Susan Aikens, who stars in the reality television show "Life Below Zero," has sued the series producers, alleging she was injured while being forced to film dangerous scenes for fictitious narratives.
Aikens' grievances largely center on a producer who she alleges was verbally abusive and intimidated her and other crew members.
The producer demanded Aikens drive her snowmachine into overflow, according to a civil complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Anchorage. She was badly hurt in a crash and then made to wait for medical treatment so desirable footage could be captured, the complaint says.
The 32-page lawsuit lists multiple defendants including the BBC and three of its subsidiaries, producer Aaron Mellman, and unnamed crew members. It alleges the defendants breached a contract, interfered with Aikens' business and intentionally caused her emotional distress.
Years ago my daughter, who worked on some of these shows, clued me into to just how fake they all are.
In her words literally EVERYTHING that happens is scripted, including fights, love affairs, and yes dangerous incidents.
I think this lawsuit is great in that perhaps it will pull back the veil and allowing potential viewers see that it's all bullshit.
Sooo… besides fake news, we get fake adventure!
ReplyDeleteI've long maintained that reality television has played a major part in the dumbing down of America. I hope she wins her case.
ReplyDeleteI hope she wins her case.
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I don’t !!!
No one forced her on this program, as far as I am concerned it was ok with her while she was making money. She could have quit. Getting hurt is one of the risks you take with a fake program and fake script. Probable don’t use unions either.
Really 9:18? that's the bullshit line all retired, or living off their spouse or rich idiots use whenever people who need to work to live complain about working conditions. No, you can't just quit if you've relocated, if you have a mortgage, bills, like to eat or, before the ACA if you or your family NEED health coverage.
Deleteshe must have done okay before the show, so yes, I'm sure she could have quit. or....said no, perhaps? If she knew it was dangerous, why did she do it? plus this occurred almost 2 years ago.
Delete@ 9:18 Get real
DeleteShe was doing a REALITY TV show, not brain surgery!!!!
This show contributes absolutely NOTHING to society; the fact that they lie and it is all scripted makes it even worse.
Reality TV is what all the smucks that want fame and fortune without any skills do, they all want to get rich in 15 mins by acting like morons in front a camera.
The very first "reality TV" (in the 1950s), it can be argued, proves your point. Now the show itself was the then-common anthology drama genre, but its sponsor's commercials featured the real home life of the host and his wife Nancy, and the marvels of their newest home appliances (I don't recall if there was a toaster in the bedroom).
DeleteThe show? General Electric Theater. Its host? You know who the host was. And he was the world's first reality TV star.
Author Marilyn French observed in "Beyond Power," "Television is one long lie. Content and ads exist to sell the same thing: an idea. 'Life is swell in America. If yours isn't, it will be if you buy X.'"
ReplyDeleteIn '99, while multi-state traveling, I caught an episode of the first round of "Big Brother." That's all I needed to know 'reality' TV wasn't for me. Since "Mad Men" left the air in mid-15, I've had no appointment TV at all.
These days, we can buy movie theater-size screens, and there ain't goddamn thing worth watching.
What is a snowmachine?
ReplyDeleteAlaskan word speak for-
DeleteSnowmobile
Or another word for Track Palin, as in "Tawd had a snowmachine accident".
DeleteA snowmachine is something used at ski resorts to make snow for people to ski on. A snowmobile is a mobile (motorized sled, in this case) that rides on the snow.
DeleteI feel bad for this unreal lifestyle to some.
ReplyDeleteIt is tragic and shameful what has happened to communication, journalism and education.
FAKE shows? FAKE news? FAKE elections? Liars and rapist in white house? Really? And so.
May the Earth shake this evil to its soul and the Sea wash it to its fate.
It's hard to believe anyone falls for all that ham acting. Don't the dipshits realize that if the cameras are there then the action isn't spontaneous or scary and therefore not real?
ReplyDeleteSusan Aikens is one of the worst offenders in the "I'm a rill Alaskan and I'm so tough, Alaska's so dangerous, watch me risk my life every day, and bears too" garbage stakes.
TV? Who even watches that chit anymore?
DeleteMy friend worked for Supernanny. Its all scripted, staged and faked. All of it.
ReplyDeleteAmerica is one big fake reality show
ReplyDeletehttp://lnr.politicususa.com/the-dumbing-down-of-the-presidency-2169/
ReplyDelete"Looking and acting “like a president” doesn’t cut it. You do not role-play the president."
I knew reality shows were fake when I discovered most bachelorette son the bachelorette weren't single in real life. Real life is not interesting.
ReplyDeleteThose that swallow "reality" TV also think wrestling is real.
ReplyDeleteReality TV is just a way for them to do CHEAP TV.
At least when you're watching NCIS or Elementary you know it's not real. Plus you can appreciate that the quality scripts were produced by writers who are being paid and actors who are masters of their craft and are also getting paid.
For me, reality TV is the equivalent of what is happening in the rest of the nation, with companies wanting something for nothing; avoiding paying minimum wage, violating hours of employment, avoiding paying for healthcare, big profits from selling low quality crap for a YUUUGE mark-up.
I don't watch reality TV.
Except for the Puppybowl. But I know that's staged too.
Follow the $$
ReplyDeleteYet this story has been picked up by APRN. Who is Susan Aikens (so?) anyway?
ReplyDeleteI lived in an area where many House Hunter International episodes are filmed. Houses are 'bought' that are already purchased, friends allowed their houses to be on the looking list and not even for sale, 'buyers' were chosen for their camera reflection and many 'bought' houses inwhich they did not.
ReplyDeleteYeah, those that fall into 'reality' TV do not understand entertainment shows and hence *sigh* thought Cheeto was meaning what he was saying vs understanding the keys to f#%^-ing with reality.
Regardless, just because she signed up for the show doesn't or shouldn't out her life in any more danger. A broken collar bone and needed up shoulder can be life threatening if the broken bone hits the lung. She was injured while filming and should be compensated for loss of revenue, product and for pain and suffering.
ReplyDeleteAgree
DeleteI knew they were fake. There's certain things that cant b put on TV and ofcourse they have to make it look good. Well that sux cuz u r the reason I watch the show.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that. First the bear and then this. These people need to realize that the only thing u got is u and your wilderness. Something goes wrong who is gonna take care of u???!!! They don't care about u. They just wanted your story to make people watch the show. U r the only reason y I watch the show. U r my favorite. I love your attitude. Don't let anyone change that!!! Take care and if u ever want some company hit me up!!!!
ReplyDelete