Marketing Miss - Extra TV

I have to admit that I regularly follow celebrity gossip and actually enjoy it. I read my Us Weekly on a frequent basis and tune-in to celebrity gossip shows, such as Extra and Access Hollywood. I have also been known to surf celebrity gossip sites, such as TMZ. However, something happened recently on Extra that made me pause and reconsider the content of their program. You see, Extra recently hired Rachel Uchitel as a celebrity news correspondent. You may be asking yourself, "why does that name sound so familiar?" Well, that is because you have heard her name in the news alongside Tiger Woods. She is one of his many alleged former mistresses and has become a popular fixture in celebrity news. However, where the "marketing miss" lies is with the program Extra. Why should a woman, or anyone for that matter, receive a job based on no credentials other than their bad behavior? I had to wonder, what kind of message does this send to other young women who are trying to get a job based on true employment credentials, such as education and past work experience? Granted, Uchitel has experience in courting celebrities and will report on nightlife for Extra, however, would she have been hired by Extra if her name hadn't become synonymous with Woods?

Sadly, this isn't the first time that a woman has profited from their bad behavior. Look at Monica Lewinsky and the notoriety she gained from her indiscretions with President Clinton. She was able to launch her purse designs to the masses (although not sure how popular they are now). Or, what about the other women who have benefited from canoodling with politicians and writing their "tell-all" books?

I can't say that I'm going to stop watching Access Hollywood, or stop reading my Us Weekly, but I am going to reconsider watching Extra. At least Access Hollywood has the decency to not follow Tiger Wood's kids as they go to-and-from school. I actually like the fact that at times the program mentions they aren't going to air certain celebrity coverage or buy photos if they believe it is crossing the line. Too bad I can't say the same for Extra, who is instead trying to profit from a woman's poor decision-making skills, and is making themselves look bad in the process.