Worldly Chatter

It is rare when the Dutch make international news but when they do, it’s because they do something outrageous and controversial. How about a reality show where there is a dying woman who wants to donate a kidney before she dies and three contestants sit in anticipation as to who will live a long and healthy life with her kidney; that’s pretty out there don’t you think? Lisa, 37, was dying from an inoperable brain tumor and had roughly 6 months to live. She does have an organ donor card so when she dies her organs will be used but she wants to do it while she is alive; her kidney. Based on histories, stories and conversations she has three people to choose from out of 25 she originally started with but eliminated for a variety of reasons. Now just like any reality show just as Idols or Dancing with the Stars, you call in or text your vote to see who will win! People actually sms’d or called to vote for one of the three based on the stories they were hearing.

Dutchie and I sat watching this show completely stunned! For one, how can anyone call and vote in for someone to receive a kidney while the rest remain waiting and possibly die? Dutchie and I couldn’t even fathom picking up the phone! This isn’t who sings the best you know! Each person gave reasons for their need of her kidney, they all had videos, friends and family pushing for their chance to win. Were they really going to have a winner for a live organ!? Oh how we all sat at the edge of our seat! What to think if they do? Have the Dutch gone too far? Politicians were trying to find a way to pull the show, publicly expressing their disgust and outrage. News agencies all over the world had the story that this would air on Friday and how the Dutch were taking reality TV too far. This was outrageous! Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende condemned the show just hours before airing while camera crews from all over the world were setting up in the studio in Hilversum to catch reactions.

Now during the show they had information for viewers to become organ donors; you could call or sms for free to get the organ donor form or go on line at bnn.nl to download the form to send out. They were pleading with people to become donors. There is a serious shortage of donors in the Netherlands. Never mind any reason you can possibly come up with, if there weren’t a shortage they wouldn’t be doing this so please become a donor. All right, I will download the form and become a donor. Dutchie has been a donor since she got out of school.

Then it happened. The end of the show. She already has said no to one woman, now all that remains is one man and one woman and all phone lines are closed. Holy cow is she really going to make a decision! Dutchie and I are at the edge of our seat! Then the host calls for a time out! A time out, what the? It was all a hoax! There is no way that they would seriously choose one person for a kidney! The whole thing was put together for you to watch a reality show and get your attention! Please become a donor, more and more people aren’t registering to become donors and more people die because of it. Please become a donor.

Dutchie and I sat there shocked. I was iffy about the whole thing from the get go, it really sounded outrageous to me. Yet they had a point to make. People have become obsessed with reality TV; they call and vote in for their favorite soon to be star for the year. So why not get a serious issue out there for all the people in front of the boob tube. If they want reality, if they want to vote why not get the donor shortage out there and get the attention of all those boob tube watchers.

It worked. In that one night they had 12,000 people register to become organ donors in one night. Incredible I should say! Moreover, when asked by CNN if their credibility has been ruined, they didn’t care. When asked if Balkenende doesn’t like the show or its outcome, all he said was ‘too bad’.

It is such a Dutch thing to say. Too bad. If you don’t like something they do, too bad. Brilliant I say! It got the world’s attention, it got the donor shortage problem out there and hopefully people will take their outrage and shock and actually do something about it. Producer of the show who was interviewed via phone for CNN said they did not care about credibility, they wanted the problem out in the open. BNN founder Bart de Graaff died of kidney failure and producers feel this is something he would have wanted. Leave it to the Dutch to shock you. Positively brilliant I say!

organ donor, de grote donor show, the big donor show, Bart de Graaff, Kidney donor, worldly chatter, Dutch reality TV, BNN