Helen Ganska

September 07, 2009 01:00pm

PERTH doesn't have a beauty, but we do have two WA geeks in Channel 7's new reality show Beauty and the Geek Australia - and we want to know who they are?

“People will love this show because of its warm-hearted centre,” said Curry

“It’s about celebrating differences and Australia will identify with both the geeks and beauties because there’s a little bit of both in all of us.”

Perthnow

I am a confessed voyeur of reality-television. I don't mind some of it. I was there for the start of it all with Sylvannia Waters (back in the 20th Century!!!) and followed it through to Australia's version of Big Brother in a big way.

Beauty and the Geek is another imported concept and will no-doubt bring another onslaught of admiration and humiliation for the contestants and show in general. Its a shame though, that the marketing lines behind these sorts of programs aren't just a little more honest!

"Warm-hearted centre"?? I don't think so. This will be about humiliation. Not quite in the Japanese-extreme-quiz-show-style but certainly about poking fun at "Geeks", nerds, techno-heads and those that will represent all those bullied kids in school who don't quite fit in.

Is it a good thing? Well its just television, what does it matter. I don't want to get into the whole "sensibility and sensitivity debate" that's not what it is about. But wait for it. There is bound to be some form of outrage from our conservative-entertainment-right.

Will the "Aussie" mantra of batting for the battler shine through? Lets see how this one goes!

Sylvestor
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor

Blind fury ... Gerrard Gosens dances with Jessica Raffa on Dancing With The Stars on Sunday night / Seven

BLIND dancer Gerrard Gosens has a clear message for hot-head judge Todd McKenney - back off.

The Dancing With The Stars contestant said McKenney needed to choose his words more carefully after he savaged the Paralympian's performance on Sunday's show.

McKenney caused a huge viewer backlash after telling Gosens he couldn't dance, his solo salsa was "stilted" and that his effort was "appalling". "To be honest, you are not a great dancer ... and I have to judge the dance, and not an audience of 1.6 million."

Firstly, I do not watch this program. I am not a fan of McKenney or this format of reality television to be honest. But seriously? I have said it before...if you are going to put yourself out-there, blind or not!!!! then you know the game and how its played.

I don't know if Gosens can really dance. He is a paralympian. One assumes he has a level of talent. Is it necessarily talent that will translate to a non-paralympian event? contest? ratings-grab?

So Todd didn't like your performance. That's life and that's part of the show. Get over it and move on, just watch that step ;)

And, I know, I have just read this one interpretation of the "event" - but alas, its starting to sound like the old "wo is me, I am disabled and you are picking on me and all disabled people" bullshit. Frankly it doesn't wash. You danced Gosens! Not the entire blind community. You put yourself out-there for the world to "see" - so to speak. I am sure its YOU that is getting the wages and kudos. I would almost put money down that you played the whole - "Oh I am just a normal guy, my blindness doesn't come into it" line at the start. You probably wanted to be treated no different to anyone else.

Well, seems you have been.

Don't start yelling and crying about little Toddy McKenna now picking on you becuase you are blind. That is not only disgraceful but an abuse of the position you have put YOURSELF into! Get over it!

Sylvestor
www.twitter.com/Sylvestor