Will They Laugh at Us?
Well, now that the word is officially out about this series appearing on mtv, quite a few internet discussions have begun taking place about how this show will be received by the mtv audience. It’s a great discussion and it’s part of why we wanted to be on this network. Will they laugh at us, or with us?
From Jeremy Vest:
I know that people can be funny and they will have people laughing at them. I don’t like it when people laugh at other people. I’ve been laughed at before in a bad way it hurt my feelings. it was wrong for whom ever did that to laugh at me. I can tell you that being laughed at hurts and it also weakens your spirit because it makes you sad and when people laugh with you it brightens your spirit and you don’t feel hurt and you don’t feel bad you feel great to laugh with other people. hows your news makes everybody feel great we hope people will laugh with us not at us.
From Sue (Jeremy’s Mom)
Of course there are folks who are going to laugh at the HYN team. But we hope and believe that most people will find the reporters funny and charming and very likeable. We think that the audience will want to follow their travels across the country each week.
In the process of entertaining the viewers, it is also possible that some negative attitudes and opinions people harbor about individuals with disabilities may change. They’ll see the HYN news team having amazing, interesting experiences and meeting very cool people. It’s okay to laugh, the show is funny !
MTV is an innovative network, and while I personally miss the music videos, they pioneered the reality shows that are now on every network. This show is different and truly something never before seen on tv. MTV deserves credit for putting it on the air.
For Jeremy and the other reporters (and the crew !), this has been the most wonderful experience. They traveled the country having fun, meeting lots of interesting people and learned a lot about making a television show. What could be better than that ?
From Ken (Jeremy’s dad)
When you try something new and innovative there is always a risk. And for HYN it’s that some in the audience may laugh or scoff at Jeremy and the other cast members. But when you innovate there is also the potential for reward and HYN is a great opportunity for people with disabilities to show they have talent and that at the heart of it all they’re human beings. One of the most valuable aspects of this project all along is that it shows as much about the people who are being interviewed as it does about the news team. A viewer can tell instantly when the interview subject can’t get past the disability and see the uniqueness of the person who just happens to be disabled. I’ll never forget how former Commerce Secretary Don Evans couldn’t bring himself to even look at Bobby Bird during his interview at the Republican convention in 2004. Evans couldn’t relate and gave a speech to Bobby and wouldn’t even make eye contact. His extreme discomfort opened a window to his shallow heart. For those who laugh and snicker, I say that’s their problem and it exposes their shortcomings. It says nothing of the people who were willing to put it on the line by producing and being involved in HYN.
Thanks to the Vest family for those thoughts. What do YOU think?
I had the honor of being the teacher of some of these fine reporters for a couple of years. I am thrilled to see them taking their academic and music careers further into the world that I am confident will embrace their charms and talents. They are certainly a team of fine people, full of character, unique intelligence, and insightful wisdom that audiences will enjoy laughing learning from and laughing WITH! (oh no! a teach ended a sentence with a preposition!!!)
Comment by Jerilyn Kolbin — January 26, 2009 @ 10:02 am
Hey all at HYN,
I for one will be supporting you guys all the way. I think this is a fantastic group of go-getters! Of course people may laugh at you and you know what…forget’em! They don’t get what you guys are out to accomplish! I will, for one, be laughing with you.
I found out about you guys through someone you all may know, Chad Stokes, of Dispatch.
I met Chad several years ago at the Last Dispatch Documentary premiere in Boston and had seen him with a HYN sticker on the old blue suburban they used to tour with. I came to the website, I saw the videos, and thought you all are an amazing bunch journalists out to do a job, meet interesting people, and have a little fun…well a lot of fun!
You have to do what you love in life! Glad to see some people actually have a grasp on that concept. In the eternal words of the great author Hunter S. Thompson, “Buy the ticket, take the ride.” and what a glorious ride this will be! Can’t wait to watch the show!
Mike H.
Chicago, IL
PS. Jeremy, keep hammerin’ on them drums brother, I saw that interview with Dispatch and was extremely amazed at your talent with the sticks!
Comment by Mike H — January 29, 2009 @ 12:26 am
You’ve shown that it’s not a HIPAA violation for folks with disabilities to be leaders (not to mention included) in the public, technologically-modern world.
You’re pioneers!
HYN is teaching ‘typically-developed’ people how to act normal when they meet you.
Comment by Rebecca — January 29, 2009 @ 10:35 pm
I am so proud of you Jeremy. I remember the days when I was the Activities Director at the Kentlands Clubhouse and you used to stop by my office and tell me all about your summer at camp and other great stories that always made me laugh! I cannot wait to laugh WITH you when your show airs on MTV! -Jill Ward
Comment by Jill Ward — February 3, 2009 @ 11:12 am
I am so excited about this show!! When I first saw the preview on MTV a few weeks ago, I was nervous about how people would react, but after watching all of the clips I think everyone is going to love it. If ever in Birmingham, AL, gimme a yell
Givin’ some southern love,
alison
Comment by Alison — February 3, 2009 @ 10:00 pm
Hey, I caught your show on MTV last night and I LOVED it!!! As someone who has worked with adults and children with different abilities for nearly 30 years, it was great to see you make your dream come true. The show was sweet, funny and totally entertaining!! I look foward to future episodes. Hurray for MTV for taking a worthwhile risk. It’s about time that someone recognized the unique talents of individuals with disabilities and gave us all a chance to share their success. Thank you and Rock On!!
Comment by Kate Berge-Charter — February 9, 2009 @ 11:38 am
I love this show. Kudos to MTV, Matt Stone and Trey Parker for bringing this television gold into our lives. Everyone involved with this show should be incredibly proud of themselves and each other.
The band needs to tour!!!! Great merchandise too!!!
Patrick
Comment by pj — February 11, 2009 @ 2:35 am
I am so fired up for the series. I am an RN and do a lot of work with children with various conditions and sometimes abilities. HYN will be one half hour that I look forward to every week. Keep up the good work. You are all an inspiration. Now, how about a Boston screening?
Comment by Dennis — February 11, 2009 @ 5:15 pm
First and foremost…I LOVE you guys!! I caught the tail-end of one of your commercials today, and after finding your site and watching your videos, I’m honestly at a loss for words to describe how I feel about such a show.
I feel like your work at HYN is so, so important, and the results are just beautiful. You’ve created such hilarious, heartwarming, inspiring and interesting program (I still don’t even think those words are enough to describe how much I adore your show).
You’re all fantastic individuals who have created something so indescribably special and unique…something that’s become less common in recent times.
Good luck, guys! You’ve done a fantastic job thus far, and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise.
I LOVE “HOW’S YOUR NEWS”!!
Comment by Lauren Kraybill — February 19, 2009 @ 6:19 pm
Heyy HYN! =]
I am a hugggee fan of your show! I absolutely lovee it! I would NEVER laugh at you guys i laugh with you guys because your soo funny! I hope you come to upstate NY sometime! id love to meet you guys! Especially Jeremy Vest! Hes my favorite! xoxo- Karissa<3
Comment by Karissa — February 23, 2009 @ 3:16 pm
We watched the show for the first time last night and our whole family was blown away by everyone. Jeremy and his one liners are hysterical, he is a very funny guy, good sense of humor. The girl doing the interviews was so refreshing, she was honest and sweet and knew her questions. I wish you all good luck, change people minds!!!!!
Comment by Linda pembroke — February 24, 2009 @ 8:05 am
My husband and I watched the last half of your show and we were absolutely blown away. We spent the rest of the evening reading your blog and looking at your videos. I will be honest with you, at first I was skeptical of how something like this would be perceived. Then I just ‘got it’. Its about having fun, being yourselves and, if the image some people have of individual with different abilities changes in the process, great!
I will tell you, you have changed the way I view the world! Hope all y’alls dreams come true! (And AWESOME music, btw)
Comment by Kristymarie Shipley — March 2, 2009 @ 12:23 am
Are you kiddin? This show was spectacular. It was a breath of fresh air is a sea of stink. This show is inspiring heartwarming and funny. I would rather watch this than the hills or the oc or any of that crap. The news team is great and should be praised for there efforts. In my humble opinion there are three things worth watching on TV; The Office, The Simpsons, and How’s Your News. great job everyone.
Comment by Jerry — April 24, 2009 @ 3:08 pm