Welcome to another addition of your favorite segment in the world, Big Rig Talk. What a week it has been. A lot going on in the world. Montel Williams, the former talk show host called Donald Trump out on Facebook. Yes, apparently Trump was making another dumb comment about John McCain’s military service. Yes indeed. Not the first time Trump has made a stupid comment.
Despite everything that has happened this week, no other person in the world has been searched more than Caitlyn Jenner. Are you kidding me? Everything happening in the world and everyone is worried about Caitlyn Jenner? The Jenners own reality television, no question. But why is everyone interested in this story?
So you may know, Caitlyn Jenner won an Espy Award for courage. Just a few weeks ago, Caitlyn Jenner came out of the drag closet. The artist formerly known as Bruce Jenner now goes by Caitlyn. The story was covered by Diane Sawyer and has been a buzz in Hollywood for weeks now.
Caitlyn Jenner ESPY Rumours
“Bruce” did give a good speech at the Espy’s but the whirlwind of backlash and rumors have overshadowed such a prestige award. According to reports, Jenner’s agents reached out to ESPN about the award. It was even said that if Jenner didn’t receive the ESPY Award, he would have never did the interview with Caitlyn Jenner.
Now, I give my two cents. First, I do think equality is important. As I said before, Jenner gave a hell of a speech, his writers should be proud. It did take a lot of courage to come out and admit cross-dressing. But he/she is a Jenner and you have to wonder how much of this is for publicity? 80 percent? 90 percent? So what gives?
That’s the great thing about America, this truly is the land of the free. Where else can you be a transgender and be accepted? Especially by the most broadcasted sports network in the world? Some have said the whole transgender appearance is an act, more so to help Bruce earn a few million.
The only fact that we know, America and the world is interested in Caitlyn Jenner. Everyone is talking about it so I thought I’d give my two cents as well. Right ….
ESPY Ratings
A lot of people are outraged over Jenner winning the award. Was ESPN looking for ratings? If so, they got them. Based on Nielsen overnights, the 2015 ESPY Awards averaged 6.0 in meter market ratings from 8-11 PM, up +253% from last year’s telecast on ESPN (1.7), ranking as the highest overnight for the ESPYs on ESPN networks. The show peaked from 10:30-10:45 PM with a 6.9 metered market rating during Caitlyn Jenner’s Arthur Ashe Award acceptance speech.
And to think it all started with a sex tape! Thank you reality television! Television has gave us so much over the decades. There’s been a few reality stars get their start from exposed sex tapes. Want to get famous? Make a sex tape.
I have no issue with Bruce Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner or whom ever he/she is going to be. Here’s my beef, I think others were more deserving for the award. ESPN just gave it away and the sports network has took huge criticism for doing so.
More Deserving?
Sportscaster Bob Costas called the award to Jenner “a crass exploitation play, a tabloid play,” while others lamented that Jenner’s selection pushed out lesser-known, more deserving candidates for the honor. Casting a further shadow on the pick is industry speculation about an alleged deal between the network and Jenner for the Ashe award as a payoff for the exclusive sit-down interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer that aired in April and drew huge ratings.
One possible candidate for the Ashe honor who was passed over in favor of Jenner was Lauren Hill. The 19-year-old freshman from Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati battled an inoperable brain tumor to achieve her dream of playing college basketball, while also helping to raise money for cancer research. She died in April.
It appears money and knowing the right people can get you anything, even an award in sports when you haven’t been an athlete or associated to sports in 4 decades. Rather than celebrating Hill’s life or many other deserving candidates, we’re celebrating a man’s transition to a woman, one that he’s been wanting to make for years. Yes, Caitlyn Jenner has it all. A television show, more than enough money. Courage? To an extent, but many others were more deserving. This could have been their platform. Instead, Jenner uses yet another platform to fill her pockets. Just doesn’t seem right.
