Looks like America is entering its “Running Man” era, except we’re replacing convicts with potential immigrants. Producer Rob Worsoff (“Duck Dynasty”) has pitched The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a reality competition show about gaining U.S. citizenship. If it comes to fruition, the show will be called “The American.”
“The American” puts a group of immigrants on a train that drives all around the country. They will compete in regionally specific ‘cultural’ contests, like assembling a Model T in Detroit, at each stop. All in hopes of fast-tracking their way to U.S. citizenship.
While this may all sound like a REALLY meta promotional stunt for the upcoming film “The Long Walk,” this is all too real.* Worsoff confirmed he made the pitch via a Facebook post. “It’s not mean-spirited. Instead, ‘The American’ is a celebration of what it means to be… well… American – At a time when our morale is at an all-time low,” he writes.
In his pitch, Worsoff, a Canadian immigrant, tries to deny any political motivation behind the show…”I’m not affiliated with any political ideology,” he writes. “As an immigrant myself, I am merely trying to make a show that celebrates the immigration process, celebrate what it means to be American and have a national conversation about what it means to be American, through the eyes of the people who want it most.”
Guess we are just supposed to forget that immigration is the top issue with every presidential election. It’s also not like any political party has ever treated people’s lives like a game, that would just be crass.
“The American”
DHS has ruled out any chance of this being a sick joke by confirming it is reviewing the pitch. “The Department of Homeland Security receives hundreds of television show pitches a year, ranging from documentaries surrounding ICE and CBP border operation to white collar investigations by HSI,” Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary for public affairs, told The Hollywood Reporter. “Each proposal undergoes a thorough vetting process prior to denial or approval.”
McLaughlin says “The American” is in the “beginning stages of that vetting process and has not received approval or denial by staff.” Later, she denied reports that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is backing the project. Worsoff even confirmed that he hasn’t spoken to Noem personally, but worked with her colleagues at the DHS.
According to Worsoff, he previously pitched “The American” during Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s presidencies. “It was never a flat-out NO from any admin,” his Facebook post reads. “It was always just about timing.” We’re not sure why he didn’t pitch it under Donald Trump’s first presidency, or if he did, why it was rejected.
We’ll keep you posted on the racist wet dream that is “The American” if/when the show begins developing.
*”The American” also bears a striking resemblance to the 2010 horror film “Undocumented.” Except, that contestants are killed for giving the wrong answer to questions of the citizenship exam. Questions that many natural-born citizens can’t even answer.
