After the very public Meltdown of special needs contestant Susan Boyle on reality tv show Britans Got Talent people have been questioning whether other people with special needs, including one with Aspergers can survive on reality TV Shows.Another British reality TV show, also produced by Simon Cowell has allowed a contestant with Aspergers Syndrome to proceed with being a contestant in the show. Scott James, 21 told judges of the show he did not leave home for over seven years because of his condition.
When one of the shows judges Louis Walsh was asked about special needs individuals ability to handle the stresses of reality TV he stated, “I don’t think they can, if I’m honest. People don’t realise the pressure that these acts are under, especially when they’re competing with everybody else backstage.”
He also stated later in the interview that the choice should be left up to the contestant “Nobody forces anybody to go to an audition. I think it’s a real-life story. Is he under too much pressure? I think it has to be his choice”
What do you think about people with various disabilities competing on reality TV shows? Do you think there should be limits?
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Well, it really depends on the individual person. . I don’t tend to watch the programmes though, it’s more catching a couple of minutes if there are adverts on when I’m watching another programme. I will say there is no way I would go on one of those programmes (complete inability to sing and dance notwithstanding).
What does anger me especially is that I do know that when people go to the main auditions they are split into approximately three categories after the first set of auditions, which are held in front of some standard production crew people, rather than Cowell et al. Those who are genuinely believed to be good go on to see Cowell et al. Those who are average just get to go home. Those who are seen to be good “fodder” for the show, eg particularly bad at singing, are also ushered forth to see Cowell et al. Which means that those who see Cowell et al have no way of knowing whether it’s because they are good, or because they are set up to be laughed at.