Ever get that feeling that you were having a nightmare and then realise that it is in fact real life? Well I can’t say this happens to me regularly, in fact I couldn’t even pin point when this has ever happened to me. But last night’s documentary on Living TV was possibly one of the most surreal and down right creepiest things I have ever feasted my eyes upon!
To be honest, I am still a little freaked out. A good twelve hours later and I am asking myself ‘Did that actually happen?’ It’s official the world has gone crazy. So we have had the joy of witnessing some mind-blowing golden documentaries throughout the years, from middle aged men who have an obsession with collecting Barbie dolls, or pensioners who spent their time collecting Royal Family memorabilia and sell their houses to fund their addiction, even the wackier and more extreme of people who want to marry their pets. But yet, just as you think you’ve heard it all out pops the people who are ‘re-born’ doll enthusiasts (I kid you not). Better again, they try and pawn them off as being real babies.
Jamie a single Mum of three is the genius who has unleashed these dolls amongst the British market. After moseying around on EBay for a doll for her little girl, she managed to stumble upon these uncanny ‘fake babies’. Soon discovering her secret talent that she could make these dolls look even more realistic, this SuperMum used her initiative and entrepreneurial skills to set up a business in her own living room. And yes, I know what you are all thinking, Ah bless this woman’s cotton socks, sure she is just a wee bit deluded. Ahem, now wipe that cheeky smirk off your face because this woman is raking in the big bucks and by no means is strapped for customers.
Sure with her excellent craft of inserting scratches, raised capillaries, birth marks, open eyes and ears onto these wannabe babies, what’s not too love right? Well fusspot Sue mother to four fake babies definitely wouldn’t dare to disagree. Not a fan of giving up her luxurious holidaying lifestyle and having noisy babies buzzing in her eardrums, she has instead purchased precious Tiffany and Ianna Heland as substitute children. But people do not fret, the thought that has swept through all of our minds, ‘Do these dolls have perfect toes and hands?’ Thankfully you can rest assured knowing that they do (and the world is safe again).
Despite being a bit disturbing, this documentary was highly entertaining, TV junk food at its finest. As much as I leaned towards the remote, I just didn’t have the willpower to switch over (and ended up missing the second half of the Gok finale). But was it worth it you say? Without a shadow of a doubt! Possibly this year’s must see guilty pleasure. After a quick Facebook status update and a group text message to confirm that I was not alone in watching this lunacy, I soon found that I was just one mere viewer amongst the many mesmerized by the fake baby frenzy.
From watching women purchasing top of the line designer clothes for their ‘babies’, formula, Burberry bottle holders, vintage prams, Armani shoes and decorating Master bedrooms with musical mobiles and vibrating cots, the fun just never stopped. It was at this stage that ‘It’s a dolls life’ fluttered around my numbing brain (and perhaps even burnt a few brain cells in the process).
But honestly, Grandma Christine was there really a need to duplicate your grandson Harry? On so many levels this is just unbelievably bizarre (and perhaps illegal? Well if it isn’t it should be). I suppose, I did kind of feel for the old dear when she discussed how much she missed Harry who moved to New Zealand with her daughter. After all she was clearly a lonely and somewhat confused woman. Needless to say though, showing fake ‘Harry’ to actual Harry via Skype crossed the line just a tad. The poor boy looked like he went into a state of shock. Hmm thoughts on why he moved across the globe?
Besides the priceless reaction of Sue when she discovered that her new doll ‘Susie’ had a cracked head, I found it was the boyfriends and husbands in this documentary that really stole the show. To say that they all has this glazed look of fear in their eyes is an understatement. Both men who featured in the show couldn’t bare being in the same vicinity as these eerie dolls (but could we blame them?). At one stage I thought poor Jimmy was going to hijack the Fisher Price 4x4 Jeep and do a legger.
All in all I look forward to repeats of this documentary, or better yet a potential series. An absolute gem of a show with a good dollop of originality.
Laura Delaney
