Space Cadets

[AlanHo]

I have never before watched one of those so called "reality TV" programmes like Big Brother or Get me Out'a da Jungle etc. However for some inane reason I have found myself watching snatches of Space Cadets.

It is a sad reflection on the British public that they derive entertainment from such a programme. The TV company have found the 12 most gullible youngsters in the country and have duped them into believing that they are up in a new Russian spaceship that takes off like an airliner - flies into low orbit and circulates the earth at a low enough altitude to be in space yet still under earth's gravity. Their "space suits" and other paraphernalia were purchased from an ex-army stand at a Russian market

They have spent millions on the programme which involved refurbishing a disused military camp near Ipswich to look like a Russian space facility, they have installed a flight simulator (presumably hired from an airline), hired dozens of actors to pose as Russians with awful Russian accents and last night took the first 4 gullibles into pseudo space in the simulator. To add insult to injury the noise of the engines was a magnified recording of a child's humming top and the noise of flying through a meteorite cloud is a recording of dog biscuits being thrown at a transit van. I kid you not.

Has anyone else watched this parody of entertainment and got pleasure from watching some gullible and uneducated youngsters being taken advantage of in the interests of TV ratings?

[andsome]

It must rank alongside other so called reality programmes, like Big Brother and all it's offshoots. Watched by really sad people who are in dire need of getting a life. This sort of rubbish compares with humiliation programmes like some of the rubbish we have seen excerpts of from Japan.

[artist]

I just hate all the so-called reality programmes!

[-pops-]

This sort of rubbish compares with humiliation programmes like some of the rubbish we have seen excerpts of from Japan.

We used to laugh or cringe at the dire content of Japanese television that was shown to us on programmes like those hosted by Tarrant but, at an accelerating rate, our own T.V output is becoming ever closer to that inane and insane rubbish.

[andsome]

This sort of rubbish compares with humiliation programmes like some of the rubbish we have seen excerpts of from Japan.

We used to laugh or cringe at the dire content of Japanese television that was shown to us on programmes like those hosted by Tarrant but, at an accelerating rate, our own T.V output is becoming ever closer to that inane and insane rubbish.

Very very true unfortunately. Some nights of the week the ITV 1 output is wall to wall soap, with Channel 4 wall to wall reality. If the odd good program is on, the producers do their best to wreck it with totally inappropriate sound track effects.

[Belatucadrus]

I watched the launch to see the programs much vaunted special effects, I was completely underwhelmed. Even as a kid on Santa's sleigh ride in the local Co-Op it required a suspension of disbelief. This was only mildly more convincing. But I'm afraid that my sympathy for the divots involved in this ridiculous exercise is non existent. Even assuming that they genuinely don't know that a ship "orbiting" the earth close enough to be under 1G would need to be powered 24/7 to stop it crashing. Has it not occurred to them that there it is remarkably unlikely that anybody would fund the astronomical (pun intended) cost of sending up up four people whose contribution to science appears to be to mutter

Cor this is expletive deleted amazing

at regular intervals.

Strangely enough I have rather less of a problem with the Japanese game shows, at least there the victims know what they're getting in to and can withdraw at any point. Here the TV company has selected a bunch of ignoramuses and are very publicly humiliating them without their consent, very very nasty.

[nellie2]

I've found it quite entertaining actually.. especially last night when they 'launched'. And as far as consent goes.. I don't think that the TV companies can broadcast this stuff without the permission of the 'victims'. Although I'm quite happy to be corrected as I'm only guessing here.

[-pops-]

- - -but if the "contestants" know they are the subject of a "joke" then the whole premise of the programme is lost, isn't it?

[nellie2]

I suppose they must ask them after they have filmed it.

[Thos]

I haven't watched any of the Space Cadets programmes, that one doesn't interest me much.

But I must put a word in for some of the others. Celeb Jungle I find to be quite good fun, light-hearted and entertaining and hosted well by Ant & Dec.

I have also enjoyed Big Brother, though I think the concept has run it's course by now

But I don't enjoy things like Wife Swap Make-over shows etc.

I confess I am a philistine. I have watched Coronation Street since day one and wouldn't miss it for the world. I have even been round the set at Granada studios in Manchester, though I haven't got a set of Hilda Ogden's ducks on my wall. :harhar:

Thos.

[-pops-]

I suppose they must ask them after they have filmed it.

Oh! Isn't it live or, at least filmed on the same day as it's shown?

[nellie2]

I don't know -pops- but I thought there were rules about this sort of thing and I didn't think they could do it without your permission.

I could be wrong though.... if I am then I agree with Belatucadrus, it isn't very nice at all to publicly humiliate someone like that. :mad:

[Belatucadrus]

Oh! Isn't it live or, at least filmed on the same day as it's shown?

Yes, or so it claims and that's my problem with it. Postdated with their consent OK, stupid but OK. Live is IMHO just nasty. I've no doubt that the contracts have a teeny weeny clause saying that the organisers have the right to do whatever they like with the footage, but as this crew have already proved they aren't the brightest lights on the Christmas tree, I still think it's distasteful.

[andsome]

Oh! Isn't it live or, at least filmed on the same day as it's shown?

Yes, or so it claims and that's my problem with it. Postdated with their consent OK, stupid but OK. Live is IMHO just nasty. I've no doubt that the contracts have a teeny weeny clause saying that the organisers have the right to do whatever they like with the footage, but as this crew have already proved they aren't the brightest lights on the Christmas tree, I still think it's distasteful.

I think these sought of programmes are beyond tasteless, they are puerile.

[AndyAtHull]

From what I can gather, they have asked permission from their respective family members.

However you take a show like this. I find the experiments interesting. Not because it makes people look like idiots on TV. But because of their reactions in certain situations.

You can argue experiments set out by the producers are aimed to one thing. To get ratings. Which is true. But for me when I watch reality shows now and again; it is all about how they react to the situations given. Which I find interesting. Tells me more about people that I may take for granted. :smile:

[r4may]

I have never watched any of the Space Cadets programmes and have no intention of doing so.

It's probably as bad as watching paint dry :dry:

[andsome]

I have never watched any of the Space Cadets programmes and have no intention of doing so.

It's probably as bad as watching paint dry :dry:

I would think that drying paint would be MUCH more interesting and entertaining. :laugh:

[nellie2]

I've gone off it a bit now I know that the participants haven't given their permission.

We have all done things we regret but usually it is in front of a few people who you know.. you can make your apologies, get over it (eventually) and move on.

I don't think I could ever recover from making such an idiot of myself in front of millions of people and I know I would never forgive the family member who gave their permission for me.

[-pops-]

I saw the closing minutes of this programme (without the sound) yesterday.

The participants must be of the ultimate in stupidity. What on Earth (or even space) have balloon models, which they were handed from behind a curtain, to do with this "mission"?

[Belatucadrus]

Apparently the presenter is concerned that one of the cadets could come out swinging when the whole debacle is unveiled.

One lives in hope . :dry:

[dadyassa]

Apparently the presenter is concerned that one of the cadets could come out swinging when the whole debacle is unveiled.

One lives in hope . :dry:

:laugh: :laugh:

[Thos]

I read in todays paper that the whole lot may be a spoof on the public and the cast may be all actors.

Thos. :biggrin:

[catgate]

Apparently the presenter is concerned that one of the cadets could come out swinging when the whole debacle is unveiled.

One lives in hope . :dry:

That's interesting. Does that mean they are going to hang one of them? Or failing that...swinging what?

[Belatucadrus]

swinging what?

[AlanHo]

I wonder how many people who have seen this thread but claim not to have an interest in reality shows have taken a sneak peek at tonight's episode to see what we are all rattling on about.

Come on you guys - admit it.