The Repo Games demo

Usually I don't much care for political articles which use game shows to make a point. The articles often recycle the most obvious cliches about, say, politicians making a deal like Monty Hall.

But this commentary on Spike's Repo Games digs a little deeper into the game show from a political angle. I'll warn readers that the article comes at its subject from the right. But really a lot of the comments are true from just about any political perspective.

After all, the economy hasn't exactly roared ahead over the past few years. Repo Games seems built for such tough times, as more people have trouble making their car payments.

The article notes that even the most rowdy contestants on the show seem fairly reasonable once the repo guys show a little patience. "Intriguingly, once the repo man calms down these contestants, they seem like perfectly nice people, albeit without the social skills and manners that exist among the middle class."

The writer even expresses sympathy for some for the better-mannered contestants. "[The show] also lets viewers root for contestants who seem nice and perhaps have had some bad luck (and there are of course lots of those types of folks in the miserable economy). Some of the more sympathetic contestants are single moms."

I'm still a little queasy about a show that traffics off people's bad luck and worse finances. But Repo Games lived to see a second season, so somebody out there likes it.