'Class Reunion' is reprehensible

Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 12:10 p.m. MST
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If stupid people want to go on so-called "reality shows" and embarrass themselves, that's their right. But when stupid people — and stupid producers and irresponsible networks — embarrass children who have absolutely no choice in the matter, then they've crossed a line.

And that line has been crossed in the second season of "High School Reunion," which premieres Sunday at 8 p.m. on the WB/Ch. 30.

Two of the participants are a divorced couple — Gabe and Denise, the parents of two young children. And the fact that they arrive with different agendas quickly becomes obvious.

"If all my dreams could come true, there would be me, Gabe and our kids living happily ever after," Denise says.

"I definitely didn't come here to try to make up with Denise or fix our relationship," Gabe says.

The producers obviously knew this, which is pretty cruel to Denise. But that there are two young children sitting at home who, one way or another, are going to hear about how their father arrived at the house and ignored their mother, who are going to hear that she wants to rebuild their family and he doesn't, is far worse.

But that's minor compared to what's next. The producers add three women who were sophomores when the others were seniors specifically to stir up trouble with Gabe and Denise.

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Heather C. describes the three — Heather F., Amanda and Stacy — as "just trash, basically. . . . I think those girls have no class, period." And it's hard to argue with that.

It seems that Gabe was dating both Heather F. and Amanda at the same time he was dating Denise. And, according to Heather F., having sex with both her and Denise.

"Gabe and I were dating, supposedly exclusively, and I get a phone call from Denise letting me know that she's pregnant with Gabe's child," Heather F. says. "I knew it was a lie. They went ahead with the wedding and Denise did have a baby a year and a half later. Denise might be certifiably crazy."

"Denise fabricated a lie about being pregnant so that she could marry Gabe and she could win. It was a game to her," Amanda says.

The three "sophomores" go on at some length about how Denise faked the pregnancy — with no evidence. They accuse her of threatening Heather's life — with no evidence. (Denise denies that.)

"Denise was a little psycho," Amanda says. "She did things that normal people don't do."

"There was nothing I wanted more than to turn around and rip her head off," Heather F. says.

Imagine being Denise and Gabe's children and someday finding out about all of this. Imagine finding out that your father hugged Heather F., the woman who has said such horrible things about their mother, on national television.

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Divorced couple Gabe and Denise on the WB's "Class Reunion." (The WB/Justin Lubin)
The WB/Justin Lubin
Divorced couple Gabe and Denise on the WB's "Class Reunion."