MovieChat Forums > Beyond Scared Straight (2011) Discussion > So now it's an exercise show?

So now it's an exercise show?

posted 13 years ago by Ripley741
5 replies | jump to latest

Hey, Season 3... WTF?

First of all, I love this show. There's nothing quite like watching these thuggish, punk-ass detriments to society having the piss scared out of them by jail guards and inmates. But when the **** did jails start having inmates do jumping jacks, pushups and other calisthenics upon processing?

I thought the concept of the program was to show these kids what being incarcerated is like... crappy food, horrific stories, inmates taking things from you at will, intimidating stares - all good stuff from previous episodes.

S3E1 started off like one of those shows about boot camps for troubled teens. This isn't an effing boot camp - it's **JAIL**! Since when, in jail, are you not allowed to look an officer in the eye? This is turning into more of a show for security guards to act intense on camera, than it is a show about these kids.

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Also... just in case anyone still has it DVR'd, someone PLEASE tell me you saw this...

Towards the beginning of the episode, when the truck pulls into the jail garage, one of the kids tells the others "everybody sit back... sit back". Next the officers open the door, and tell the kids to exit the truck quickly. There's one final internal shot of the cab, and I swear to God the kid in the back IS NOT handcuffed, and uses his hands to guide himself out of the cab. In the next shot, while the kids line up against the wall - he has cuffs on! Did anyone else notice this?

[–] Ripley741 12 years ago

Bumping because it's almost one year later, and this dumb show still thinks it's realistic to feature calisthenics as part of the "booking" procedure.

I GET it... it's a metaphor for how you have no choice in jail and have to do what you're told... but enough already.

[–] HeywoodJablomy 12 years ago

In one episode (Oklahoma, I think), one of the guards stated that they try to break the kids physically first, because they absorb the positive message better when they're exhausted. Sort of like boot camp, I guess.

[–] Ripley741 12 years ago

I totally get that - I know juvenille facilities (at least those I've seen on TV, and not been in personally ) that incorporate physical exhaustion as part of the regimen. I just thought the purpose of THIS show, is to show them what jail is like.

No police station or prison intake I've ever heard of incorporate forced exercise as part of the booking process.

[–] fadeintoyou1982 12 years ago

I sure as hell wouldnt want to be told what to do - like jumping jacks and running. I'm sure a lot of these kids arent physically active anyway (unless you count fighting as being physically active), so they would be doing something they dont want to do

[–] quillpen5 11 years ago

My husband was in the army and he said this is what you do at boot camp. Some of it is to get you into shape, but some of it is also to just break you down mentally so you don't fight your superiors and you do everything they tell you.

It really helps with the brainwashing. But you have to be really exhausted for it to work - not just a few jumping jacks and push ups.