somehow be put in check. At the same time, I have great concern with our government legislating what parents can and cannot do with their children or at what ages they can allow them to do certain things. Better child labor laws in the entertainment industry makes sense. But to say a parent cannot allow their child to take on an adventure (or path of study or hobby) that many of us would see as foolish or too risky in my opinion is too restrictive. “
Hello Diane
I have to thank you for saying THE most important words I’ve seen ni a long time…
“I am thinking it’s time for an updated version of the Coogan Act”!
Diane, because of a Federal Labor exemption (FLSA exemption) for child actors, never amended since the late 1930′s unless there are state child labor laws addressing minors in entertainment, child actors are exempt from Federal Labor Standards and now it has come to a time where producers have found a way to skirt around even the State laws on the books by calling real every day kids, who never looked for the spotlight but were thrown into the danger zone of reality TV, “participants” and not establishing an employee/employer relationship! Thus, hey, the kids are not working..they are simply running to an fro, playing, just being kids while camera follows and producers can say “we haven’t broken any child labor laws.”
We are watching a train wreck happen. For all of these reality TV shows with kids there are fan sites, facebook pages and blogs set up all over the internet with strangers making horrific comments about them along with the same on Youtube with videos of the kids. Their parents invited the cameras into their personal lives and one day the children will have their laptops and read all about their lives on the internet and what strangers, millions of them, have commented about and all the tabloid horrors that go with it.
http://www.minorcon.org/
If you click on the Facebook tab on the top of the page of AMC, we’ve had many discussions on this. Unless we do something to address every minor who is filmed for the purpose of entertaining the public and make sure t heir welfare is addressed and they are NOT just used, as the 8 minors in Pennsylvania wear, eat and visit advertiser’s products and theme parks, making the shows half hour or hour long infomercials!
A Minor Consideration also has decades worth of information clearly indicative of the reasons why we cannot have any more “poster children” to prove the point that we absolutely do need to take a good hard look at the void of protections for these children in an industry where the dollar sign is the only concern, not the child’s welfare.
How far will these parents go?
I’m so appreciative that you wrote! A Minor Consideration (aka http://www.minorcon.org/ ) was unknown to me until you responded to this column. My pal Paul Peterson has done work on this issue and I’m glad to hear there are others out there.
Being part of the media for so many years – and knowing how it works – I fear for the emotional, mental and physical well being of those kids swept up in the Reality TV frenzy. Bless you all for looking out for them! Let’s stay in touch ~ DD
Hi Diane,
I know Janet P and the work they have done on behalf of the kids of the industry through Mr Paul’s organization and many other avenues.
A little over a year ago there were pockets of us on the internet that were questioning on blogs we visited how TLC (Figure 8 Productions, North Carolina) and other tv conglomerates like MTV (Morgan J Freeman Productions) could even dare video kids, teens and babies in such a fashion. Of course we were focusing on the phonyness of the shows, and the product placement aspect of the whole show. By chance a good fate we met Janet and she opened our eyes to what you are discussing how our bad gut negative feelings were spot on…some of us believed the Coogan Law in California was implemented nationwide years ago. This link I am sharing was one Janet shared and it busted this thing wide open for me.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/childentertain.htm
The 2ND aspect Janet opened my eyes wide open to was that many children in reality shows are “participants” the contracts the parents sign consider the parents “working” and the kids are not provided for as they are “participants” There is a sample contract floating around the internet that revolves around the CBS debacle Kid Nation…parents signed their kids up to be sent out on their own, and CBS made the parents sign that they were not liable for injury, death, etc…(and that is the condensed version) aiayayaiayayiayyi
This month another friend we network with Polly Kahl, http://smalltowngosselins.squarespace.com/
released a book about how really fake reality tv is and how family’s like the Gosselin’s with the stroke of a pen basically sell themselves and their kids to the highest bidder. The book includes interviews with Paul Petersen of AMC, Alison Arngrim aka Nellie Oleson of Little House on the Prairie and fierce advocate at Protect.org and Jon Provost aka Timmy of Lassie, former fans of reality tv, Becki Dilley the mom who raised the 1st set of sextuplets in the U.S. without cameras exploiting her kids, just to name a few.
http://www.amazon.com/Jon-Kate-Plus-Eight-Gosselins/dp/0615455565/ref=sr_1_3/187-4615990-0594358?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304170493&sr=1-3
As far as the question Janet ends with How far will these parents go? It looks like when the fame and money come knocking (I liken it to the reality lottery) parents may lose their ability be neutral and will go to many lengths to cash in…just like A Minor Consideration’s archives have followed for 20+ years now.
Thank you for writing this article. It is always a good day when the conversation puts the spotlight on this very difficult issue. We can make changes that give children in reality tv a sound contract, decent pay, and safeguards and protections. And, this kind of talk will help bring social awareness which will lead I hope to more legislators around the country doing what Rep Murt of Pa did and that is say our kids are working in PA and they deserve updated laws.
Thanks again!
Thank YOU Diane for recognizing the special needs of minors and sharing your valuable insight.
I’ve been advocating now for a long time, also having seen this industry from the inside out and to see babies, toddlers and impressionable teens in the midst of unregulated reality TV and parents who have been blinded by the Hollywood sign is just as you said, a very bad combination and scary one, to say the least with all you have cited in your article!
Thank you again for taking time to step back and say…I think we need to look at this, there are children involved!
I’ll be here for the long run..
Janet
ABQ Journal Reader Marti Wolf writes:
“… wanted to comment on your column about “stage” parents using/abusing their kids for monetary gain, and the potential damage being caused.
If you really want to take up the banner for children, how about “Toddlers & Tiaras”–don’t know the cable channel as I don’t watch the obnoxious show, but have seen clips and truly believe these insane moms should be arrested for child abuse! Thanks for the good work you do.”
You know what’s worse than reality TV? People who get all their information from what are commonly called news shows: The Inside Editions, and Entertainment Tonights, who twist and rewrite, and mislead to find the juiciest headlines and call it journalism.
Have any of you read Abby’s blog? She started it way before she even had a boat to sail. She kept up with it throughout her adventure. If you do happen to read it…and watch the videos that go with it, you’ll find a determined, confident, and skilled young woman. It seems not all 16 year olds are wasting away working at McDonalds. This girl is more savvy than some people twice her age.
The reality show part of the story came when a production crew started talks to film the preparations, but were later told to leave when it was discovered THEY thought they were filming the story of a girl’s death. The TV folks were the ones banking on Abby not surviving the trip.
Abby’s blog and videos are still up. It’s very interesting reading. It makes me long to have the world at my feet again, able to accomplish anything I wanted. Rather than being pushed into something by her parents, they actually supported her in a quest for a dream. When I was 16, all I had was a stamp collection and a paper route.
Imagine what else she could accomplish…if you let her.
DD web site reader John Devecka writes:
“You can require a license to operate a car, own a gun or fly a plane, but having kids – the most dangerous undertaking of all – requires only a few moments of inattention. Since you can’t legislate parental responsibility… Perhaps if we improved our educational system, schlock TV would be less appealing and fewer people would imitate it as the norm rather than the exception to behaviors. And yes, please, stop the franchise before we get to Desperate Housewives of Sioux Falls…”
Hi Diane, what a great article! I am a private practice counselor and live in the small PA town of Wernersville which the Gosselins moved to at the end of 2008. I’ve learned a lot about reality TV and its effects on the participants since they moved here and their shattered family was splattered on the front covers of all the tabloids for months on end. I always knew reality TV was bogus but it was a guilty pleasure nonetheless. I had no idea just how truly phony and exploitative it can be until I studied the Gosselins and TLC’s phony portrayals of them. That’s fine if it involves adults who are capable of reading contracts and consenting, but the Gosselin children are going to have to live with their exploitation for the rest of their lives as their childhoods are forever reviewed on YouTube, on DVDs and around the Internet. I wrote a book about what I learned thanks to the Gosselins and am now working on a second book which will offer information to parents who want to be involved in entertainment and reality TV without sacrificing the dignity, privacy and integrities of their families or children. I hope your article helps your readers become smarter consumers of reality TV. Most people have no idea what really goes on behind the scenes and how devastating it can be to some of the participants.
Polly Kahl, MA, LPC
Small Town Gosselins Blog
Author of Jon & Kate Plus Eight: “Reality” TV & the Selling of the Gosselins