When I first heard about Frontier House (months ago) I was excited. I’ve been fascinated by frontier life since I discovered the Little House on the Prairie book (and later television) series at the age of 10. Don’t get me wrong, I’m perfectly aware of the trials and tribulations pioneers had to go through, but the idea of going back to that period seemed, well, nifty to me.
Then came Monday night, when the show first aired. The first hour focused on getting our modern day pioneers prepped for the trip. They were introduced to such things as 7 layers of clothing for the women, no toilet paper, corsets, and a tripod for cooking over an open fire. Then we made the trip to Frontier Valley to their new homes.
It as at this point that I began having trouble with Frontier House. After watching 2 nights (a total of 4 hours) it has become obvious to me that the producers of this show selected the most unlikely people to make this trip they could find. If this were an ordinary reality show, I would understand the need for controversy. But the need for controversy on an educational based PBS reality show is ridiculous.
On this show we have the Glenns. Karen Glenn is a know it all who has alienated the entire Clune family as well as her own husband. Not that Mark Glenn isn’t a know it all in his own right, but he’s spent much too much time getting berated by his not so lovely wife. When Karen Glenn goes on ad nauseam regarding how she and her family are Christians and did the whole thing “right,” this Christian needed a barf bag. Christians do not act nasty toward ones neighbors. Christians do not judge others as both Karen and Glenn do throughout the 4 hours we have seen.
Then we have the aforementioned Clune family. The Clune’s are not cut out for this adventure from the word go. Adrienne and her daughter Aine are most concerned initially about not wearing makeup. The poor darlings don’t get to take lipstick or mascara with them because only prostitutes wore makeup in those days. This is not the last of the Clune’s inability to leave 21st century life behind. After entirely too much time spent on Gordon Clune’s incessant whining about his weight loss, the Clune women, Adrienne, Aine, and niece Tracy, visit 21st century Montana to trade baked goods for “real” meat. And lest I forget, Gordon Clune and his whinefest regarding their inability to hunt during their trip to 1883 Montana.
The only family I have not wished to throttle at this point is the Brooks’. Although by the end of the remaining 2 hours of the program, I may be taking that pack. Newlywed Kristen Brooks does show signs of being a closet Clune at times.
I have mixed feelings on my watching the remaining 2 hours. I may just decide to can the whole thing and watch Amazing Race instead.
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