I'm all for people changing their looks and lifestyles on TV. I'm a "What Not to Wear" disciple, and come fall, I'll be cheering on "The Biggest Loser" contestants right alongside Fit. But something about this new CMT reality show is just rubbing me the wrong way.
Called "I Want to Look Like a High School Cheerleader Again," the show will take 10 former high school cheerleaders and try to get them to fit into their old uniforms again with the help of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders trainer Jay Johnson. The winner will get $50,000 and "the chance to perform again in front of a live audience."
Once again: health and fitness = good. But the idea of adults aiming to be high school cheerleaders again — complete with kicky little pleated skirt and a public performance — makes me feel queasy. It reminds me a little too much of the "girls jumping on trampolines" feature from "The Man Show," and I'm not loving the message that grown women should aspire to look, dress and feel like adolescents.
Am I being too harsh? I understand the producers' point that every former athlete longs to recapture that energy and verve. But I'm not sure this particular fountain of youth is one we should be dipping into.
Betty Jackson
Shoe Studio
Christian Dior
That is disturbing. Not only the whole adults trying to be teenagers part and the sexism of it all, but what is the message to teenagers? That there can't be any curvy or athletic girls on the squad? Ugh.
1Some adults ("boomers" especially) just don't want to grow old...or up. I always bristle at the commercial where the mother diets to fit into the jeans that she once wore after her daughter remarks "you used to fit into these?" Wanting to be fit is one thing; wanting to regain a "youthful" body and life is another.
2Ah, I want to be on that show! I just want to lose weight and I happen to have been a cheerleader in high school...I think it would be fun...
3
I agree with you Buzz.....what an idiotic concept for a show. But then CMT takes the prize
in dumb reality shows so this is no surprise.
4this is the THIRD reality show that Jay has been on. the first being Wife Swap, than the Dallas cowboys search one, and now this one. I don't want to see his Lycra covered bulging muscles ever again.
5I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting a youthful body if it's within grasp. I think in that jeans ad the mother isn't trying to smooth out her wrinkles or erase cellulite - she just wants to lose weight so she fits into her fab jeans, and I would do the same thing.
going to surgical extremes to get that youthful body is a different story - it's a path I won't follow. My peers are starting to get botox, and I shudder at the thought.
This show on the other hand sounds like an idea scraped out of the bottom of the barrel.
6it's pathetic, desperate and ridiculous, but more and more we seem to be becoming a nation of outrageous exhibitionists and attention-seekers so i'm not surprised.
7This country is huge. The people are huge, I mean.
What's wrong with trying to lose weight? I don't see the outrage in this show. It looks fun/ny to me.
What makes it pathetic? It's television. People will probably watch so who cares?
What fun it would be to have the body I had in high school.
8There is nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight. There is, however, something very pathetic about wanting to go back to your high school days and wanting to look like a teenage cheerleader. Sad sad sad
9Are you kidding me? We don't have any other things we can put on TV or bring back that is actually good? I can miss this show. You couldn't pay me to relive high school - I can't believe these people want to!
10ugh, gross. i'm totally with you on this one. i want to see "I Want to Look Like A High School Swimmer Again" featuring old men with beer bellies trying to get back into their speedos.
OH WAIT, MEN DON'T HAVE SOCIETAL PRESSURES TO BE YOUNG, THIN, AND PRETTY UNTIL THE DAY THE DIE!
silly me.
11I think JennaV hit it right on the head. It's ok to want to lose weight, but come on, stop being a has been high school cheerleader and move on with your life. Go on a diet, work out, do what you have to do. These are probably the same women who live vicariously through thier highschool aged daugthers.
Why does this remind me of Dina Lohan for some reason?? I can just see her doing something like this!
12I hate this whole school of thought that only young women are valuable, and once a woman gets even a little bit old, she's no longer desirable. this show feeds to that message. Say no.
13Krampalicious and JennaV... lol, you guys are so right!
The concept is nauseous and I don't even want to imagine the drawn-out, piano-music-accompanied, oprah-wanna-be moments. Pathetic.
14i love it...i was a cheerleader and i miss it all the time. granted, i AM still only 19 and can join an all-star squad...but i will always miss the high school days! and it's a nice way to get back in shape.
15give me a s! give me an a give me a d!
wasn't there a friends episode about this with rachel?
come on jv you would rock the pleated skirt;
16katday: you clearly missed my point. thankfully others -- JennaV, krampalicious and more -- get what's so disturbing about this show.
17I'd love to have my high school bod back. I wasn't a cheerleader, but loved high school and see nothing wrong with longing for those days!
18Meh. What, no one wants to transform back into the high school nerd?
19i guess they are running out of ideas.
20haha. I know this is totally lame - but I would go on that show for sure. I loved cheering in high school, and I didn't realize it at the time, but I was really ripped! I wouldn't mind looking like that again. Plus you could win $50k. I don't see what the problem is : ) Everyone needs to lighten up!
21There's something really sad and a bit sick about this show.
22what? this is crazy!
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