Television Review: My Own
What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this after-school reality program
has teens searching for a look-alike/act-alike of their
favorite celebrity. Contestants transform themselves to fit the
celebrity mold and win a date. Contestants use sexuality to
gain attention and when they perform -- one teen claimed she
was Avril Lavigne "plus a cup size" while another pointed out
her "white girl booty" that was reminiscent of Kelly Clarkson.
Families can talk about what qualities teens look for in a
date/boyfriend/girlfriend. If someone looks like a celebrity,
does that make them more appealing? Is it possible to really
know what a celeb is like? How important are looks or being
cool in choosing a crush or date? Are these lasting qualities
in a relationship? What do pop stars represent?
MY OWN features six pop star wannabes who claim to look, sound, act, or just smile like a celebrity such as Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, or Justin Timberlake. One super fan of the actual star, accompanied by two friends, will determine which wannabe has what it takes to win a date with the super fan. After a series of trivia questions and challenges, the six are narrowed down to three. These remaining contestants go through a mini-makeover, learn a scene from the video of their idol, and have a vocal run-through. The final challenge is a 30-60 second piece of the artists' hit song. This marathon comes to an anticlimactic end when the fan picks his/her own version of the pop star.
My Own takes celebrity worship to a new low. Not only does it emphasize the importance of appearance, but it goes a step farther and rewards those who happen to resemble someone famous. This is a damaging message to tweens and teens, who are forming their identity and ideas about how dating works -- they're already under enough pressure to look good, but now they need to look like a celebrity too? What ever happened to individuality? The show also offers the confusing idea that the best way to show you're a fan is to date someone who reminds you of your idol...huh?
Aside from the dubious messages it sends, My Own is simply boring. The songs and pop stars have been seen on MTV videos, celebrity magazines, and award shows plenty of times. This show seems like a tired attempt to revive some stars (Justin Timberlake for example) who have since moved on in their career. If teens have a favorite idol, encourage them to take up a similar hobby -- singing, dancing, or playing a musical instrument. It's fine to admire a pop star, but dating someone just because they look like one is just silly.
The Next Best ThingMADtv
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