Dutch relieved but ruffled by kidney hoax
By Perro de Jong
Radio Netherlands Worldwide
The show ignited debate across Europe and beyond
It became the most controversial Dutch TV programme ever, and a talking point from Brussels to Berlin.
Could BNN's Big Donor Show really be as "crazy" and "unethical" as it was cracked up to be?
Broadcaster BNN kept its cards close to its chest, and during the programme's final moments it became clear why.
Lisa, the terminally ill woman who was giving away her kidney as a grand prize, turned out to be Leonie, an actress.
Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende, for one, must have heaved a sigh of relief.
Making a statement
Broadcaster BNN does have a reputation to uphold. Not for the kind of ruthless commercialism that has been the breeding ground of reality TV, but for provocation and guerrilla tactics.
That was what its founder, Bart de Graaff, was famous for. And the Big Donor Show was nothing if not a memorial to Bart, who died from the effects of kidney failure at the age of 35 in May 2002.
Before the show went on air, details were kept suspiciously vague.
The 'contestants' were all in on the Donor Show hoax
Who were the contestants? Would any hospital agree to perform the surgery? When was the transplant to take place?
All BNN chairman Laurens Drillich was prepared to disclose was that the three contestants knew what they were doing, and were involved not just because of the kidney but because they wanted to make a statement.
A statement about long waiting lists, falling numbers of donors and the Dutch government's failure to tackle the issue.
The programme began, not with the contestants, but with the prospective donor.
As "Lisa" walked out into the bright studio lights, the audience rose to its feet and applauded "the heroine of the evening". Sharp, intelligent and perhaps a bit cool, is how she came across to this viewer.
The three contestants, on the other hand, were nervous, emotional and well versed in the cliches of reality television.
"How are you going to beat the other two?" presenter Patrick Lodiers wanted to know.
"By just being myself," two of the three answered.
Three slices of life. Three people eager to show that their lives were worth living, yet could be so much better if they no longer had to go through dialysis.
Getting to know them through a montage of photographs, bits of video and testimonials by friends and relatives was hardly cutting edge television, but to be fair on BNN it was nothing like a freak show either.
Touched a nerve
In the end, it was the most vulnerable of the three who made the biggest impression.
Twenty-nine-year-old Charlotte talked about the fact that she cannot even drink more than a pint of liquid per day, because that is all her body can handle.
Many Dutch vowed not to watch the controversial show
It must have touched a nerve with viewers, who had been encouraged to send text messages to help the donor decide.
Some 38% of those text messages were votes for Charlotte. However, just as "Lisa" started to announce who she was going to give her kidney to, the presenter intervened.
In the days before the broadcast, emotions had run higher and higher. According to a survey, 75% of Dutch television viewers were determined not to watch.
Most of them because they disapproved of the programme, although surprisingly few thought the government should put a stop to it.
On Friday, Prime Minister Balkenende joined the fray, saying he "regretted" the damage to the Netherlands' image abroad that the Big Donor Show was undoubtedly causing.
Laughter from grave
Less stern critics suggested meanwhile that if BNN's purpose was to draw attention to the plight of kidney patients, that goal had been achieved and the broadcaster could safely agree to cancel the programme.
No one speculated it might be a hoax. Least of all the dozens of journalists and camera crews, who had come to the studio in Aalsmeer from all over the world to see with their own eyes how unethical and strange a place the Netherlands had become.
It was something they were obviously only too willing to believe.
So who has the last laugh?
The three contestants, who were not actors and who had been involved for the best part of a year while still remaining on a waiting list?
Broadcaster BNN, which defied its critics until the last and is now receiving widespread praise for raising awareness?
Or perhaps it was Bart de Graaff himself, whose taunting laughter rang out posthumously, on a recording, before the credits rolled and everyone was left stunned.
Dutch relieved but ruffled by kidney hoax
By Perro de Jong
Radio Netherlands Worldwide
The show ignited debate across Europe and beyond
It became the most controversial Dutch TV programme ever, and a talking point from Brussels to Berlin.
Could BNN's Big Donor Show really be as "crazy" and "unethical" as it was cracked up to be?
Broadcaster BNN kept its cards close to its chest, and during the programme's final moments it became clear why.
Lisa, the terminally ill woman who was giving away her kidney as a grand prize, turned out to be Leonie, an actress.
Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende, for one, must have heaved a sigh of relief.
Making a statement
Broadcaster BNN does have a reputation to uphold. Not for the kind of ruthless commercialism that has been the breeding ground of reality TV, but for provocation and guerrilla tactics.
That was what its founder, Bart de Graaff, was famous for. And the Big Donor Show was nothing if not a memorial to Bart, who died from the effects of kidney failure at the age of 35 in May 2002.
Before the show went on air, details were kept suspiciously vague.
The 'contestants' were all in on the Donor Show hoax
Who were the contestants? Would any hospital agree to perform the surgery? When was the transplant to take place?
All BNN chairman Laurens Drillich was prepared to disclose was that the three contestants knew what they were doing, and were involved not just because of the kidney but because they wanted to make a statement.
A statement about long waiting lists, falling numbers of donors and the Dutch government's failure to tackle the issue.
The programme began, not with the contestants, but with the prospective donor.
As "Lisa" walked out into the bright studio lights, the audience rose to its feet and applauded "the heroine of the evening". Sharp, intelligent and perhaps a bit cool, is how she came across to this viewer.
The three contestants, on the other hand, were nervous, emotional and well versed in the cliches of reality television.
"How are you going to beat the other two?" presenter Patrick Lodiers wanted to know.
"By just being myself," two of the three answered.
Three slices of life. Three people eager to show that their lives were worth living, yet could be so much better if they no longer had to go through dialysis.
Getting to know them through a montage of photographs, bits of video and testimonials by friends and relatives was hardly cutting edge television, but to be fair on BNN it was nothing like a freak show either.
Touched a nerve
In the end, it was the most vulnerable of the three who made the biggest impression.
Twenty-nine-year-old Charlotte talked about the fact that she cannot even drink more than a pint of liquid per day, because that is all her body can handle.
Many Dutch vowed not to watch the controversial show
It must have touched a nerve with viewers, who had been encouraged to send text messages to help the donor decide.
Some 38% of those text messages were votes for Charlotte. However, just as "Lisa" started to announce who she was going to give her kidney to, the presenter intervened.
In the days before the broadcast, emotions had run higher and higher. According to a survey, 75% of Dutch television viewers were determined not to watch.
Most of them because they disapproved of the programme, although surprisingly few thought the government should put a stop to it.
On Friday, Prime Minister Balkenende joined the fray, saying he "regretted" the damage to the Netherlands' image abroad that the Big Donor Show was undoubtedly causing.
Laughter from grave
Less stern critics suggested meanwhile that if BNN's purpose was to draw attention to the plight of kidney patients, that goal had been achieved and the broadcaster could safely agree to cancel the programme.
No one speculated it might be a hoax. Least of all the dozens of journalists and camera crews, who had come to the studio in Aalsmeer from all over the world to see with their own eyes how unethical and strange a place the Netherlands had become.
It was something they were obviously only too willing to believe.
So who has the last laugh?
The three contestants, who were not actors and who had been involved for the best part of a year while still remaining on a waiting list?
Broadcaster BNN, which defied its critics until the last and is now receiving widespread praise for raising awareness?
Or perhaps it was Bart de Graaff himself, whose taunting laughter rang out posthumously, on a recording, before the credits rolled and everyone was left stunned.
Dutch relieved but ruffled by kidney hoax
By Perro de Jong
Radio Netherlands Worldwide
The show ignited debate across Europe and beyond
It became the most controversial Dutch TV programme ever, and a talking point from Brussels to Berlin.
Could BNN's Big Donor Show really be as "crazy" and "unethical" as it was cracked up to be?
Broadcaster BNN kept its cards close to its chest, and during the programme's final moments it became clear why.
Lisa, the terminally ill woman who was giving away her kidney as a grand prize, turned out to be Leonie, an actress.
Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende, for one, must have heaved a sigh of relief.
Making a statement
Broadcaster BNN does have a reputation to uphold. Not for the kind of ruthless commercialism that has been the breeding ground of reality TV, but for provocation and guerrilla tactics.
That was what its founder, Bart de Graaff, was famous for. And the Big Donor Show was nothing if not a memorial to Bart, who died from the effects of kidney failure at the age of 35 in May 2002.
Before the show went on air, details were kept suspiciously vague.
The 'contestants' were all in on the Donor Show hoax
Who were the contestants? Would any hospital agree to perform the surgery? When was the transplant to take place?
All BNN chairman Laurens Drillich was prepared to disclose was that the three contestants knew what they were doing, and were involved not just because of the kidney but because they wanted to make a statement.
A statement about long waiting lists, falling numbers of donors and the Dutch government's failure to tackle the issue.
The programme began, not with the contestants, but with the prospective donor.
As "Lisa" walked out into the bright studio lights, the audience rose to its feet and applauded "the heroine of the evening". Sharp, intelligent and perhaps a bit cool, is how she came across to this viewer.
The three contestants, on the other hand, were nervous, emotional and well versed in the cliches of reality television.
"How are you going to beat the other two?" presenter Patrick Lodiers wanted to know.
"By just being myself," two of the three answered.
Three slices of life. Three people eager to show that their lives were worth living, yet could be so much better if they no longer had to go through dialysis.
Getting to know them through a montage of photographs, bits of video and testimonials by friends and relatives was hardly cutting edge television, but to be fair on BNN it was nothing like a freak show either.
Touched a nerve
In the end, it was the most vulnerable of the three who made the biggest impression.
Twenty-nine-year-old Charlotte talked about the fact that she cannot even drink more than a pint of liquid per day, because that is all her body can handle.
Many Dutch vowed not to watch the controversial show
It must have touched a nerve with viewers, who had been encouraged to send text messages to help the donor decide.
Some 38% of those text messages were votes for Charlotte. However, just as "Lisa" started to announce who she was going to give her kidney to, the presenter intervened.
In the days before the broadcast, emotions had run higher and higher. According to a survey, 75% of Dutch television viewers were determined not to watch.
Most of them because they disapproved of the programme, although surprisingly few thought the government should put a stop to it.
On Friday, Prime Minister Balkenende joined the fray, saying he "regretted" the damage to the Netherlands' image abroad that the Big Donor Show was undoubtedly causing.
Laughter from grave
Less stern critics suggested meanwhile that if BNN's purpose was to draw attention to the plight of kidney patients, that goal had been achieved and the broadcaster could safely agree to cancel the programme.
No one speculated it might be a hoax. Least of all the dozens of journalists and camera crews, who had come to the studio in Aalsmeer from all over the world to see with their own eyes how unethical and strange a place the Netherlands had become.
It was something they were obviously only too willing to believe.
So who has the last laugh?
The three contestants, who were not actors and who had been involved for the best part of a year while still remaining on a waiting list?
Broadcaster BNN, which defied its critics until the last and is now receiving widespread praise for raising awareness?
Or perhaps it was Bart de Graaff himself, whose taunting laughter rang out posthumously, on a recording, before the credits rolled and everyone was left stunned.
that show was fucking sick
No it wasn't, the three contesters were though;) Seriously, right now in the Netherlands AND obviously the rest of the world it seems the only way to get everyones attention. it ended in 50.000 new donors. I wouldn't call that sick! On the other hand, it would have been a lot more "pleasant" if people wouldn't have the need for extreme tv. I wouldn't want to see these kind of programs on tv. But in hindsight, it was a daring hoax.
But hey, maybe i am biased, i am a Dutchy afterall:)
The show wasnt sick.
Whats sick is the fact that we have to use such tactics in this world to grab peoples attention and for them to wake up to situations going on around them. I was shocked to find out that a donor in Holland has to be a family member or known o the recipient. That is even worse than the so called donor scheme in this country.
The show wasnt sick.
Whats sick is the fact that we have to use such tactics in this world to grab peoples attention and for them to wake up to situations going on around them. I was shocked to find out that a donor in Holland has to be a family member or known o the recipient. That is even worse than the so called donor scheme in this country.
I think the show was in bad taste but agree with you on the tactics side of things as I've said before if you want someone to listen these days you can no longer just tap them on the shoulder you have to hit them in the face.
As for the Donor rules, that is pretty abysmmal, Surely it should be purely up to the individual concerned. I mean on a personal level when I'm dead and if my organs are of any use to anyone and I do mean anyone then fine use them, it's just recycling after all isn't it? but I don't want my eyes used, I have no logical reasoning for this it's just the way I feel, although I have already tried to give blood over here and been refused because I live in the uk between '85 and '97 due to CJD, so I don't know if they would use my organs here. Maybe I should make a proviso that my body is shipped back to the UK so it can be used.
Fortunately its not the same in this country. If your tissue type matches and your next then you get it. However the donor card scheme is abysmal.
As you say youre dead if any of you can be used to help someone else then use it . I dont really understand the permission thing.
Maybe if we introduced a Non-Donor Card system, where people who don't want to donate, for whatever reason, have a card they can carry, that says Non Donor ???
Maybe if we introduced a Non-Donor Card system, where people who don't want to donate, for whatever reason, have a card they can carry, that says Non Donor ???
It was opted by a political party in Holland, but dismissed.The danger of a system like that is that it could be applied to a lot of issues(your a member unless....) The last suggestion made was asking people to become a donor when they collect their passports.
The show wasnt sick.
Whats sick is the fact that we have to use such tactics in this world to grab peoples attention and for them to wake up to situations going on around them. I was shocked to find out that a donor in Holland has to be a family member or known o the recipient. That is even worse than the so called donor scheme in this country.
I was wondering where you found this information? I never heard of it and when i checked the donorinformation site, it didn't mention anything like that except that, when anyone wants to donate an organ while still living, it usually happens because the recipient is known to them. But it doesn't have to be like that, when someone donates to a person they don't know it is called "altruist" donation (don't know whether the translation is any good) or "samaritan" donation.
Thats what i get for believing what our news tells us. My apologies if i picked it up wrong.
No need for those (appologies that is). I was just wondering. I don't know much on the subject. It would have been utterly insane if it was to be true though!
