Blind Talent

Reality program Dancing with the Stars started this evening on channel 7 with its supposed "world exclusive" of a blind contestant.

The incessant publicity relating to contestant Gerrard Gosens' disability has been mildly offensive to me, let alone people who actually live with disabilities and try to lead normal lives without people gawking and patronising. The fact that host Daniel MacPherson made reference to the upcoming performance before every ad break wasn't nearly as cringe-worthy as the fact that they got some kid from Australia's Got Talent (cross promotion anyone?) to sing "You Raise me Up" before the paralympians dance routine as the show finale.

Hello? Anyone seen Scent of a Woman? or how about the classic 1986 made-for-tv-movie Can You Feel Me Dancing? starring Justine Bateman? I don't know much about Gerrard Gosens, but if he's an amazing person it's in spite of his disability - not because of it - which is what the show seems to be using as a publicity booster.

Not that I was expecting anything classy from this abomination-of-all-things-holy of a program. I can only really comment on what I saw between channel flicking - which was Today Tonight host Matt White (cross promotion anyone?) leering at his partner in a way that only a 17 year old virgin let into a Playboy mansion orgy could do - before grabbing her breasts and trying to break her back over his knee ... twice. I didn't think I could hate Matt White any more than I did before tonight but his (high rating might I add) performance made me cross my legs and want to scrub myself with Solvol soap until my skin was gone.

The only other performance I saw was swimsuit model (ie. men's magazine model) Emily Scott. The producers must really be clutching at straws for celebs when they're flicking through porn magazines and thinking "I wonder if this woman will do anything for media exposure?" ... answer; yes. I don't know how they didn't think of it sooner - if anyone is willing to make themselves look like an idiot for a quick buck it's the 'adult magazine' model. Next year they could get sponsorship from Picture magazine and call the show "Dancing with the Home Girls".

Let's see - what else was there? Oh yes, judge Mark Wilson's hairpiece - surely the costume department could have spent all the money saved on making the female costumes entirely of just string and sequins into getting a better stuffed animal to cover his receeding hairline?

Did I mention I hated the show? I won't be wasting another second on it.