2014 brought some really bad television into the world. The reality TV genre continued its uptick (and downward spiral) of silly, mindless content featuring all women, all the time. But the worst of the bunch combined vapidity with offensive stereotypes about gender and race.
Introducing "Girlfriend Intervention."
Because "wrapped inside of every white girl is a strong black woman ready to bust out." No, really. That's what the show says.
Every week, four sassy, animated black women become smart, advice-giving girlfraaans and give a life makeover to a grateful but clueless white woman.
"Each week, we take a BW, a Basic Woman, and turn her from a red, hot mess into a bootylicious babe!
Where do I begin?
In this show, the "basic woman" is typically a plain-Jane or stereotypically frumpy white woman who, we assume, really, really wants to be a bootylicious babe. And we know that ALL black women are bootylicious because all black women have big booties, amirite?
"As a black woman, we are taught to always look your best. Even though hell could be happening behind closed doors, honey, as long as you look fabulous, that is all that matters."
Yes. Because focusing on your physical appearance instead of your mental and emotional health and keeping a cone of silence around your real-life struggles and hardships is a really smart idea and absolutely doesn't lead to increased rates of hypertension, depression, and suicide. Right? Ooookay.
But it gets worse.
There is rapping. And the black wearing of headphones. (I don't know what that means but it actually happens here.)
Comics Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson were so inspired by the show, they decided to give it a try with some man-on-the-street-style interventions. Make sure to check out the hilarious and puzzling results.