“The Swan” action
In 2004, About-Face was horrified by a new show on Fox called “The Swan”. It depicted normal-looking women entering a beauty pageant against each other, after having extensive cosmetic surgery, doing brutal workouts, and going on very restrictive diets.
“The Swan” was one more way women and girls will get the message that they are not good enough unless they go to extremes to fit into an increasingly narrow ideal (and even then… not everyone won this beauty pageant!). It’s alarming that cosmetic surgery is becoming “normal” through media messages, and “The Swan” was the worst perpetrator yet.
Over the months of April and May, we asked shoppers near Union Square to sign letters to Fox Television’s Chairwoman, Gail Berman. As a positive twist, we also asked them to fill in a sign that said “I don’t need a makeover because…” and mailed the letter and the sign into Fox. Not only did we get women involved, but we also got fathers, boyfriends, husbands and brothers involved as well! More than 500 letters were signed and sent to Fox!
We asked visitors to write letters, write e-mails, and/or make phone calls to the people involved with making “The Swan”. A list of contact information is at the end of this page.
This action got the following media coverage:
Ugly Ducklings
Debra Saunders, San Francisco Chronicle
April 29, 2004
Clipping the Wings of the Swan
Jane Ganahl, San Francisco Chronicle
Sunday, May 2, 2004
PLEASE SEE THESE OTHER LINKS FOR ARTICLES ABOUT THE SWAN:
The ugly face of reality TV: BRIOUX ON THE SWAN: ‘MADNESS, FRANKENSTEIN STUFF’
Bill Brioux, Toronto Sun
Wednesday, April 7, 2004
‘Swan’ Ugliest Reality Show Yet
David Cross, The Lantern
Wednesday, April 7, 2004
In Reality, Fox’s ‘The Swan’ Is One Ugly Duckling
Charlie McCollum, San Jose Mercury News
Saturday, April 10, 2004
There’s Nothing Beautiful About ‘The Swan’
Robert Bianco, USA Today
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Bleed Americans: Transformation to the Dark Ages
Jennifer Kursman, Arizona Daily Wildcat
Friday, April 16, 2004
FOX, reality TV take a ‘Swan’ dive
Abby Stotz, The Michigan Daily
April 14, 2004
From “Ugly” to “Beautiful”
Kelly Habben, The Midweek News
April 28, 2004
‘Swan’: Ready for Its Close-Up
Ann Oldenburg, USA Today
Sunday, May 23, 2004
PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CREATION AND AIRING OF “THE SWAN”:
The person who has the ultimate control over whether/when “The Swan” is on the air:
Gail Berman
FOX Television Chairman
Fox Broadcasting Co.
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, CA 90213
The mailbox for the show, to tell them how you feel about it:
The Swan
P.O. Box 900
Attn: Fox Broadcasting Publicity Dept.
Beverly Hills, CA 90213-0900
Local San Francisco Fox affiliate, choses shows to air in the San Francisco Bay area:
KTVU/BayInsider.com
P.O. Box 22222
Oakland, CA 94623
Phone: 510.834.1212
http://www.ktvu.com/contact
Media company that produces “The Swan”:
Fremantle Media Ltd.
2700 Colorado Avenue, Suite 450
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Tel: 310.255.4700
Fax: 310.255.4800
A. Smith & Co Productions
1811 Centinela Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
phone: 310.828.1811
phone: 310.828.3660
Email: info@asmithco.com
Website: http://asmithco.com
Information about Kent Weed can also be found on this website under Company Profile.
The company run by the woman who created “The Swan”:
Galan Entertainment
523 Victoria Avenue
Venice, CA 90291
Tel: 310.823.2822
Fax: 310.823.7361
EXPERT TEAM: THE PEOPLE WHO “COACH” THE CONTESTANTS:
Cosmetic Surgeon:
Dr. Terry J. Dubrow
360 San Miguel Drive, #708
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Website: http://www.perfectyourself.com
**If you go to the website, you can upload pictures and write him an email**
Cosmetic Surgeon:
Dr. Randal Digby Haworth
436 N. Bedford Drive, Suite 105
Beverly Hills, CA
Tel: 310.273.3000
Email: rdhaworth@aol.com
Cosmetic and Reconstructive Dentist:
Dr. Sherri Worth
1401 Avocado Avenue, #807
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Tel: 949.644.6988
Website: www.drsherriworth.com
PEOPLE WHO DID HAIR/MAKEUP/WARDROBE/ETC FOR THE SWAN – HIRED BY THE ABOVE PEOPLE
(they get publicity – positive or negative – by doing this work):
Angel City Fitness
4144 Glencoe Avenue
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Tel: 310.578.2272
Fredericks of Hollywood
Contact: www.fredericks.com/services/contactus.asp
International Hair Systems
475 Pleasant Street
Worcester, MA 01609
Tel: 508.754.8858
Toll Free: 800.696.8858
Fax: 508.753.3052
Email: ihsworc@aol.com
Website: www.hairsupport.com
Spray Tans International, Inc.
4108 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Tel: 310.802.1505
Website: www.spraytans.com
Discus Dental, Inc.
8550 Higuera Street
Culver City, CA 90232
Tel: 800.422.9448
Fax: 310.845.1537
Fur Informational Council of America
National Headquarters
8424 A Santa Monica Blvd., #860
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Tel: 323.848.7940
Fax: 323.848.2931
Prive Recovery Retreat
W Hotel
930 Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310.207.8865
