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The Most Glaring Questions Raised by the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

This job requires me to watch a lot of terrible awards shows , so honestly, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was in no way the worst televised event I've had to sit through in the past few months. The concept of the show, as well as the actual execution, did, however, leave me with more questions than a typical three-hour telecast ceremony usually does, especially given that this thing was only one-hour long. If anyone could clear the below quandaries up for me, I'd highly appreciate it.

Who Is the Intended Audience for This Telecast?
In these times of both hypsersexuality and slut-shaming, it's hard for me as a feminist to process how the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show pulls the enormous audience and makes the massive amount of money that it does. Is there really space once a year for CBS to stop the presses in order to have an extremely boring (if we're talking about fashion) runway special? The answer: absolutely, because no one who drools over Fashion Week is watching this thing -- at least not for anything but the hot chicks. And the women are stunning and seem genuinely happy, so more power to 'em... as long as they stop calling themselves "nerds," which... I've covered before.

Is CBS Actually Trying to Make the Show "Innocent"?
Was anyone else creeped out by the segment where the angels giggled over their childhood photos? I guess it was supposed to be a sweet moment where we got to see where all of the models came from and how they're just your regular ol' girl-next-door types (sure), but I was decidedly uncomfortable watching a split-screen of grown woman in her underwear looking at a picture of herself playing topless as a child. Like, I don't think it was exactly inappropriate or anything, it was just really strange and spoke so much of our culture. Same thing with the fact that CBS blurred out some of the model's backsides on the runway: You're televising a softcore lingerie fashion show, guys -- the jig is up. Just imagine this thing if it was on Spike.

Doesn't NBC Own Adam Levine's Soul These Days?
I could've sworn the Maroon 5 singer and The Voice judge had signed his humanity over to the Peacock, but considering his girlfriend is Victoria Secret's model Anne Vyalitsyna, I guess he was able to break away for a few hours to sing his lifeless hit "Moves Live Jagger." The other musical performances weren't much better -- though thanks to the inclusion of Jay-Z's surprise Watch the Throne performance, we did get to see Beyonce's baby bump. Something for everyone!

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7 Comments

November 30, 2011 11:30 AM
Caity
Reply

You raise some excellent points there. Well written.

I'm a fan of underwear and whatnot (not really on others, more because I'm a girl and I like girly things) but it's just like...ok, what am I supposed to do with this show? I watched some last night with my boyfriend when i got home and both of us were unclear as to how we should react...

November 30, 2011 1:37 PM
Kel
Reply

The best part of the entire show was the pre-show interviews with the models. I recall one, whose name escapes me (if I ever knew it at all), talking about how being a Victoria's Secret "Angel" was the American Dream. Yay! Aim high, girl! No wonder this country is going down the shitter.
And "Moves Like Jaggar"? Really? The most generic, cheesedick song of the year and this is what they showcase at the show? Blah.

November 30, 2011 2:02 PM
Anne
Reply

Though I watched some of this last night, I do admit that I too wondered what the point was; it's not like this "fashion show" really shows off the stuff you can actually buy in stores; it's all hidden under the funky costuming. One of the more uncomfortable things to me was, when the models were going through said childhood photos, one said something along the lines of: you never know what you'll be when you grow up -- who knows, some little girl watching this show today WILL be one of us someday! Really? Little girls watch this? As what - part of the training program for Toddlers & Tiaras?

November 30, 2011 8:42 PM
trippetta
Reply

It's kitsch done with a completely straight face--the best kind. I haven't had this much fun since I watched "Black Swan."

November 30, 2011 10:30 PM
Jamie Wright
Reply
replied to comment from trippetta

Kitsch done with a completely straight face is a great description...and, to me, a compliment. I think there are few things more pure than a willingness to be silly without shame or laughing. Japanese pop culture has elevated that to an art-form but the Victoria Secret fashion show fits the category too.

November 30, 2011 10:33 PM
WaltzingMtilda
Reply

Yea, the whole thing is kinda weird. Take away the production values and the music performances and it's hot girls in their underwear. Which, fine, but let's not pretend that's not what it is.

And I am not ashamed to admit that I ADORE "Moves Like Jagger", to the point where my 3 year old asks me "Mommy, why you always singing that Jagger song?".

December 1, 2011 11:09 AM
Trav
Reply

The very best shows were the xmas themed ones that featured Seal as the main performer. 2005 and 2007 i believe

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