Controversial TV Show Claims Public Health Benefit

A reality TV show in Holland that features real sex acts and heavy drug use has the world TV business up in arms. Has reality TV finally gone too far?

Holland is the cradle of reality TV. Both Big Brother and Survivor are based on concepts that were first developed for Dutch television, by iconoclast producer John De Mol and his Endemol production house.

Public Health Benefit in "Swallow And Shoot Up"?

Now Dutch TV has gone too far even for the hard to shock Mr. de Mol. On October 10th premiered Spuiten & Slikken, or "Swallow and Shoot-Up," which features a host who takes hard drugs like LSD and Ecstasy while on the air. The show also addresses sex with another (male) host assigned to have affairs with men and women for the TV audience's delight (and supposed education.)

Holland is the land of legal marijuana and libertine sex laws, but this TV show is proving too much for many Dutch TV observers. A local politician has already said he will order the show shut down at the first glimpse of illegal activity.

TV Channel Not Stranger To Controversy

BNN, a publicly financed TV network, is not new to controversy. The channel drew complaints in the past for airing a sex education program called "This Is How You Screw." One segment discussed how to have sex in a nightclub and featured life-size mannequins with sex organs.

The latest Dutch TV controversy occurred last month when the Dutch "Big Brother," included a pregnant woman in its cast, raising the possibility she would give birth on television. The government decided it would be illegal for her to give birth on the air, but that it would be acceptable for the newborn to be shown for a few minutes afterwards.

Public Health Jobs in Television?

In the pregnancy case, as with Spuiten & Slikken, public health education arguments have been made for and against airing controversial content. Racy programming has always skated the thin line between entertainment for entertainment's sake and genuine public health benefit.

Beginning a Public Health Career

There are far less ambiguous ways to enter a public health career and land one of many public health jobs. Degree programs all over the country can begin your way to helping the public.

Sources

Associated Press