One episode of Extinct (ITV1 – Dec 06) was enough for me. Whilst I could not fault the subject matter, the treatment was horrendous. Yes, we all want to save the mountain gorilla or Asian elephant, and the concept of getting the general public involved was admirable. The problem was the way they did it.
Extinct was, in effect, a reality show, where people voted for the animal they most wanted to save. Glossy and brimming with celebrities, the whole concept made a mockery of the cause.
Animals are at risk because people have been moved into their habitats as Third World countries modernise to meet western demands for trivial products. At the head of the trivia infested west is the reality show. Hence, the concept used to help the animals is part of the problem that is killing them in the first place.
With a trivial-based mind-set, the programme will, of course, do nothing in the long run. Subjects that are packaged as a trivia treat do not last. Rather, people will vote a few times, their proceeds going to the cause, then turn off the telly and turn off the mind to the problem, safe in the knowledge that they think they’ve done something.
© Anthony North, December 2006
