Should NBC Cancel 'Stars Earn Stripes'?
SodaHead Celebs
2012/08/15 16:00:00
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NBC's new reality show "Stars Earn Stripes" is not a hit with Nobel Peace laureates. Nine prize-winners have asked the network to cancel the show, calling it an effort to "sanitize war by likening it to an athletic competition," Reuters reports.
In an open letter to NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt, the laureates said that "preparing for war is neither amusing nor entertaining." The letter continues "It is our belief that this program pays homage to no one anywhere and continues and expands on an inglorious tradition of glorifying war and armed violence. Real war is down in the dirt deadly. People -- military and civilians -- die in ways that are anything but entertaining..."
But NBC is standing behind its show, which is hosted by retired U.S. General Wesley Clark and features "stars" like Nick Lachey and Todd Palin participating in military-style training. "'Stars Earn Stripes' is about thanking the young Americans who are in harm's way every day. This show is not a glorification of war but a glorification of service," the network said in a statement. Do you think the show should be canceled?
Top Opinion
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Julia Howe 2012/08/15 15:14:55No
+11I noticed that most the criticism comes from NON-veterans. I liked it, I love that they are raising money and awareness of these charities. People are not ignorant, they know it's not reality. The stars are constantly recognizing the sacrifice of the soldiers. Get over it! Plus, who are you to tell those former soldiers doing the show that they are wrong. They served and good for them making money. Shut up if you haven't served...if a family member has served...YEAH, NOT THE SAME. You were not in the service, you have no clue! I am sorry, it's the truth, you have NO IDEA! If it gets some smart educated young people "juiced" to join the military, I for one am for it...not like the felons they have been taking to fill their ranks.
Forget about simulating war; a TV show can't even simulate training. Very few of the stars would make it through ordinary boot camp, to say nothing of special forces training. Not much entertainment value in watching people collapse from exhaustion.
At best, they can show some light training exercises. The stars are generally doing the job that a stunt man would do in an action/adventure movie.
At first, I thought the show was a joke. But when I considered what they were really doing, it was not that bad. Even after removing all of the risk and most of the physical endurance requirements of a real mission, it was still a huge challenge for the stars. I have to give some credit to anyone who can jump out of a helicopter and swim with full combat gear.
When people discover that real training is 100 times as difficult and real operations are 1000 times as dangerous, they should have increased respect for the troops who fight under non-Hollywood conditions -- against real enemies that shoot back.
Anyway, back on topic. I actually like the show and don't read more into it than is necessary, so I'm able to enjoy it. Plus, I've had practically lifelong crushes on both Dean Cain and Nick Lachey, so that's a bonus.
The prize for winning is teamkill.
Pop culture is that because it emulates what is popular or now in culture. It's obvious the Peace Laureates know nothing about modern culture.