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.

Indeed, a crime was committed but the man wasn’t arrested.

The documentary making of this is excellent IMO, ‘showing not telling’. So many useful conversations with my DD about the various issues raised.

I think the manager in Cheer comes across almost as badly as the Cowboys women, just with a lower public profile for the team, a veneer of ‘caring’, also younger people and they’re taking even more physical risk - and safety risks.

Judy and Kelli were saying that Reece is delightful and always happy and were wondering if she ever cries or gets mad. I wonder if she was socialised to be like that or just naturally very cheerful and positive.

That was awful. I would never put up with that.

Perhaps it's me being a bit of a grump however I find Reece's (to me) rather over the top cheeriness, with her big bright smile a little manic at times, didn't feel entirely genuine, it's like she's trying too hard to be the perfect cheerleader that it feels forced and a little fake.

I could also have done without the very strong spiritual/religious side. Reece and Kaydianna praying before they ate lunch felt, to me, quite 'showy'.

I am watching Series 1 again in advance of the impending Series 2 and I still feel for Victoria. The girls are so "I love you", "I love you soooooo much" "we'll be each other's bridesmaids" etc etc yet when someone is feeling isolated there doesn't appear to be much kindness shown to her. Even Kelcey, much as I liked her (despite the voice drawl which I found a bit irritating) was very much 'oh Victoria is an amazing dancer but she was gone for a year and the rest of the team became closer in her absence'. Perhaps they resented her being given a 'year off' and coming back without having to re-audition. Has that happened to anyone else I wonder?

Yes, I felt really sorry for her. It seemed to be edited to highlight her loneliness too. Showing her sitting alone on the coach and girls turning away she'd tried to chat to. You'd think it would be the Christian thing to do to be friendly to her.
It's good she has left because she needs to see that DCC isn't all there is in life. Plus it'll be good for her not being subjected to Kelli and Judy.
Being in DCC is an amazing achievement. She doesn't need to feel a failure for not being a leader.
I didn't know she didn't need to audition after her year out.

@OrchardDoor That's the impression I got (that she didn't have to re-audition), not 100% sure but I think that is what happened..

I do recall (in season 16, I think - the 2nd of the 'Covid' years) when Brennan said she had been very unwell with Covid, Kellie offered her the chance to take time off and return to the following year's training camp however Brennan didn't take up the offer (perhaps she should have, she ended up being cut!) so not an entirely unheard of situation but very unusual probably.

Very much looking forward to Season 2 although, for me, 'Making the Team' was far superior if you enjoy the dancing rather than the behind the scenes stuff. I loved the guest choreographers teaching different styles of dance.

I'm going to start watching that.

@WishimaywishimightI went to school in Tennessee for a short time and there were kids who would pray over their lunches before eating. I was totally agog, (and shocked none of them were bullied or beaten senseless for it).

And my relatives friends would actively ask us to pray for them when they came over for a cuppa.

It was massive culture shock for me at the time. I can see it being a normal every day thing for Reece and the others who were raised that way.

@jay55I can understand that (I'm in Ireland, in primary we prayed before and after lunch - back in the 70's anyway), I just found it a bit 'performative' to be eating at a restaurant/coffee shop and praying!

My gran had a saying; "Too sweet to be wholesome" and that did spring to mind 😆

I watched series 3 of Making the Team. It was good but I do like America's Sweethearts more as i like the back stories of the cheerleaders. Looking forward to the next series of AS.

its up. Can’t wait to get home and watch some.

Oh thank you for this!

I have binged watched it today. Its not as good as the first season, but that season made me rage at the tv for how they treated them. This season ends on a good note though (no spoilers)

Watching S2 now

I really don't like Charlotte Jones, the owner's daughter. She was so cold about getting rid of the final two in the last series. Kelly and Judy really didn't want to get rid of one of them but had to do her dirty work. Also her comments about how the DCC didn't get paid much for what they do, but never mind, they enjoy what they do and make great friendships. It's the 21st century and women should get paid fairly, especially considering all the money they bring in for her company.

Reece knew who to suck up to though, when asked whose face she was looking at while auditioning in Series 2 episode 1 😁

Daytons Mum has (in my eyes) a slightly sinister vibe (Episode 3)

I vaguely remember Dayton from making the team.

Agree in Charlotte Jones, she is mean and so up herself.

@KenAdams what's it called

Two episodes in and all the crying is doing my head in.

Same here - I am not warming to the characters as much as last year.

And even then Kellie and Judy weren’t happy!

enjoying it! so many problematic things. Fascinating.

Some amazing dance.

Victoria's mum is so clingy and I think contributed to her problems...