[NancyAshe]

Fox TV has announced that on Jan. 3 it will air the first episode of "Who's Your Daddy?" - a reality show with a reunion and $100,000 as the prizes. The show description states that an adult adoptee (adopted as an infant) will interview eight men - one of whom is her birthfather. She will try to determine which one is the "real" birthdad. If she picks the right one, she gets a reunion and $100,000. If she picks the wrong one, she gets a reunion and the contestant who fooled her gets the money.

Fox says the show is an emotional tear-jerker with a happy ending, and it's getting mixed reactions from the adoption community:

Adam Pertman calls the show "perverse" and the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute (of which Pertman is executive director) issued a release today stating, "The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute today called on Fox Television to scrap its planned new reality program, 'Who’s Your Daddy,' calling it 'destructive, insensitive and offensive' to the tens of millions of Americans with adoption in their families.

A CNN story reports "'Joseph Kroll, executive director of the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC), called the idea 'repulsive.' He said his own 29-year-old daughter is searching for her birth father.

'If someone were to try doing that to my daughter, what I consider to be abuse, I would not behave appropriately,' Kroll said."

And Marley Greiner, executive chair of Bastard Nation: The Adoptee's Rights Organization, is quoted as describing "the Who's Your Daddy? concept as both 'totally audacious' and 'kind of funny.'"

To learn more about it, check out the latest news stories, and then share your thoughts.

[SchmennaLeigh]

For those wanting to make a difference, at least in their own hearts and minds, here is the contact information for FOX:

Fox's Snail Mail:
FOX Broadcasting Co.
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, CA 90213

And feedback can be emailed to:
askfox@foxinc.com

I will be writing tonight.

[belleinblue]

Ahhh, nothing fails to amazae me anymore. I just saw the commercial and wondered if you had blogged this monstrosity.

[UODaisy]

Hi. I heard about this on a women's forum elsewhere on the net. Upon discovering it was true, I've decided to take action. Lots of action.

I'm offering an opportunity for people to join me in a year-long boycott of FOX and its affiliates.
My name is Sarah Philipson
I live in Oregon
I am 23 years old, a reunited adoptee.
I am boycotting Fox for one year (at least)

Im offering you the chance to tell FOX what you think. Im collecting names. Names, locations, and comments.

On January 5th I'll be putting those names and comments in a letter that I'm going to send not only to FOX but to the FCC. I want them to know just how far is too far. I won't let a tv station exploit something so sacred to me for the purpose of entertainment.

If you want to join me... email me with your name (first and last if you feel comfortable but first at least), the state you live in, and any comments you'd like passed along to FOX and the FCC regarding this abhorrent new program. My email is Srie04@aol.com

I have 5 names so far... join me. Show Fox where we draw the line. Boycott, and make yourself known.

Im Sarah
I'm apalled
Im taking action...

Join me.

[tobeafamily]

How to Contact the FCC

To Contact the Commissioners via E-mail

Chairman Michael K. Powell: Michael.Powell@fcc.gov
Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy: Kathleen.Abernathy@fcc.gov
Commissioner Michael J. Copps: Michael.Copps@fcc.gov
Commissioner Kevin J. Martin: KJMWEB@fcc.gov
Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein: Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov

United States Postal Service First-Class Mail, Express Mail & Priority Mail

Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554


Hand-Delivered or Messenger-Delivered Documents

For more complete information on filings, please see our Filing Location Public Notice, our Rulemaking Process page, and the Office of the Secretary web site.

Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary:

Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
Office of the Secretary
c/o Natek, Inc.
236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Suite 110
Washington, DC 20002
(8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

Other Messenger-Delivered Documents,
Including Documents Sent by Overnight Mail
(other than United States Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail):

Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
Office of the Secretary
9300 East Hampton Drive
Capitol Heights, MD 20743
(8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

[UODaisy]

rah ha ha! Thanks so much for the contact info for the FCC. They'll definitely get a copy of my FOX letter when its done. Excellent.

[dl]

I'm curious ~ how do you feel about an adoptee and a bioFather agreeing to make a public spectacle of their reunion?
There would not have been enough money that could have been offered that would have caused me to consider doing this for a second. My bioDad would not have agreed to it either. We even told my bioHalf-Sister that we did not want her taking pictures that first evening. It was a personal moment.

IMO, I think the participants share responsibility with Fox for this tasteless show. No one "did this to them". They chose to do this for money.

[iloveny]

Gail Berman is the chairman of Fox Broadcasting and ultimately the buck stops with her. If you would like to send her your thoughts regarding "Who's Your Daddy?" here is her mail info. I did and I think it is really important to speak up about this. I think this is a new low and certainly ridicules reunitees, birth parents and adoptive families. Thanks everyone who takes action!

mail:
Gail Berman
Fox Broadcasting
Building 100 Room 4450
10201 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035

I don't know if this is still current but if you are feeling brave and would like to really have direct contact - here is the latest phone info I have for Gail Berman:
Call FOX the number is 1-800-369-6848.
For Gail Berman's, use option 2, then 237626#

[UODaisy]

I'll send this thing to everyone I can. I want fox and the folks in charge to understand that reunion is something sacred to people. I said in another forum that I don't mind shows like adoption stories, and I think people who use Maury, or Oprah, or Montel to find and reunite with their families should be commended. I say, use whatever resources you can to find people.

My issue is with making the reunion into a game show. I think it cheapens the idea of a reunion and is insulting to those of us who did the legwork, and went through the personal agony of deciding whether or not to find our families. It denigrates the reverence of the event, and yes, I think reunion with a biological family is a sacred thing. I should know.. I've done it. Everyone I've spoken to who has been involved in an adoption, or a reunion, from birth parents, to adopted ones, to adoptees-- reunited or not, agree that turning that moment into a game show is a travesty. It's not something to be made into a contest.

I also agree that this girl and her father are partially responsible. But here's my thing. I think they'll feel differently once it's over. I think that as happy as they'll be to be reunited, they'll regret the way it was done when its all over. Im sorry they'll have that hanging over their reunion memories for the rest of their lives.

They didn't invent the show. And honestly... I can't say I blame them for participating. My indignation is reserved for the real culprits-- the "geniuses" who thought this was a good idea in the first place. And Im not afraid to tell them.


P.S. Thanks for all the contact information. I'll certainly be using it.

[momto4boys]

Here is a copy of the email I sent to FOX



I am writing in reference to your new show “Who’s Your Daddy.” If I understand the premise of the show correctly the other "contestants" are going to be trying to deceive the daughter into thinking they are her biological father. As soon to be adoptive mother it makes me sick to think that someone would want to lie to my son and tell him that they are his father. Can you imagine the pain and damage that could be done to an adoptee? I have heard the pain by some who have been conned by people claiming to be their biological parent/child. Are you going to be responsible for the long term emotional damage that could do to an adoptee? I just don't see how this could be entertainment.

I also don't like the fact that school children could get a hold of this "who's your daddy" and tease adopted children. I know we can't protect them from everything but this is irresponsible. I am adopting an older child from Russia in the spring. It will be very obvious to those around him that he is adopted. We will already be helping him through feeling different because he doesn’t speak English, is in a new country, a new school and has left everything that was familiar to him. I certainly don’t want his classmates asking him “Who’s Your Daddy.”

This has the potential to affect so many more people than just the "contestants." The ones that are going to be hurt the most are the adopted children who don’t have the life experiences to handle the emotions and teasing that will come if this show is aired. If any of our children are teased because of this show, we should hold you accountable for inciting the situation.

You state in your press release that the people are not doing this for the money, then why are you offering the prize money? Surely your producers are talented enough to make tear-jerking TV without prize money and deception. If your writers and producers are not capable of making an adoption reunion TV show that will bring in great ratings without deception and money, then perhaps you need to rethink the producers’ future with FOX. There are many people/shows who reunite biological parents with their biological children and it is heart tugging. I have never seen another show use deception and money to make it a better reunion for the viewer.

I hope you make the responsible decision and not air this show. I (along with many others in the adoption community) will not be watching anything on FOX or its affiliates until you step up and admit your mistake and declare that you will not air the show.

[julie923]

congrates!

[dixiekat]

I am a adoptee I have been searching for any of my biological family and it has been a long and frustrating jorney.To think that you could do a show is a injustice to all of us adoptee's who still are searching...To think that you would find my bio-parent.. And then reward them for tricking me ,to think that i would even know who they are and what they like or think. Or even to reward them for being a adoptee, or worse the father who gave up his own flesh and blood...I just find that this is a cruel way of reuniting people...You know they say money buys all.... But not with this girl... I am 42 now and was adopted when I was two..I'm sure you would gain alot Fox by just being able to locate my dad after 40 years..Think of it what a reunion.. National News....But for no amount of money would I give you my magic moment. Dixiekat

[bb_church]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE FREELY
December 20, 2004



"HONK IF YOU'RE MY DADDY!"

CALLING ALL ADOPTEES, BIRTH PARENTS, ADOPTIVE PARENTS AND FAMILIES!

SOUND OFF ON FOX TELEVISION'S NEW "REALITY"
PROGRAM,
"WHO'S YOUR DADDY?"

WHEN: SUNDAY JANUARY 2nd, 12 NOON

WHERE: FOX TELEVISION STUDIOS,
10201 Pico Boulevard (at Avenue of the Stars),
Century City, CA.

WHY: Fox Television's new reality show "Who's Your Daddy?" has galvanized the communities of adoption with its promise to sensationalize and exploit the culture of secrets and lies perpetuated by the sealed records system of adoption. "HONK IF YOU'RE MY DADDY!" is a provocative action that places "Who's Your Daddy?" smack in the middle of the political landscape of the sealed records laws that created its premise.

WHO: "HONK IF YOU'RE MY DADDY!" is organized by the
Adoptee Rights Organizing Project,
www.adopteerightsorganizingproject.org, dedicated to teaching adult adoptees the tools of community organizing to achieve full civil and human rights. "HONK IF YOU'RE MY DADDY!" will be open to all supporters of adoptee rights and dignity, and will be hosted by adoptee rights activist BB "Baby Boy" Church (AKA Ron
Morgan). The wearing of sperm costumes, question marks and accessories appropriate to protesting is highly encouraged. Bring your own signs or wave one of ours. If you represent agroup that wishes to participate in this action, please let us know in advance so we may acknowledge you at the action.

PLAN TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND MAKE A BIG NOISE!



CONTACT: RON MORGAN 415-298-2466
AROP@EARTHLINK.NET

[UODaisy]

OMG I wish I could be therefor this! Too bad I'll still be in TX when it happens. Hope it makes the news!
To everyone who's going-- good! Let them hear it!

[mn125]

Originally Posted by bb_church

The wearing of sperm costumes

LOL
I love it!

[/quote] sealed records laws that created its premise [/quote]

That's it in a nutshell!!!
If we didn't have those $%&^&* sealed records- this show wouldn't even be happening....sigh