Gotcha! Dutch organ donation show a hoax: producers - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

RedHot25 · 06-01-2007, 04:57 PM

http://www.cbc.ca/arts/tv/story/2007...n.html?ref=rss

The Dutch reality TV show at the centre of a media storm for purportedly pitting contestants against each other to win an organ donation is a hoax, producers behind the maligned program said on Friday.

....

"We wanted to draw attention to their lives and their problems," host Patrick Lodiers said.

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In the program, which aired its finale on Dutch TV network BNN on Friday, contestants vied for the favour of a woman who was said to have been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and was to choose who would receive one of her kidneys.

Locke · 06-01-2007, 05:44 PM

And this is better?

Mean Mr. Mustard · 06-01-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

And this is better?

Yes, it is a great idea to make people aware of organ donation. It doesn't seem as though it was done for ratings but rather to garner attention to organ donation... which is a very good thing.

BlackArcher101 · 06-01-2007, 05:49 PM

How nice of them... I can see it now:

Show Producer: "Congrats, you won the show! Oh, by the way, this is fake and we actually don't have an organ to give you. We did this to help you, I hope you understand."

It says the finale just aired? How come the media craze lately? Wouldn't it have been on air for a while now, with the idea already known? They call the show a publicity stunt, but I'm wondering if the media used it as their own stunt as well.

FlamingLonghorn · 06-01-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

How nice of them... I can see it now:

Show Producer: "Congrats, you won the show! Oh, by the way, this is fake and we actually don't have an organ to give you. We did this to help you, I hope you understand."

I am pretty sure that the contestants were probably in on it.

Locke · 06-01-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Yes, it is a great idea to make people aware of organ donation. It doesn't seem as though it was done for ratings but rather to garner attention to organ donation... which is a very good thing.

I agree on the philosophy of drawing attention to problems in order to promote some public awareness, what I meant by my post is that I was questioning their means of doing so. In essence saying that the end in this case does not justify the means.

People are not generally prone to opening their hearts (pardon the pun) and wallets for a cause which has just openly admitted to trying to fool them into doing just that. They are more likely to be insulted by something like this and thusly become less disposed to assist.

In essence, I think these jackass producers hurt their cause more than they helped it by pulling a stunt like this.

Thats just the way I see it. If someone tried to trick me into believing something like this, and then turned around and started laughing at me because I fell for their 'human suffering' sob story, but in the end still wanted my proferred help, I'd tell them where they could shove it.

Locke.

Locke · 06-01-2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sowa

I am pretty sure that the contestants were probably in on it.

Doesnt matter. The contestants werent the ones they were trying to fool.

RedHot25 · 06-01-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

How nice of them... I can see it now:

Show Producer: "Congrats, you won the show! Oh, by the way, this is fake and we actually don't have an organ to give you. We did this to help you, I hope you understand."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sowa

I am pretty sure that the contestants were probably in on it.

Yah, from the article:

The woman, who was known only as "Lisa," was revealed to be an actress in Friday's finale. However, the three finalists, who were also privy to the hoax, are indeed waiting for organ donations.

BlackArcher101 · 06-01-2007, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Yah, from the article:

The woman, who was known only as "Lisa," was revealed to be an actress in Friday's finale. However, the three finalists, who were also privy to the hoax, are indeed waiting for organ donations.

Ah, misunderstood privy. I had concluded they weren't part of it when it said they actually needed an organ. Still, would have been funny my way no? Right? Ah forget it.