The Fraternal Order of Police and some local residents are upset that on-duty Metropolitan Police officers have been assigned to guard the site of a reconstruction effort for the television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." WRC/4 reported that dozens of officers were assigned to guard the site of The Fishing School community center in Northeast Washington, D.C.
Needless to say, the allocation of significant public resources to guard a purely private project has annoyed residents and police union representatives. In response, Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier issued a statement stating that there was no loss in manpower for regular patrols because of this project and that she was enthusiastic about the police department supporting a "humanitarian effort."
Chief Lanier doesn't seem to understand the concept of reality television. "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is not a humanitarian effort. It's an entertainment vehicle for delivering age 18-49 viewers to ABC's Sunday lineup in advance of "Desperate Housewives." The program does some good in the process but all the good in the world won't stop it from being canceled should its 18-49 viewership fall much further.
For what it is worth, there have been no reports of any similar controversy out of Prince George's County, Maryland where the same "Home Edition" program is constructing a new home for a Hyattsville family.Labels: cathy lanier, extreme makeover home edition, northeast d.c., police, reality television, washington d.c.
