More Scripted "Documentary?"

An interesting discussion has broken out on the F/X message boards for Spurlock's show 30 Days. A woman claiming to be "Jessica," the partying ASU student featured in the 30 Days binge drinking episode is protesting the way the show was scripted. Keep in mind, this is a web-based message board, so it's difficult to know if the people who posted these messages are who they claim to be. But if so, the idea that these programs are scripted with predtermined outcomes would keep with Spurlock's habit of pushing a political posturing as "documentary."

"Jessica" first writes:

I just want everyone to know who watched the binge drinking episode that it was totally fake and scripted. I was "Jessica" the binge drinking college student who was portrayed as the biggest brat ever. Basically I was told how to act and what to say by the producers and was actually shocked to see how they manipulated my words around. I am not a big drinker so when I refused to get drunk in front of the camera they took it upon themselves to make it seem like like I was an out of control college student witha bad attitude. For all of you people out there who have written mean things about me, I don't blame you at all! If I were to watch this and see a teenage girl acting like a total bitch to her mom, I would think the same thing that the majority of people are probably thinking. Just to set the record straight as to who I am.

Right after, comes this message:

I am Jessica's professor at ASU and I just want to say that Jessica is one of the brightest, most talented girls I have ever met. She is a hard worker and will go far in life. This is a reality TV show. If you are honestly making judgments based on a show intended to make people look bad, then you must not be too bright yourself.

Then, this one from "Michiel," the name of Jessica's mom in the show:

Jessica is right. They made me look like an awful parent and Jessica look like a bitch. Jessica has been paying all of our bills an dliving on her own for two years now. I have never had to fork out a dime for her college because she excells in school and has a full-ride scholarship. It is ridiculous that the producers of the show made her look like a fool. The show was supposed to be about the harmful effects that alcohol can do to the body, but they manipulated the whole thing around to show an out of control college student who drinks too much. All of the meaningful areas of the show were edited out so they could make my daughter and I look like idiots. I am very disappointed!

If the posters are who they claim to be (and it's certainly possible that they aren't), this would confirm Debbie Schlussel's charge in the Wall Street Journal that while positioning itself as a "fish out of water" documentary, the show is actually tightly controlled and scripted, with clean lessons drawn from each episode.

If anyone knows how I can get in touch with Jessica or her mother, drop me a line. I'd be interested in speaking with either of them in person.

Comments

[John H.]

Well, Radley, I'd imagine the first step to getting in touch with them is to contact any professors that might be at the college. Were any featured in the show? I've only seen parts of that episode, so I wouldn't know. I'm sure they'd be happy to point you in the right direction, what with your creds and all.

[Todd Grimson]

I once published a short story in Between C&D (a literary magazine in Manhattan edited by Catherine Texier and Joel Rose) about a rich young guy who traveled around trying to see what he could get people to do for money. How much did it take for a hetero male to allow himself to be sodomized, or get him to perform fellatio, or how much did it cost to get someone to have a little finger amputated.

Did I have eating feces in there? I think so, but Divine ate poodle poop in John Waters' notorious film "Pink Flamingos." Nothing new there. That's a very well known scene.

I hold Morgan Spurlock and his ilk in contempt. As a human being. Because I don't believe it's good to take advantage of people's weakness in this way.

[rob]

The FX website mentions names. Nacke is the (step)mother's last name. There is only one Nacke (Carter, which appears to be one of the sons) in the current ASU student directory, but during the summer semester she made not be listed as an active student.

Here is a story that confirms Jessica's last name is Nacke:

http://insider.tv.yahoo.com/celeb/insdr20050708t142000002648/

Also from the FX website, the mother's name is Michiel and lives in Tempe, and the husband's name is Dave. google reports back David's directory listing (not copy/pasting, deliberately)

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=+nacke+tempe+arizona&btnG=Search

I don't moonlight as a stalker, I just have to research a lot on the net.

[Chalicechick]

Now that could very well be the real Jessica, but I am skeptical that the second bit was written by a real professor. I don't know. Something about the feel of the language.

CC

[trickle]

While you can't prove who is who on those message boards, the people who were on "30 days" have posted there in the past, namely "Vito" who provided a website address that he set up specifically for agents to get in contact with him.

"Jessica's" originally message sound authentic, although if you can get in contact with her somehow that would be great.

[Westy]

CC - remember, its an ASU professor we are talking about here. That might have something to do with your feeling that it doesn't sound like its from a real professor.

[omit]

The mother (Michiel) herself responds on the Spurlock blog.

[Amber]

I don't know, from reading that I am pretty doubtful that these people really are who they say they are. (And no, not just because of the misspellings and grammatical errors... though that doesn't help.) Why should we jump to conclusions about people posting on a message board any more than we should about the reality of Spurlock's show?

[Rann]

>>And no, not just because of the misspellings and grammatical errors... though that doesn't help.<<

Kinda curious why you think that. I mean, just because someone's been featured on television doesn't automatically give them great internet communications skills. I mean, my father is a highly accomplished college graduate, history major, been in the business world for decades, and he can't use punctuation or the shift key to save his life when he's writing personal email.

[Joe Blow]

If you're trying to make the case to the American public that some ASU student is not a lush, you're fighting and uphill battle. Go read where ASU ranks in the Playboy party school ratings.

[Treehugger]

Thank *god* for Morgan--the man is one of my heroes. He is lancing some of the stinking, festering abscesses that linger just beneath our "God Bless America" and "United We Stand" facade (gag).

It ain't pretty--it ain't pretty at all--but we have to squeeze the pus out before we can move forward. Of course his shows are somewhat pointed. We're not talking about eating Madagascaran hissing roaches or fried javelina eyes. Rather, we're talking about seeing life from the eyes of the "other". I know, I know, the whole tolerance/different world view thing can be a bit hard to grasp. Hell, I'll admit that I have trouble with it myself sometimes.

Anyway, just thought I'd give my $.02.

Oh yeah, god, I almost forgot--did I mention that I happen be an ASU alumna and grad. student? I do appreciate your enlightening everyone with your "knowledge" of my campus. Judging by your detailed description, it sounds like you know it quite well. Did you actually drive by it once?

Ah yes, yes, the party school thing. Right again! Playboy's Top 10 Party School rating system has been good to us over the years. It even looks like we've climbed back into the #1 spot for 2006--more power to us. I mean that dude who spent a year at the bars and frat houses of ASU certainly got a well-rounded view of campus life. Sadly I guess I'm just missing out--most of my friends are too busy studying for genetics exams or writing theses and dissertations to be lushes.

Feel free to visit just a few of the links about my alma mater. After doing so, by all means, go back to stroking one another--keeps you occupied, content, and allows our ilk to slither about more freely.

http://wpcarey.asu.edu/ecn/
http://www.asu.edu/uoia/pubs/quickfacts/Quick_Facts_Fall_2005.pdf
http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200510/20051012_nanotech.htm
http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200509/20050923_spinalcord.htm
http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200509/20050929_nobel.htm
http://www.asu.edu/ia/photogallery/tillman/1.htm
http://www.asu.edu/news/stories/200510/20051013_THEMISwebsite.htm

[Grammar Nazi]

Professors can punctuate a compound sentence.

[Jessica]

anyone still reading these??

[chris]

I think I am missing something here. Is the argument that binge drinking isnt bad for you then? I mean even if their pick didnt pan out lets say your right, scripted etc. You dont actually believe this never happens right?

[watch friends online]

this is so good.