Why don't you ever see handicapped or retarded people on TV or movies much anymore?

Question

For a time in the late 80s and 90s there were a lot of handicapped and retarded people on TV shows and movies, but now it is just the "beautiful" people on idiotic shows that really don't leave much to the imagination.

Think of how cruel TV is today like on American Idol when those two kids tried out (the overweight kid who obviously had some sort of learning disability and the one with the big eyes who did as well, both were very nice, sweet guys). They were wheeled out, and then humiliated by a man who makes more money than God. So now, we not only don't have any special people represented, we also ridicule them as entertainment for the brainless masses.

Answer 1

I'm going ot have to disagree with you - I saw Paris Hilton on tv the other day.  

Answer 2

probably because people aren't very nice to them and don't give them such opportunities; treat them like their different. In fact some people are such jerks they refer to them with such derogatory names as "retarded"

Answer 3

because i just finished my yogurt.

Answer 4

There is a new show out on ABC family called "The secret life of the American teenager"  there is a boy on there with Down Syndrome & he is not made fun of.  It's like a kind of serious comedy.   Then there's the show about "little people"  Little People big world.  There's all those TLC shows about disorders, and diseases and stuff.  I think they are on TV alot.

Answer 5

It's not just handicapped or retarded people -- you rarely see overweight, unattractive or even average looking people on television anymore.

Practically everyone is beautiful and thin. Even people who are supposedly fat, like Queen Latifah and Sara Rameriz(Callie from Greys Anatomy), have a team of professional make up artists, personal trainers, stylist, Spanx, etc and look a thousand times better than their overweight counterparts.  

I guess America just worships beauty...