a reality too real?

sure, we here in the states may obsess over “reality” tv, but it’s never been this bad. celebrity big brother in the uk has spawned a huge controversy over alleged racism in the show:

More than 27,000 viewers have complained to Ofcom about the show, three times the previous record set by Jerry Springer - The Opera.

whoa, whoa. wait a second. first his security guard gets his own show, and now springer has his own opera? wow, we really are spreading the wings of democracy.

anyway, the complaints have gotten so bad that people in india are (supposedly) up in arms, protesting on the streets:

The show has also caused ructions in India, where a junior minister said the Government might make representations to Britain and demostrators [sic] burnt effigies of the show’s organisers.

if true, the source of the alleged racist remarks can do nothing but harm all parties. and even if it was somehow a staged event by the producers or the broadcaster, one sponsor has already pulled out, and there’s no way the offending celebrities will be able to continue their current careers, win or lose.