Feature image: Tallena and Tim from The Seven Year Switch (via Channel Seven)
The Seven Year Switch is back on our TV screens tonight.
Almost a million pervy Australians tuned in to Channel Seven’s ‘social experiment‘ last week, to watch real people’s dysfunctional relationships displayed for all and sundry. And to begin with, we were watching it as entertainment. As juicy, immoral TV.
“To me this show looks like heaven.” Rosie Waterland said on The Binge podcast. And we kinda agreed. We all got sucked in. We wanted it to be a train-wreck; controversial, salacious and over-the-top in it’s ridiculousness.
But it’s actually really sad. And on the latest episode of The Binge, Laura Brodnik says it’s a show we should turn away from: (post continues after audio)
Like Rosie says, all these couples are in desperately sad relationships. There are incredibly vulnerable monologues to camera, and the couples all see this show as a last resort. And if the network is trying to act like it’s as serious, respectful show about fixing relationship, why then chuck them in the house with one bed?
As Rosie so eloquently puts it: “So what are you trying to do? Are you trying to help them with their relationships or are actually hoping that they’ll just bang other people?”
Right?
Watch the trailer here:
Co-host Laura Brodnik says the worst thing is, we’ll only get more of it. Almost a million people watching car crash television does nothing for the landscape of television in Australia. So she’s calling for a boycott.
“Australia I want to say to you: you are all bad people. You are rewarding bad behaviour. This is why we can’t have scripted television.” she said.
“Everywhere else in the world is having the Golden Age of television. Except us. Hang your heads in shame.”
The Binge is Mamamia’s TV podcast. It’s where Rosie Waterland and Laura Brodnik review, dissect and recommend the best and worst on the box. Subscribe in itunes and listen on your podcast app, or listen to the full episode here:
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Will you be watching? Join the discussion on the Mamamia podcast Facebook page.
Top Comments
I actually watch this with my partner and we finding it therapy of a kind for our relationship. Its not all doom and gloom. There is something quite fascinating about what we (me and mine) are finding out about ourselves through this show. The end is not nigh. This is so more than Temptation Island.
if people choose to be on tv, i can choose to watch them. the only reason i won't watch it, it's on too late at night for me.