Americas Sweethearts

[KenAdams]

Has anyone watched this on Netflix?

It's about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

There's so much wrong with it I don't even know where to start. They get paid virtually nothing but are required to completely commit (because the role is a privilege), are held to unrealistic beauty and weight standards, ruin their hips and feet by the time they are in their early twenties, the list goes on.

It shows how backwards the USA are as a country in terms of their treatment of women that they think this is OK.

Very co-dependent.

I really feel for Victoria, bless her. She seems so lonely.

I agree.

Saw this on The Atlantic FB page

What makes Netflix’s documentary series so interesting is “how easy it is to see beneath the veneer,” Caitlin Dickerson wrote in 2024. theatln.tc/OxY1qfn5

‘America’s Sweethearts’ follows the tryouts of the 2023 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, and begins with Cowboys cheerleading director Kelli McGonagill Finglass, and choreographer, Judy Trammell, culling through video auditions of writhing young women. “The cheerleaders are expected to keep smiling as they’re given impossible standards to uphold. They’re told that their kicks aren’t high enough … then that they look like they’re trying too hard and need to relax, then that they look like they have low energy, then that they need to eat more to fuel their bodies, then that they’re not skinny enough. More makeup. Too much makeup. Too blond. Not blond enough. The most scathing criticism must be met with a smile and a ‘Yes, ma’am,’” Dickerson writes.

“The show’s characters are content, soothed by the strict hierarchy of their world. They hate to disappoint, but when they do, their path back into their coaches’ good graces is clear: Perform better, and you will be absolved,” Dickerson continues. And “the football games, when they begin on the show, provide a high of their own. Being a cheerleader at a football game is thrilling not because you’re the center of attention—you’re not; everyone is watching the game—but because you’re in a place where everyone has gathered for a particular purpose, and you have a role to play. The cheerleaders talk about how putting on their uniform feels like putting on a cape and becoming a superhero.”

“Those who earn a spot on the team do so because they learn to push through pain, put off having surgery, survive on four or five hours of sleep in order to take on extra jobs that supplement their marginal incomes,” Dickerson writes. “And because they are women, they must look perfect while performing all of this work. They must be windup dolls of positivity.”

In the last episode a 19-year-old dancer, the youngest on the squad, accuses a cameraman of grabbing her butt while she’s dancing. The reactions from fellow DCCs and coaches are revealing. Read Dickerson’s full review here: theatln.tc/OxY1qfn5

I’ve finished. Strange. A bit lacklustre and less riveting this time. The issue with the two girls who broke rules and how differently they got treated was more than a little odd I thought, there was a lot tiptoed round that didn’t really add up

I didnt rate this series as much as the 1st one. I didnt get as angry hahaha.

Im very pleased about the wages though.

Starting it now!

You'd have to be a shark not to be examining your conscience about the recruitment, exploitation, pay etc of a bunch of thoroughly brainwashed young women, when there's no rationale for any of it other than that the cheerleaders make money for the club.

About the fact that most of the women had full time jobs, etc, Judy said ‘but that’s what’s so great about all of you’.

Well, that’s mighty convenient for the club, Judy!

That can-do attitude will certainly pay the bills, i’m sure.

I think they like saying that their cheerleaders are students, nurses, scientists, teachers, florists etc as it makes them seem ordinary "The Girl Next Door"... which would be great if they weren't wanting them to work flat out for them as well.

I hate Kelly and Judi for being part of the problem. For all the body shaming on the early seasons of making the team and for the times they’ve strung people along etc.

But I also admire the results, their ability to build incredible teams year on year is fantastic, they have a far better record than the coaches of the actual team. And I feel for them in that they are the ones who have to carry out the shitty orders from on high.

They conflict me greatly.

This season felt a bit too curated. I missed seeing more of them learning at training camp, some of the cuts were harder to understand as we didn’t really see the lead up.

Id have liked to have seen some of the casting discussions for the extra events as clearly several of the veterans had issues with who got what, would have been nice to see if it was due to sponsors or favouritism or some other issues going on.

I've enjoyed seeing more of what happens after the final team announcement, compared to Making the Team. I thought the boot camp day MTT had every year was a good watch though! I also enjoyed following a particular candidate all the way through - Madeleine is still my favourite.

Edit to add, I do not like Charlotte. What was the point last season of letting someone get to the very end and then insist they're cut because they're too short? And the pay situation - presumably she wouldn't be fine with doing her job for a pittance because it's an honour.

And the boyfriends this year are weird. The production company is One Potato - maybe they clubbed together?

That said, Will Potato grew on me on the Christmas episode. The husband and boyfriend slot in the penultimate episode showed the men in a good light.

From season 2 footage they still (with more subtlety) only want v thin, white dancers, and seem happy to recruit / retain women with what seem to be active eating disorders (eg Dayton).

Find the white bearded audition panel member (the boot maker) really sleazy. Makes my skin crawl.

Do any of you think the ex dancers look older than their age? I would have that women who’ve danced & been fit all their life would look fitter & fresher? I say this as a 56 year old.

I think even the current dancers look old. I presumed it was the bottom, fillers, excessive make up etc.

I agree that a lot of them look older than they are - many look much more like 30 than 20.

The excessive/aging make up and treatments definitely play a part. Plus throughout the series there were loads of references to many of them working a ridiculous amount of hours across various jobs and only getting something like 5 hours of sleep. Which is not going to help with looking youthful!

they have a doll like look. Suspect fillets & Botox?

Fillers and Botox were on the freebie list from sponsors. Presumably they use them. I would, but I'm late 30's! Bit of a shame at such a young age when they've got great skin and don't need any of that stuff.

That annoyed me too.

Presumably that woman was that height since her first audition, now, suddenly it’s a problem, cos Jennifer says so.

Judi did say ‘i like the itty bitty ones’, and then Kellie says that perhaps they’ll have a height lower limit.

The whole situation with cheerleaders and the pay they receive is absolutely nuts. Rather than pay the girls minimum wage, some teams did employment law shennanigans to say they weren't employees of the org, and then canned the squads completely when it was looking like they might have to compensate them for their time.

It’s similar to Mattel’s decision to suddenly give Barbie a whole range of careers. Scientist Barbie, Vet Barbie, Astronaut Barbie - she’s still blonde, stick thin with huge boobs, and feet which make it impossible to stand up unless she’s wearing heels.

I think they like saying that their cheerleaders are students, nurses, scientists, teachers, florists etc as it makes them seem ordinary "The Girl Next Door"... which would be great if they weren't wanting them to work flat out for them as well.

Indeed. And I’m very sure no one tells the football players that they should have second jobs so they seem more ordinary or relatable - that would seem ludicrous (because it is!). It’s clear the footballers are trained professionals at what they do and are respected for that. But there’s zero recognition that what the cheerleaders do is equally professionally accomplished and difficult.

I’ve now watched A LOT of Making The Team. Truly, the Netflix version misses the absolute insanity of Kitty Carter and her insane hair.

I'm OBSESSED with Kitty Carter. She needs her own show!

In the last episode of series 2 at 21:20, I thought Kelly and Judy were really cold to Amanda. They were crying and hugging Armani (shown just before) but as soon as Amanda walked in the room you could tell Kelly didn't like her. Amanda was pouring her heart out and they didn't say a word of comfort. Just blanked her. No wonder she decided to leave. I guess they have their favourites.