15 of the weirdest TV shows that’ll have you wondering why they even exist
By Sundi Rose
9. The Swan
What it is: A reality makeover show in which women who deemed themselves “ugly” signed up for extreme makeovers that included far more than just makeup and a haircut. Many of the women underwent drastic plastic surgery and devastating diets to achieve their desired effects.
The yuck factor: It’s pretty awful, folks. It’s the absolute worst of what reality TV and of what our popular culture has to offer. The name of the show is a play on the children’s fairy tale, The Ugly Ducking, suggesting these women need all the procedures to transform into a beautiful swan, implying they were ugly and unacceptable to begin with. Let that sink in for a minute.
Not only did the women sign up for these surgeries, dental work, therapy, and exercise programs, but they also had to compete with other women to win a pageant at the end of the season. Their progress was tracked over a period of three months, and the more successful contestant moved on through a series of rounds. It’s shameful.
Where and how: You definitely don’t want to watch this humiliating and demoralizing show, and thankfully, it was canceled after two seasons. The first two seasons aren’t available through any streaming services, but you can watch clips of some of the contestants’ makeovers online. You’ll need a shower afterward.