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30 Days with Morgan Spurlock

The TVClubHouse: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2005 - 4: 30 Days with Morgan Spurlock users admin

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Sillycalimomma
Member

11-13-2003

Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 12:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Has anyone watched this show? It is from the same guy who did the movie Supersize Me. I find the concept very interesting. My brother went on a "quest" for thirty days,changind his entire lifestyle-similar I guess in a way to this show.

You can check out the site on the show here FX NETWORK SHOW 30 DAYS


Marmosquirm
Member

09-10-2003

Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 2:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I haven't seen it, only heard about it. It sounds like it could be good. I wanna check it out. Actually, a friend of a friend's (well, I know her too, just not very well) ex husband (?), the father of her son anyway, is going to be on this. He's a bouncer from the Bronx: big guy, tattoos, only dates black or Puerto Rican women, (sounds pretty scary really!) I guess he and a woman have to go live on a hippy commune or something like that! Sounds interesting!

Sillycalimomma
Member

11-13-2003

Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 9:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ha! Well, that should be interesting for them! I watched some of it last night and I liked it enough to watch again. I watched the Anti-Aging one and it was nice to see the message "don't go for a quick fix" which I am sure most people know, but forget with all the things that are thrown in our face daily to be better and fast.
The wife drove me a bit crazy during this episode and although they already had three healthy children I never once heard them acknowledge that-just that they would not be happy if they could not have more.
Anyway, i'll be watching again. I think the next one is living as a muslim for 30 days.

Jhezzie
Member

07-05-2001

Saturday, June 25, 2005 - 10:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
This show is great! The first was 30 days on minimum wage. Morgan and his girlfriend started with, IIR, a weeks pay each, and froze all of their credit cards, ATMs, etc. They had to get an apartment, get utilities, get jobs, try not to spend anything if possible. He interviewed people he came across while working as a day laborer. The 30 days did not go great, and by the end, when they see the hole that they are in, even he is surprised by how things can go from rough to bad in a hurry. This episode should be required watching for elected officials.

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 2:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
HOLY HAMBURGER!!!

I just downloaded the first two episodes and I LOVE this show!

When people freaking complain about how awful TV is and how watching it is a waste of time someone should reference this show.

Bravo to the person who came up with the concept.

Yankee_in_ca
Member

08-01-2000

Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 3:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Anyone know if it's on in Canada?

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Sunday, June 26, 2005 - 4:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
YIC: I don't think it is. Not many FX shows get shown here in Canada. You can find it on the Web though.

Jhezzie
Member

07-05-2001

Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 12:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Again, a very interesting 30 days. This time, a white, pork loving, practicing Christian, married with kids guy from W. Virgina(?) agreed to live with a Muslim family in Deerborn, Michigan. He has to go the whole way, including the call to prayer. I love how this show hasn't been aimed at the lowest common denominator. They are very much, mini documentaries, and so far, they let you make up your own mind.

Sillycalimomma
Member

11-13-2003

Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 7:29 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I thought this episode was a great one as well. I know that I had many misconceptions about Islam and the Muslim religion. I liked how Morgans naration was very easy to understand and he put it all in simple words for just about anyone to understand the basics. Didn't like how that guy treated his wife when she had sent him that package and it didn't turn out to be the "care" package he thought it would be. I know that was probably a let down, but he didn't have to be so mean to the poor girl. At least she sent him something~

Max
Member

08-12-2000

Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 7:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Excellent! I love this show!!!

This episode really showed how some organized religions really foster fear of other beliefs. He went in there thinking that the Muslims worshiped a different God and marginalized Jesus. He left seeming to understand that it's all about the SAME God and that Jesus and Mohammed are both emmissaries/prophets proclaiming His word. He worried at first that the strange words and postures were somehow an affront to the God he knows and left seeming to understand that it's a very focused way to pray and humble oneself. He learned first-hand what it is like for people to assume the worst of you simply because of how you look.

Most of all, I hope he learned that there is a LOT more to learn about God and faith than just what is taught in many churches; that there's a common history to Judaism, Christianity, and Muslim religions and that all have the same core beliefs with different interpretations of how to live them.

My hope is that he will continue to learn and question and seek the truth that most resonates in his soul while still understanding and accepting that others follow a different path on thier own spirtual journey.

One of the things that struck me is that he was so put off by the thought of embracing Mohammed as a prophet and emissary of God. I guess he's never realized that much of the New Testament is based on the writings of Paul after Jesus' death. If you really think about it, most of the tenents we follow as Christians are Paul's teachings, not Jesus', although arguably Paul is simply enhancing the things Jesus taught.

Anyway, I think this was a great way to open the conversation about comparative religion.

My recording cut off before the preview of the next show. What's the next topic? This is SUCH a great show!!! :-)

Foxxie314
Member

04-09-2004

Friday, July 01, 2005 - 11:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The next show is about a conservative going to san francisco to live with a very open gay man.

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Saturday, July 02, 2005 - 12:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I saw about the last half, maybe a bit more of this show and thought it was great. I'm going to definitely be watching for next week! I really love that the guy had his mind opened up about religion. We all need to take our blinders off, some of us more than others, at times.

Sanfranjoshfan
Member

09-17-2000

Thursday, July 07, 2005 - 12:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The straight/gay episode was a good one.

All it took was for the straight guy to see gay people from a different perspective (other than as stereotypes) was to meet and befriend a gay man. He had said that he didn't believe that gays should serve in the military....but when the gay guy he was staying with (Ed) asked him if he would feel uncomfortable if he (Ed) was the gay guy in his unit, he thought about it and realized he would be fine with Ed in his unit. When he admitted that, he even commented on the fact that he was contradicting himself and his beliefs.

When this guy had the face of a respected friend put on gay issues, he saw things differently. I hope he realizes that there are millions more gay people like Ed and that gay folks aren't all just a bunch stereotypes as he had always believed. I hope he "got it" it that Ed is typical of most gay men and that he wasn't just the "exception to the rule".

It was also interesting when he got home and his dad asked him what gay guys did for work. I thought he looked a little surprised when his son told him that they held the same kinds of jobs that everybody else did. What an odd question to ask....it's as if he didn't realize that gay folks are just regular people like he is. It also pointed out how he seemed to focus on the differences of gay people and never bothered to consider that are LOTS more similarities than differences!

I thought it was a pretty good show...nothing earth-shattering, but definitely positive and I think the straight guy will see anti-gay prejudice in a different light now.

Putting the face of someone you respect and consider a friend on an issue makes all the difference. It's harder to hate and/or condemn and/or belittle someone that you respect than it is to feel that way about people you've only thought of in abstract terms and/or pictured as a group of cloned stereotypes.

In case you missed this episode, I believe it replays on Friday at midnight and again on Sunday at 11pm.

Sillycalimomma
Member

11-13-2003

Thursday, July 07, 2005 - 7:02 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I haven't watched the new episode yet, but I have it on Tivo and can't wait. I really love this show. I have always said that people are most afraid of what they don't know. AND most people when afraid turn up their defenses. I hope that this show opens some eyes as to how horrible "assuming" and "stereotyping" is. I know that it won't change a thing for most, and lets face it the people who really need to watch this show won't, but Morgan is onto a great things here. Now, lets just hope it doesn't get canceled like everything else I love! (Like Joan of Arcadia!hmphf)

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Thursday, July 07, 2005 - 4:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I loved the show and I have it on to tape it next time since I missed the very beginning. I believe it also runs at 12:00 midnight on Friday.

Josh - It does make ALL the difference in the world to know, love and respect someone who is gay. It changed EVERYTHING for me. I do think they pushed it a bit when they first took him to that bar because there are other gay bars which are not so out there, but it was interesting to see the 2 str8 guys go and take their shirts off and dance when they went back. Ed made a good point about him not doing that if he didn't want to be touched. I've been to ALL KINDS of gay bars, so nothing phases me at all anymore, but there was a time I would have felt uncomfortable. Now most of my friends are gay, so go figure and now mostly, we just hang out at home.... JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE! :-)

The one thing I was waiting to happen was for his "best friend" to "come out" to him while they were there. I really felt that was going to happen, so I guess maybe it was a good surprise that it didn't in a strange way, if you're judging it as a TV show, that is. I would love for him to find out he does indeed have a close friend who is gay. My kids say that all the time about their father who as he's aged, has gotten really closed-minded about almost everything. I just say he should move into the grumpy old men home, but that's another story. LOL I think some of his mindset comes from the long history of some of my relationships w/certain gay folks (read - men!.) Too long of a story for here!

I also have been very involved with gay Christians - that's how I got involved in "rights" demonstrations. I also have friends who live in SF and are not all that thrilled with the MCC because some of them (MCCs) stretch too far to include all kinds of beliefs. I would have liked to see him go to the small church one of my friend's goes to, but I was happy to see him start seeing things differently and actually having more to read at home. I really hope this is a good start to a new look at life for Ryan -- I finally remembered his name!

Jhezzie
Member

07-05-2001

Friday, July 08, 2005 - 11:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Loved this episode too. I hope it sticks with this kid, because I got the feeling that his dad probably 'churched' him back in line. He didn't seem too thrilled.

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 5:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The one thing I was waiting to happen was for his "best friend" to "come out" to him while they were there.

I know! I was thinking the same thing! I bet this experience did more for the best friend than it did for Ryan. Now the best friend can feel a bit more relaxed while hang out with Ryan now that he doesn't have such extremely negative views about being gay.

I hope it sticks with this kid, because I got the feeling that his dad probably 'churched' him back in line.

No kidding! The father was a piece of work. "What kind of jobs do those people have?" he asks near the end of the episode. WTF? What a completely stupid question.

This show made me so sad. I mean, I know some people still have such narrow-minded and absurd views about homosexuality, but I rarely have to witness or hear about it. To see that freaky reverend and his family and their disgusting signs and to see Ryan be so rude and disrespectful, while using his religious beliefs to justify his behavior, created knots in my tummy.

I loved the scenes at the gym--especially when they announced over the speaker that Ryan would be in the steam room in ten minutes. LOL!

Next week's episode--two people living without typical comforts looks a bit lame.

The final episode, "Binge Drinking Mom" looks interesting though.

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Saturday, July 09, 2005 - 11:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I thought the next episode looked a bit lame, too. Why not just send them to live with some Amish people instead of what looks like a commune or something.

To see that freaky reverend and his family and their disgusting signs and to see Ryan be so rude and disrespectful, while using his religious beliefs to justify his behavior, created knots in my tummy.

Oh yeah.. "good ole" Fred Phelps and family. I've had the unfortunate experience of being screamed at by them 2 different times at church conferences. What makes me particularly sick is seeing the little kids with those disgusting signs. I think it's a form a child abuse. The thing is about Phelps is, he's so OUT THERE that he helps in the opposite of what he's trying to do. I can't tell you the number of times people who normally wouldn't have said a thing or didn't believe things like that/them existed, come up to us where we were in prayer vigils and tell us how disgusted they were; apalled their children had to witness what they were saying and showing with their signs. Unfortunately, his family is not the only group out there. They at least stay where their permits allow them to be. Once in Indianapolis, this other group came up behind us in vehicles, screaming obscenities at us. We really didn't know if they were going to stop at that and the Indy police said they were worried about us. For a str8/married mom of 3, I've sure been called a lot of horrible names and been accused of doing a lot of things. This "lovely" Phelps woman was literally screaming at me & my then 16-yr-old daughter asking us if we wanted to see "The hole she dug for us to hell for when we die from AIDS."

I truly don't think the majority of heterosexuals realize just how nasty and terrible it is at times for gay people. I think one of the best experiences in my life was being among a huge group of people where being heterosexual was the minority. It can give you a brief moment of recognition of what gay folks go through every day. The difference is, we heteros can go back to our str8 lives and not have to "deal". The other difference? The gay folks welcome you with open arms and are grateful for your support and really treat you like "one of their own." My heart has been forever changed knowing the wonderful people I have and spending such precious time with them.

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 1:22 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
This "lovely" Phelps woman was literally screaming at me & my then 16-yr-old daughter asking us if we wanted to see "The hole she dug for us to hell for when we die from AIDS."

Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!

Holy freaking frig! I can't believe someone actually said that to you!

Why aren't these people spending their time hunting down people who trade child porn on the Web or people who imprison women and force them to be sex workers or even people who abuse animals? Can't these people recognize, for one second, they are wasting their time and energy?

Does the Bible advocate treating people like this? How dare they!

UGH!

Watching2
Member

07-07-2001

Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 11:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Scorp - That's what I mean about them being so out-there that more people are offended by them. They seem to ignore all the OTHER THINGS the Bible says, but most fanatics do. I didn't think there could be anyone more foul than them, but I've seen two different "church" groups, one in Cleveland and one in Indy, who were worse in what they said even if they didn't have the signs or get the publicity Phelps does. This guy is so wacked he even goes after Jerry Falwell and some really anti-gay groups/churches and calls them those nasty names. This other group from Tennesee, I was truly afraid of - and I was one of the more experienced people there and I had a bunch of folks participating for the first time and I was their group leader and had to calm them down and comfort them, all the while I was shaking inside. Anywone who thinks gay people are not picked on, even though not to this extreme, are deluding themselves. Things may be better in some ways, but I don't think you can go a day "out in the world" without hearing some kind of slander. How many times does one hear "that's so gay?" A lot of people just tune it out since they've heard it so much - when I was a kid it was "retarded" and I didn't think a thing of it, but it bothered my mom because she had a brother with Down Syndrome and people just didn't use words like that in her generation.

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Friday, July 15, 2005 - 6:11 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I just finished watching the "Off the Grid"" episode.

I have one question.

Why is it that they enlisted the most obnoxious people to partake in this "experiment"/series?

I get that following a big personality around with a camera makes for good TV, but good gravy. During every episode (except for the first which feature Morgan and his girlfriend) all these people have made me cringe.

Remember the wife from the anti-aging episode having a cat fight with the personal trainer?

And the guy on the Muslim episode who had a fit because his wife sent him pants instead of a care package?

And don't even get me started about the guy from the gay/straight episode.

And these people from the off grid the episode were unbearable.

But, having said that, I hope they do a second season.

Can't wait for next week to see who ends up with alcohol poisoning first--the binge drinking daughter or her mom.

Jhezzie
Member

07-05-2001

Friday, July 15, 2005 - 9:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Which people, Scorp? The friends from the Bronx or the commune dwellers? I thought they were obnoxious all the way around, lol. I guess I saw more "fear of a different planet" from most of the folks in the other episodes. Not at the commune, though. They all deserved each other, lol. Next week looks bad. How is mom going on a binge going to stop her daughter from partying? Sounds like mom is having an identity crisis.

Cr8ofdata
Member

01-13-2004

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 5:50 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I personally think that every teenager that thinks they know it all and they don't need highschool or college needs to watch the minimum wage show. I have a friend with a daughter who has flunked 8th and 9th grade and thinks if she just drops out of highschool her life would be great and that school is just a waste of time. Well, I have that show on TIVO and I will be having her over to watch it. I think that every highschool should make it a requirement to not only watch the show, but do a class on it! That is my two cents for the day.

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 10:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just finished watching the binge drinking episode.

There's something about the whole family dynamic that doesn't sit well with me.

The impression I got was the mother was more concerned with re-establishing a bond with her daughter by doing this experiment. It seemed like this woman harbors guilt for whatever reason when to her daughter and is fearful of stepping up and being the parent.

It felt like she wanted to share a big part of her daughter's life so they could be equals rather than trying to teach her how bad binge drinking is.

Also, the daughter seemed like a total spoiled brat with the mom walking on egg shells trying not upset her. How can a teenager learn anything when the parent is being way too accomodating?

Call me crazy, but when the mom was talking to the nurse, I couldn't help but get the vibe that the mom felt like she was talking to someone from another planet--that addiction only happened to other people and not her daughter.

Gotta love the daughter. One minute she's practically bragging about blacking out all the time. The next minute she says she drinks responsibly. Riiiight.

I'd be curious to know how many of these college binge drinkers are, after leaving college, able to decrease their drinking as time goes on and how many of them leave college as serious alcoholics.

I'd also love to know where this girl ends up in ten years.

Final thought: I am so sick of people generalizing about teenagers and using broad statements about how horrible teenagers are as a way to make an excuse for their child's bad behavior as this mother did a few times during the show.

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 10:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
P.S: Has anyone checked out the message board at the FX site? (Click on the link in the very first post on this thread.)

I just love how people who have been on this show allegedly come to that message board and complain about bad editing and things being taken out of context. We've heard those excuses so many times from those who end up reality TV that it's absolutely hilarious to read them now.

Jhezzie
Member

07-05-2001

Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 5:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
This was so ridiculous. And, please, with the "bad editing" excuse? How about BAD PARENTING!?!? Of course, when most moms want to help their kids with alcohol/drugs, they don't JOIN THEM! About three quarters of the way through the show, mom said something rather telling about how she didn't really understand the collage partying life because she got married right out of high school. That's all this was! Mom is trying to be twenty and putting her daughter in the roll of BFF. Her kid is telling her stories of how she doesn't always know where she is when she wakes up because she blacked out, and mom's brilliant idea is to drink a whole lot too, because that'll scare her straight! The daughter spent the 30 days rolling her eyes at mom and calling her a lightweight. Yup. Lesson learned there.

Luvmykitties
Member

01-02-2004

Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 7:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I starting watching this show because I liked Mogan's movie, and thought this show had a good premise. Overall I liked it - mostly I liked Morgan's segments within the shows.

I enjoyed the religious and gay episodes. Both guys were pretty strong in their beliefs, but yet were open and respectful to the environment in which they were immersed. The religious guy really sought out to learn as much as possible.

The Bronx friends who went to live on the commune were annoying. The girl got on my last nerve. Especially when she kept bitching about the guy having to have meat - and yet she refused to give up her products and blow-dryer. I was disappointed that they didn't do a follow-up at the end to see if anything changed when they got back home. I doubt they did.

I really didn't like the anti-aging and the drinking episodes because I didn't think they were fair.

With the anti-aging, just the vigorous exercising and eating right probably would have made just as much of an impact without the the injections and supplements. I think it would have been more of a test if he just did the injections and supplements without changing his lifestyle. And then did the exercising and healthy diet without the injections and supplements. THAT would be a truer test.

And for the drinking I agree with all the comments that have already been said regarding the parenting. I can't believe the mom just sat there like nothing when her daughter was talking/bragging about always blacking out. That's crazy! AND, the daughter lived at home - not at the dorm.
As far as the "30 days" - I know I can't drink like I did when I was college age. My body bounced back much quicker and easier then, than it would now. And the mother wasn't much of a drinker to begin with. There's no way she'd be able to come close to keeping up with her daughter. I think she just ended up looking like a fool. I think this was a ridiculous episode.



Willwillbee
Member

09-20-2001

Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 9:57 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
SCORPIOMOON - How/where do you download TV programs off the web??

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Friday, July 22, 2005 - 12:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I was just coming here to ask the same thing to you Scorpio....I can't find any episodes...

Scorpiomoon
Member

06-06-2002

Friday, July 22, 2005 - 2:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The shows I download are in bittorrent form. People record the shows and then put them on the Web.

First you need a program created to help download the shows. Download and install a popular (spyware-free) program called Azereus.

There are many Web sites out there where you can find shows. Do a search at this site, or check out this one (scroll down the page and you'll see a link to the show).

Those two should get you started.

Once you find an episode you want, click on the link and Azereus will open. You will be asked where, on your hard drive, you want the file to be stored and then it will start downloading.

Depending on a few different factors, the download could go fast and you'll have it within minutes, or it could take hours.

Keep in mind, downloading TV shows isn't exactly legal.

E-mail me if you have any other questions.

(Message edited by scorpiomoon on July 22, 2005)