UPtv Gives Low-Income Children Presents, Then Asks Them to Sacrifice Their Gifts For Their Families

Remember The Briefcase, that show where where they gave financially struggling families a briefcase full of money and then asked them to publicly choose how much of that money to give to another struggling family?

Well, UPtv, “the television brand that promises to always uplift you,” just put together the equivalent of a Briefcase Junior.

In the clip above, children from the Metro Atlanta Boys and Girls Clubs are asked “the toughest question they’d face this Christmas season:” whether to keep a dream gift for themselves, or exchange it for a dream gift to give their parents.

As with all reality-based television, the goal is to manipulate as many emotions as possible—so we have to watch these kids get really excited about receiving presents that their families cannot afford: a new laptop, a Barbie dream house, an Xbox 360. “You really got this for me?” one girl asks, and she looks so joyful that it is almost unbearable to watch what happens next.

But happen it does, because Reality TV: the kids are shown presents that they can give their parents (a lot of jewelry, a big-screen television, a dress, and a Mr. Coffee), and told to decide.

“I need you to pick one,” the unseen benefactor says, before asking “Is that a really hard question?” in that sing-song voice adults use when they already know the answer. (It’s worth noting that “I need you to pick one” is not a question. It’s a demand.)

Of course, the kids all elect to give up their gifts so that their parents can have a present. “It’s either family or Legos, and I choose family,” one child says.

Isn’t it heartwarming that they make this choice? Isn’t it horrific that they are asked to choose?

Then we get the big reveal: the kids get to keep both presents. There are tears and hugs all around, and the parents are brought in so that they can hear how unselfish their children are, and how lucky their family is to receive both of these amazing gifts, and it’s hard not to watch this without absorbing these families’ joy along with a backing shot of anger, that rough taste at the edges of your throat that reminds you this is a cruel thing to do to a child.

Do you also think it’s cruel? Or do you, like UPtv, find it uplifting?

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