When TV turns sour: the shows we simply can’t stomach any more

They were once the hottest shows on television – gripping, sexy, hilarious, zeitgeisty.

But for our writers, the likes of America’s Next Top Model, House of Cards and The Office are now part of their viewing history they feel tainted by When I think of the summer holidays when I was a teenager, I think of watching America’s Next Top Model for hours on end, critiquing each contestant with my sister.

The makeover episode was always my favourite: girls sobbing as their hair was cropped short, or even shaved off.

At the time, Tyra Banks seemed like a big sister, giving the contestants the tough love they’d need to succeed in a ferociously competitive industry.

Now I feel differently.

I hadn’t watched America’s Next Top Model since I was young, but like many, I recently watched Netflix’s excellent series , Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model.

It was the strangest sensation, rewatching episodes I hadn’t seen in more than two decades.

At times I felt almost teleported back.

How could I not find these scenes of models collapsing with hunger utterly abhorrent? I wondered what influence watching a show that celebrated eating disorders had on my own brain.

I think it had an impact.

I think the residual taint of it is still there.

I can’t watch America’s Next Top Model any more, nor do I want to.

Ironically, it’s all too ugly.

Sirin Kale Continue reading...