Teens Becoming Pregnant to Get on 'Teen Mom'?
Now that 'Teen Mom' cast members like Amber Portwood are in their twenties,
MTV is looking for a new crop of teenage girls to keep its monster hits 'Teen Mom' and '16 and Pregnant' alive, and [surprise!] industry insiders tell me young ladies are so eager to be on reality TV that they are actually getting pregnant just to score an audition. OK, not much of a surprise. Simply take a spin around the various Internet forums filled with young girls inquiring about what's required to score a role.
"This is yet another example of the desperation of fame," Matt Titus, a relationship expert from
TheLoveConsultants.com, tells me. "The sad state of reality television has created a lowbrow vehicle for untainted train wreck personalities to display their private lives. Getting pregnant to be famous is like eating as many cockroaches as possible in a one minute period."
(Didn't they do that on 'Survivor'?)
Casting any reality show right is essential to whether it is a hit or not. Networks spend top dollar auditioning throughout the country to make sure they get the right mix. However, what makes 'Teen Mom' and '16 and Pregnant' both so difficult to cast is that, thankfully, the "talent pool" of potential stars that are both pregnant
and teenagers is relatively small.
Mommy expert Beth Feldman, creator of
RoleMommy.com, says it would be "horrifying" if teens are actually getting pregnant for a TV show. "Becoming a parent is a responsibility that no one should take lightly, and for a teenager to think that a pregnancy could lead to instant fame and fortune is absurd. Parenting is a lifetime commitment and teens have there own lives ahead of them. Let them grow up before they take the responsibility of caring for another human being."
Rabbi Shmuely Boteach, a friend of the late Michael Jackson and author of 'Kosher Sex,' agrees. "This is out of control celebrity culture. Reality TV first began by exploiting people's problems, assuming they would do anything for fame. The idea of teenage girls getting pregnant to be on television shows that reality TV is going a step beyond exploiting problems. It is now creating the problems."
Anyone who has had a child knows that it is the most serious commitment a person can make. Rabbi Shmuley correctly points out that when young girls begin making this ultimate decision in order find fame, it "shows the moral rot in American society."
"These girls are ignoring the fact that this decision must followed by a lifetime of responsibility," he says.
Maybe my friend Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of the hit HLN show 'Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell,' says it best: "Children should not be having children, period."
http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=945855&pid=945854&uts=1291724998
http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/tv/?s_channel=us.tvpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1
http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf
'Teen Mom' Snapshots
NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout, Bristol Palin and Brianda Diaz attend The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout;Bristol Palin;Brianda;Diaz
Getty Images
Getty Images North America
Teen Mom Snapshots
NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout and Bristol Palin attend The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout;Bristol Palin
Teen Mom Snapshots
NEW YORK - MAY 05: TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout attends The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout
Teen Mom Snapshots
NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout and Bristol Palin attend The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout;Bristol Palin
Teen Mom Snapshots
NEW YORK - MAY 05: TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout attends The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout
Teen Mom Snapshots
NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout, Bristol Palin and Brianda Diaz attend The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout;Bristol Palin;Brianda;Diaz
Teen Mom Snapshots
NEW YORK - MAY 05: TV Personality from MTV's "Teen Mom" Maci Bookout attends The Candie's Foundation Event To Prevent at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Maci Bookout
Teen Mom Snapshots
NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) Farrah Abraham, Maci Bookout and Bristol Palin speak to Dr. Drew Pinsky during " The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting sponsored by The Candie's Foundation at Lighthouse International Conference Center on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Farrah Abraham;Maci Bookout;Bristol Palin;Dr. Drew Pinsk
Teen Mom Snapshots
NEW YORK - MAY 05: (L-R) CEO of Candie's, Neil Cole, Bristol Palin and Dr. Drew Pinsky attend " The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting sponsored by The Candie's Foundation at Lighthouse International Conference Center on May 5, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Neil Cole;Bristol Palin;Dr. Drew Pinsky
Teen Mom Snapshots
Bristol Palin and Dr. Drew attend " The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting sposored by The Candie's Foundation at Lighthouse International Conference Center on May 5, 2010 in New York City. "The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting Sposored By The Candie's Foundation Lighthouse International Conference Center New York, NY United States May 5, 2010 Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com To license this image (17257527), contact WireImage.com
Teen Mom Snapshots
Bristol Palin attends " The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting sposored by The Candie's Foundation at Lighthouse International Conference Center on May 5, 2010 in New York City. "The Harsh Truth: Teen Moms Tell All" Town Hall Meeting Sposored By The Candie's Foundation Lighthouse International Conference Center New York, NY United States May 5, 2010 Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com To license this image (17257536), contact WireImage.com
Teen Mom Snapshots
Thank Al Pacino for Pretty Woman
Mad Men: 'Chevy Is Spelled Wrong!'
Add a comment
what do they think is going to happen when they are now glorifying the (original) moms of this show? Those girls are now attending red carpet events, meeting celebrities......reality TV has gotten so out of hand these days.
Reply
I agree! What did the idiots that concocted this show think was going to happen??? Obviously they weren't thinking.
Biggest problem is the fans. If people did not watch these shows, buy the magazines that report on these girls (one week I counted 16 magazines all featuring one of these underage baby making machines on the cover. Frankly I'd say boycott the shows and magazines that glorify this ultimate act of stupidity.
CAN WE PLEASE GIVE FORCED SHOTS OF BIRTH CONTROL TO THE POOR?? THE POOR PEOPLE KNOW IF THEY MESS UP AND GET PREGNANT..DON'T WORRY..BIG BROTHER WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.
WHAT IS MY REWARD FOR NOT GETTING PREGNANT AS A TEEN? GETTING A JOB AND PAYING TAXES FOR THESE LITTLE PROSTITUTES TO KEEP THEIR BABIES ALIVE?
Reply
Are you kidding me??? Give a BIRTH CONTROL shot to POOR girls???? What world do you live in??? Rich girls make the same mistakes; only they burden their family with the cost of raising a child! Calling them LITTLE PROSTITUTES is not the answer; you really need to be educated on the subject before you open your mouth.
Is Bristol Palin a LITTLE PROSTITUTE, or is that title just reserved for the poor teenage mothers? Teenagers shouldn't be having children period. It doesn't matter what their family's social status is.
I know a lot of kids from well to do families who are pregnant. It's the in thing now. These kids will collect WIC and welfare also. I live below poverty, work, and raise 2 grandchildren. One is a senior, not sexually active, and has plans to attend college. She tells me she is not stupid and she has plans that don't include kids for many yrs.. She works hard to get good grades because she knows she needs scholarships and grants to attend college. Also you don't need to yell at people when you post, rude, very rude..
Don't feel left out! You did the right thing by not getting pregnant and , as well as many out there respect you for it tremendously! greatr job!
I AM 22 AND RECENTLY FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT. I DON'T SEE HOW YOUNGER CHILDREN COULD EVEN THINK THIS COULD GET THEM FAME AND FORTUNE. I WORK FULL TIME AND I AM FINDING IT VERY STRESSFUL AND DIFFICULT TO BE PREGNANT. EVEN TELLING MY MOTHER WAS HARD. I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO BEAT ME LOL. I DON'T SEE HOW EVEN THE PARENTS CAN ENCOURAGE THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR AND I DON'T SEE HOW THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE A REALITY SHOW! MTV SUCKS!!! THESE SHOWS SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF OF THE AIR IMMEDIATELY!!! TEEN PREGNANCY SHOULD NOT BE ENCOURAGED!! IT SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY NEITHER. HAVING A CHILD ISN'T A GAME! ITS A DECISION YOU ARE STUCK WITH FOR LIFE!
Reply
Quit yelling!!!
Why are you yelling?
first it was Sarah's fault. you know, who raised her, how she was raised, do as mom does, etc. now it's the kids fault, not the parents, no, the kids.
"Bristol Palin is no different. She just has a family with enough money to support her mistakes."
no one said Bristol was different, only you a Hate Party member. and all these other poor moms are so poor. sob, sob.
who' lets these kids do that show? mommy dearest, lol. who raised these pregnant kids? mommy dearest. who was watching these kids? mommy dearest.
if Sarah was to blame for Bristol getting pregnant. then all moms of pregnant kids are to blame.
as parents you help and support your kid not blame them like that Hate Party member. but jealousy drives some people to hate. lord be with you.
Reply
You are wrong palin is a joke
wow thats sad, kids need to realize what the hell they're are doing...
this is something that will be with them for the rest of their freaking lives! a baby is a very fragile thing and need someone who can support it.
Reply
Ok, seriously! Who did not now this was going to happen? As soon as the percentage of teenagers getting pregnant began to reduce in this country, these MTV shows get green-lit and viola! Every psyco, fame chasing, high school drop-out will see these shows and intentionally get pregnant to obtain a sort of fame that they are not willing to really work at to get. MTV should be ashamed just as all these teen and soon to be teen moms should to.
Reply
This show NEEDS to be CANCELLED ENOUGH SAID.
Reply
I think this show is terrible. They end paying these young girls who get pregnant. Then they are on the show whining about money and the situation they are in. I know a girl that is in her 20's and everytime she has a child her sister and brother-in-law end up raising the child. They are on No. 3. I just don't understand why they county can't enforce her getting her tubes tied. She has these kids and the county pays for it.
Reply
First I will NEVER understand the draw to trash shows like this. Secondly, this is one of the dark sides of the future of our country. Future welfare recipients of America unite! What a joke....... Boycott these programs.........
Reply
junior
Your right but remember women are on this earth to service men. If it was not for sex a woman would have little value to a man.
Reply
WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE A CHAUVENISTIC PIG!!