Some good publicity just when we need it

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This Newsweek article is a very positive look at all of the Mormons who have competed in the reality TV shows recently. I have never seen any of these shows, so this was a huge eye-opener for me. I’ve seen several posts in the Bloggernacle discussing various shows, but I had no idea of the amount of Mormons out there in the various shows. As far away from Utah as I am, I also had no idea that people were actively organizing and rooting for Mormon candidates and that Family Home Evenings were spent watching these shows.

These types of articles are great positive publicity for the Church, especially now when we are once again fighting the PR battle.

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About Geoff B.

Geoff B graduated from Stanford University (class of 1985) and worked in journalism for several years until about 1992, when he took up his second career in telecommunications sales. He has held many callings in the Church, but his favorite calling is father and husband. Geoff is active in martial arts and loves hiking and skiing. Geoff has five children and lives in Colorado.

12 thoughts on “Some good publicity just when we need it”

  1. I apologize if this post sounds strange — “I’ve never seen any of these shows.” The truth is I watch almost no TV, although I do watch a lot of movies, so I am probably in front of the tube just as much as the next guy.

  2. Interesting that the article suggests Family Home Evening influences the voting on reality shows.

    I have a hard time really believing that the Mormon demographic is that influential in the voting.

  3. You know, Geoff, ever since the writer’s strike, I have not watched that much TV either. I’m actually glad there was a strike since it prompted me to minimize the TV I watch.

    I am aware of the LDS members on American Idol, but other than that, I was not aware of other LDS reality TV stars.

  4. “These types of articles are great positive publicity for the Church,”

    I’m not so sure. The story about the BYU student who got kicked out was not particularly flattering to the church.

  5. My sister is the author of the article. Thanks for the link and discussion.

  6. I actually found the article rather condescending. While it was probably well-intentioned, I find the the whole “look! Mormons are normal, too, because they [fill in the blank here]” to be rather patronizing.

  7. BYU suspended Julie Stoffer for being on Real World? Really? I don’t recall that. At most universities dorms and the like are mixed sex. So if you spend a summer somewhere else you almost certainly will be in mixed company.

    Now Julie Stoffer, in my opinion, was not a positive model for the Church. I think the producers picked someone who was pretty clueless so they could put her next to someone gay and then shake her up. It would have been nice to have someone more grounded in that situation. Plus, let’s be honest, she was pretty annoying on Real World and Road Rules and so forth. (I don’t like those shows although my wife likes them)

  8. The LDS girl that was on Survivor a few years ago was annoying, but the gay Mormon that was on more recently was pleasantly normal. I haven’t seen any of the other reality shows, do these other people come off as likable?

  10. This whole thing uncomfortably reminds of me of the 60’s when one would spot a token minority on TV. Then after awhile every show had to have “one”. Apparently we are some kind of “token”.

  11. They need to remake “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” with a Mormon guy marrying a secular girl with hippie parents. Then we’ll start breaking through the “token” barrier. Where is our Mormon Rosa Parks?

  12. Good idea Geoff B.

    How about David Archuleta meets Miley Cyrus? You would think that Harry Reid would get us to the front of the bus.

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