What’s Wrong with ‘Honey Boo Boo’?
The reality television apocalypse is upon us, allegedly, with the success of TLC’s new show “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” The show, which follows the exploits of six-year-old Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, first seen as a kiddie beauty pageant contestant on “Toddlers and Tiaras,” and her family.
The Thompson/Shannon family resides in a tiny home by railroad tracks in rural McIntyre, Ga. They shop at the Piggly Wiggly, drink Mountain Dew, proudly attend something called The Redneck Games and, for a few episodes, have a baby pig named Glitzy residing in the house. Mama June is less likely to call her brood by their given names than alternate ones–Chickadee, Chubbs, Pumpkin and, for Daddy, Sugar Bear.
They are big people with even bigger personalities.
Make no mistake, there is no altruism in TLC’s decision to bring Honey Boo Boo and her kin into our homes. Show runners are not charmed by this family’s Southern witticisms or Mama June’s pride in her 300 lb.+ figure. They aren’t concerned about Honey Boo Boo’s 17-year-old pregnant sister. They don’t think it’s admirable how the unmarried Sugar Bear and June have built a strong and loving blended family. And they don’t constantly pan to shots of freight trains roaring past the Thompson/Shannon home because they find it quaint.
They undoubtedly find the Thompson/Shannon family laughable–better, exploitable–just like every other real housewife, bachelor and bachelorette, or dancer/cocktail waitress willing to let the likes of Bret Michaels or Flavor Flav rename them “Rodeo” or “Boots.” They know there is little America likes more than judging fat folks–especially fat women who don’t have the decency to hate themselves for being fat; poor people and poor parents; Southerners and young women who have sex outside of marriage. “Honey Boo Boo” represents a gold mine. Indeed, Thursday’s airing be at the Republican National Convention in ratings.
Jennifer Pozner, author of Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth About Guilty Pleasure TV, says, “You can almost hear TLC saying, ‘Step right up to the poverty voyeurism comedy tour!’.”
Reaction to “Honey Boo Boo” would seem to prove that TLC has successfully pinged a host of American biases about class and size and gender and race. An AV Club review of the program is fairly dripping with condescension:
In actuality, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo really doesn’t have a lot to do with the titular figure herself in the two episodes that premiered tonight. At the center of this horror story posing as a reality television program is “Mama,” the matriarch of the family and center around which the entire program revolves. Not having seen Toddlers and Tiaras, it’s hard to know if she’s naturally an attention-seeking woman or if TLC realized she was a 300-pound malapropism waiting to happen. Motivations matter little in cases like this. What’s important to note is that more than half the time in each episode is dedicated to her worldview, which involves preparing Alana for pageants, going to auctions to buy junk food for her family, and generally doing the minimum amount of parenting to prevent the state from taking her children away.
Okay, that’s a little unfair: It’s not so much that Mama actively abuses her children so much as provides perhaps the worst example possible of how to live a life with a bit of respect, or at least decorum. Not since Wuthering Heights has there been a better battle of nature versus nurture in a popular art form. I exaggerate, of course, but the actually interesting parts of Honey Boo Boo come in the moments in which the vaudeville act performed by the Thompsons drops away and accidentally reveals some kernels of truth and humanity underneath. It’s not that the Thompsons have to be this way. They either don’t know how to change or don’t understand that change is even an option.
It’s easy to look at Alana and just chalk up her attitude to a combination of age and precociousness. It’s easy to look at 15-year old Jessica (called “Chubbette” by Mama and “Chubbs” in the onscreen TLC graphic) eating cheese balls off the floor and recoil in horror. It’s easy to watch Mama talk positively about her looks and wonder what she sees in the mirror. But then the caricatures disappear, even fleetingly, and it’s much more difficult to pass this off as Car Crash TV. At first, Mama publicly defends her choice not to lose weight with her daughter, stating she’s happy with the way she is. Later, when Mama admits to the camera that she’d like to lose 100 pounds in order to support Jessica, it’s a completely human moment, devoid of all bravado. But it’s also the saddest moment of tonight’s two episodes, because you recognize the bravado not as an on-screen persona but a disguise meant to mask her pain.
Cause fat women must be hiding some secret shame; women who don’t fit the beauty standard should know they are ugly; and no one but 15-year-old Jessica Shannon ever observed the 10-sec rule to eat a snack off the floor.
A tour through TelevisionWithoutPity, a premier online source of TV forums, recaps and discussion, reveals commentary worse than anything happening on Alana Thompson’s eponymous TV show:
aliyameadow writes:
So I looked at some YouTube clips and my jaw dropped open. WTF is this stuff? Who lets their child behave like that? You just know she got most of what she says from her mother. Most 6 year olds are talking about their dolls – she’s talking about “A dollar make me holla.” Huh? She sounds like a ghetto slut.
oldbabe writes:
Thank you! These people taught a 6 year old girl to talk and behave like she’s a street kid because they think it’s funny. The level of ignorance that believes it’s okay to do that to a child is bad enough, but putting themselves on display like a carnival freak show for a TV audience to gawk at sinks to the single-digit IQ level. Alana will never get the help she needs because her family thinks there’s nothing wrong with their behavior. That poor kid was doomed from conception.
The whole family looks like they’re related to Jabba the Hut.
suz at large writes:
This afternoon, after a week of thinking it over, I took both my HD/DVR boxes back to the cable company (I have 2 TVs here). Now, for the first time in 20 years, I do not have cable (or any kind of dish-based) TV service in my home. I did it to save a ton of money per month, and I didn’t make the decision easily or lightly. I finally realized that there are very few shows that I’d like to watch, that are only available on cable/dish TV. Now I have a bunch of sharp over the air channels available via antenna, and high speed internet service plus streaming devices for watching shows on my TVs, and the computer too for some shows that can be streamed to a ‘puter but no other devices.
And in the last analysis? It was the idea of this show – and the commercials for it – that pushed me over the tipping point into cutting the cable cord
The Thompson/Shannon family may be uneducated and fat and “redneck,” but calling a six-year-old a “ghetto slut” is far more morally objectionable, IMHO.
There is no denying that the word “ghetto” and “street” are all kinds of racially charged, evoking images of urban, black dysfunction. The comments above are revealing of one interesting thing: Some folks may be made uncomfortable by “Honey Boo Boo” because it challenges their association of thin, shining, educated middle-classness with whiteness and Southern accents, fatness and poverty with blackness. They are ignorant of the similarities between white and black Southerners and white and black poverty, and so, when Honey Boo Boo drawls one of her famous phrases, she is acting like a “ghetto slut” or a “street kid.”
And then there is “slut.” Women and girls who are not compliant and quiet must be promiscuous–and promiscuous women are bad (i.e. sluts). The phrase that provoked this name calling was Alana’s “A dolla make me holla.” The kid claims to like money. Fine. But it is the adults analyzing the show who have equated a six-year-old’s love of money with prostitution. I am certain that Alana’s involvement in pageants plays a role in this analysis. Child pageants are highly-sexualized and disturbing affairs. But I also believe that a little boy saying the same phrase would likely be praised as a future business tycoon not accused of selling sex.
But Suz-at-large’s comment, though less offensive, is also revealing. There is a chorus of folks claiming that “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” is a bridge too far, the bottom of the barrell, the worst of the worst and the last thing we’ll see before the Four Horsemen arrive. And I believe this notion is also driven by who the Thompson/Shannon family is and how people like them activate American disgust in a way far greater problems do not.
We could have turned off the TV when VH1 was trading on stereotypes of black men with “Flavor of Love.” We could have pushed back when show runners on countless programs hunted for and showcased angry black women. The cable cord could have been cut during any of the shows from “Real Housewives of Orange County” to “Basketball Wives” designed to display women as catty, back-biting gold diggers. “Toddlers and Tiaras,” the show that spawned “Honey Boo Boo” has lasted five seasons.
Pozner says, “I usually tell people you can keep watching your reality TV; just do it critically. ‘Toddlers and Tiaras’ is the one show I believe people should turn off.
“The children on that show cannot possibly consent to the multiple layers of exploitation and sexualization. By watching the show, the audience is complicit.”
Why haven’t these other instances of rank exploitation by TV executives caused viewers to run to return their cable boxes en masse?
I suspect it’s because people find the dirtiness of the reality TV business, which Pozner unveils so capably in Reality Bites Back, less abhorrent than a defiantly poor, white, fat, Southern family.
There is something wrong with “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” But it is not the Thompson/Shannon family who, love of Cheetos and penchant for child pageants, gas passing and murdering of the Queen’s English aside, seem like a loving, happy and mostly decent tribe. The problem is that, this show–like many, many before it–looks to capitalize on America’s basest instincts. And in doing so, it encourages the ugliest of our biases. When we criticize this show, we should reserve our ire for the mercenary show runners who plan, stage and edit what we see. And we should remember, as Pozner points out, that “actors” on reality shows are not unionized. When folks have exhausted their revulsion and TLC has taken millions in ad revenues to the bank, Honey Boo Boo and her family might still be clipping coupons in a tiny house by the railroad tracks, having received little in return for becoming national laughingstocks for a season. And that’s not right.
Lol at “ghetto slut” and “street kid.” These were probably written by some white people who grew up in the suburbs and have no idea about the other side, or they’re embarrassed. I’m from the deep South, and I have met plenty of white people like Honey Boo Boo’s family. I went to school with them. I see them in the grocery store. They are not that rare. For some reason, people think that she is “acting black” and all white people are posh. There is a book “Black Rednecks and White Liberals” that talks about how many of the backwards things that African Americans do were actually first part of white Southerner’s culture, and how slaves learned and imitated the ways and culture of ole massa.
There are several shows on TV showing redneck white people, so I don’t know why people are upset about this.
I wonder why they don’t have reality TV making fun of White liberals.
They are it’s called the Kardashian’s. The only problem is they want to be like them!
First let me say I find it laughable that some folks went as far as to get rid of their cable/TV all together because of reality television. You do realize you have the power to watch something else right? (Discovery, History, Travel, Food Network or Animal Planet anyone?). The dramatics are not necessary.
On the subject of Honey Boo Boo, the reactions are ironic. It’s interesting how quickly people feign exploitation when these individuals willingly choose to be showcased on national tv. It’s interesting how quickly viewers want to judge when they themselves are not perfect. It’s interesting how there is a constant whining about reality tv & yet, like a car wreck, millions (likely yourself included if you read this) keep watching.
Don’t blame TLC, VH1, Bravo etc. for airing the shows they do, blame society’s insatiable desire to see certain people and their lives’ on display. They’re simply delivering the supply that meets the demand.
“First let me say I find it laughable that some folks went as far as to get rid of their cable/TV all together because of reality television. You do realize you have the power to watch something else right? (Discovery, History, Travel, Food Network or Animal Planet anyone?). The dramatics are not necessary.”
- That made me lol :)
You are exactly right. When a show does not have the ratings a network will cancel it. If you don’t like these shows, don’t watch. For example, I hear VH1′s Hollywood Exes may be cancelled, it just can’t pull the same ratings as something such as Love & Hip Hop because people love to watch all the drama. So for each person complaining about these shows, there’s probably a million other people that love to watch it. That’s why these shows survive.
And as far as exploitation goes, nobody participating in a reality show is a victim. Reality TV has been popular for too long now for anyone to go in and act like they don’t know what’s coming. People are eager to exploit themselves hoping to jump start some sort of career. Many popular personalities we have today started out that way. And once you put yourself out there for the world to see you, you are fair game for tabloids and the opinions of the world.
And there’s much analysis that can be done in regards to race, class, gender, and media, but I don’t feel the need to go that deep for everything. These people have a show, they make fun of themselves on said show, and I’m sure they get to enjoy the benefits of having this notoriety/15 min of fame.
@EMS
My refusal to purchase a tv isn’t due to reality tv, rather tv programming in general. If you go back and read my initial comment, I simply stated that I ‘do not own a tv’.
I don’t have time to watch tv. I work, travel and read (of course I have Internet access for any other info I desire). Any information gained from discovery, history, national geo is intended for Western audiences (modified to fit their agenda and in some cases, used as a papoganda). I’m not an American nor am I European. I don’t expect an American television to teach me my history or even new discoveries. So far as food channel is concerned, I don’t think there is any insightful info that is shared on such metwork other than the typical American glutinous consumption. No thank you! Assumption is deadly so please practice critical reading.
Ciao
Simply put, this show is funny. I love it and will continue to watch it.
I agree with the social assertions Tami made about race, but not the ones on parenting. This is NOT a functional family. They are pimping out the youngest child in beauty pageants for their own selfish gain and now THEY made the choice to prostitute the entire family on national tv for cash. I’m not mad at TLC-the job of the company is to make a profit, they couldn’t make one if this wasn’t a.) what people wanted to see and b.) what that family agreed to do.
They don’t feel exploited. In fact, I bet they jumped for joy when TLC offered them a show. Now if you want to argue they are still being exploited and don’t know any better, it’s infantilization. I think this a bad choice but I also think putting their child in beauty pageants is a bad choice. Should I be able to stop them from making that one too? It all goes hand-in-hand. If it their right to make these choices, and profit from them, they also have to live with the consequences. They shouldn’t be protected from their own ignorance.
I think in a quest to be fair and redress the balance for this family, you’ve overlooked the harm they are inflicting on their children. Let’s recap: they are profiting of their youngest child by stuffing her into makeup and tight clothes, and now exposing their entire family to the gaze of the nation (still for profit) when they know for a fact the commentary was going to sometimes be hurtful. I mean think of the hateful commentary they probably got when Honey Boo Boo first hit airwaves on Toddlers and Tiaras. Now you think it’s a good idea to take this to a tv show! And buying junk food at auction when your family is already living in those dire straits is frankly abusive.
And I do agree with what the author Tami quoted said about the mother not being honest with herself. It is false bravado if she says she’s proud to be large, but then says I’d like to lose a hundred pounds, no matter what the reason.
I don’t think it’s infantilization to say that reality TV participants are exploited. I definitely don’t think Honey Boo Boo’s family is being UNIQUELY exploited. In other words, I think most reality TV participants are being exploited by a system they imagine they can control.
You know I cannot blame this obviously very poor family for agreeing to do this reality show – I think they get 3 thousand dollars per episode. What really disgusts me is a society that chooses to keep a giant portion of their populace stuck / mired in ignorance and allows them to literally wallow in poverty. And given the state of our economy more and more American families are facing this reality – both white and black. This is happening at the same time athletes make 20 million plus for bouncing or throwing balls. This is happening at the same time celebrities make 20 million plus for playing dress up and pretend for movies made in 3 months. What is up with someone like Jennifer Anniston spending $50 thousand dollars a week on her hair – Kardashians (speaking of low class trash) walking around with $10 thousand dollar bags – Suri Cruise wearing thousand dollar outfits at the age of 4. If I were president every single penney after individuals earn 1 million would be collected and used to help our growing poor. I’m sorry if you cannot live on a million dollars a year – too bad! If something is not done soon future generations of Americans will face futures that look much like honey boo boo. Yes I do agree that even in poverty you can live with dignity……however poverty breeds ignorance and ignorance breeds dysfunction – these people are innocent in their ignorance.
It is the society that we find ourselves that is accountable and at the moment disgusting. Our government needs to be held accountable – greedy filthy corporate scum is guilty as charged.
PS This is not a white or black “thing” – this is a human thing.
for the record I am white, female, christian
We are a country of 360 million Americans. The masses (357 million) can/will help its people. The remaining 3 million (rich) people will never be able to generate enough money to take care of those who can’t take care of themselves.
I’m T.j., a regular black guy earning under 50k who gives whatever I can to others.
Are you serious?? So if I’m reading your right, you don’t agree with the exploitation of Honey Boo Boo but you understand TLC’s position as a company. The nuclear family is essential to the economy as an incubator for workers to help drive the economy so it’s as economical as TLC.
You don’t know what’s in these people’s hearts. What’s the difference between Honey Boo Boo and Rudy from The Cosby Show, oh, your sensibilities, right?
It seems like it was great idea since we’re talking about it and it a highly rated show.
I’m more concerned about how much junk food the child eats. Other than that… Viva La Honey Boo Boo Child! Seriously, we should be thankful that this is another show with thirsty gold digging men yearning for men with no morals living on borrowed time, fame and money. If people are seriously protesting to get this off the air, how about we focus on anything that got aired on VH1… ever? I’ll admit to watching and enjoying these reality TV shows but lets face it. For the Love of Ray J, Flavor of Love, any show with Ms. New York, Love and Hip Hop NY or ATL, Basketball Wives, Bad Girls Club, The Real Housewives of NJ, Jersey Shore, The Hills, My Super Sweet 16, Teen Mom (I don’t care how much Dr. Drew Pinsky says that teen pregnancy has gone down since the show aired, I still feel the data was either skewed or pure coincidence. and as for the other shows, I can keep naming all those mind numbing IQ reducing minstrel shows we call reality television…) are way more detrimental to society than Honey Boo Boo and her brethren.