“Parental Control” Is Scripted
Duh! Did anyone think it wasn’t?? According to this article, the contestants and their parents wear earpieces through which producers feed them every single line. Also, the show isn’t even taped in the contestant’s actual house.
“Every response … they’re feeding you the lines,” Randy Rowlett said. “You have a little earpiece in your ear the whole time.”
In reality, the guys chosen for Ashley are tapped by producers, and other potential guys are instructed to be as callous and unappealing as possible. Also, though the home is intended to be Ashley’s Southern California home, it is actually a rented property in Santa Clarita.
Though the show is largely scripted, producers were very careful to preserve an authentic reaction when, at the end of the show, Ashley makes her decision.
“We were all kept totally separated when we were doing scenes,” King said. “[Producers would] say, ‘Come up stairs,’ and they’d send someone with you.”
The big finish is the only point Ashley gets a choice — between one of the three scripted conclusions.
“That was the only thing that was actually my choice.” Ashley Rowlett said.
I always had my suspicions about this show. I guess now they’re confirmed.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:03 am
I’ve watched some episodes of MTV’s “Parental Control” and honestly is this what we’re lettin the younger generation come to?? Talking back to someones parents like trash and like they’re supposed to be their age. I also don’t agree with parents talking trash to kids because why it puts them back on a childs level. If we keep showing it’s cool or it’s the thing to do now for todays youth to talk “shit” to their elders or significant others parents then there’s no hope whatsoever,because they will never respect anything or anybody if we dont demand and require that from the get go. But remember to get respect is to give respect. And if anyone doesnt like what I had to say on the subject, then your probably one of those disrespectful new generation x y z hell i dont know and neither do you and never will
August 12th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Nikki et al. -
I totally agree with all your points especially the comment about the parents belittling themselves by lowering themselves to the level of the boyfriend/girlfriend participant.
The mom may actually be “slapped” or cursed by the present boyfriend/girlfriend but then for the mom to hit or slap him back is totally outrageous behavior! I was shocked when I saw it. So shocked that there is no way that is real. It would never happen. What son or daughter would ever bring a friend home who would regularly call their mom or dad nasty names?
In one show, the boyfriend was actually stealing the girl’s mom’s panties and wearing them during the day. That was just THE last straw for that show. (I haven’t mentioned the 4 - 6 minutes of commercials I timed that routinely interrupt this brainiac wonder of a show.)
I am only embarrassed to admit that I watched a few episodes but it’s worse now that I have actually taken the time to post and complain about it.
September 25th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
My mom thinks the shit is 100% real, even after I kept trying to explain to her how scripted it is.. for someone who thinks professional wrestling is an all-out fakefest, i’m really surprised at how she takes this show so seriously.