Tallafornia critics 'need perspective'

TV3’s director of programming Ben Frow has accused critics of Tallafornia of a lack of perspective about the programme.

The reality television show, which has just finished its first series, featured the goings-on of four men and three women who share a house in Tallaght.

It has been a ratings winner for TV3, attracting a combined peak audience of more than a half million viewers for the last episode, but it has been criticised for is explicit language and content.

Criticism reached the floor of the Seanad last week when Independent Senator David Norris described it as a “drink-sodden programme where young people are exploited”.

Mr Frow said Mr Norris was not the target audience.

“For crying out loud, it was not made for him. He can watch Vincent Browne,” he responded.

“I’m very happy for some people to disapprove of it, but we need to keep it in perspective. There are a lot of other programmes on TV3. We’re very proud of it that it has punched through. Unlike Fade Street, it has been nothing but a success,” he said.

Mr Norris referred to one incident in the penultimate episode when the four men successfully bet that Phil Penny could steal 19-year-old student Nikita Murray away from an Englishman she had brought back to the house after a night out.

Mr Norris described the episode as “obnoxious” and added: “There was simulated sexual activity, leading, apparently, to full sexual activity. I wonder what values such behaviour inculcates and whether it is appropriate”.

He also wondered what would happen to the people involved if they want to get married in 10 to 20 years from now and what their future children might think of the footage of the programme.

Mr Frow said Ms Murray, who is filmed at one stage doing a lap dance for Mr Penny, has been given “very careful" support and advice. "She’s not a stupid girl. She is smart enough to know what she is doing. She keeps saying she is young and having fun though it is still on television," he said.

“We are very aware of our moral responsibility. When I announced this at the autumn launch, we knew we had to be very protective. There’s a lot that happened that we have not shown. We’ve been very careful in what we show.”

Mr Frow expressed a hope that Ms Murray will be in the next series of the programme which has just been announced. It will be set in the sun and will feature some existing and some new cast members.