CBS is standing by one of March Madness’ most divisive quasi-traditions.
In an interview with Andrew Marchand of the New York Post that ran on Tuesday, CBS executive producer Harold Bryant defended the network’s practice of showing crying children at the end of NCAA Tournament games.
“It is part of the drama and the storytelling of the event,” said Bryant. “It is part of the emotion of the tournament.
“They are all part of the story,” he continued. “All of the people in the arena. We try to strike that proper balance, the good and the bad. We try to strike that proper balance, as we tell the story of the tournament.”
The first week of this year’s tournament has already featured multiple shots of bawling children mourning the eliminations of their respective teams.
Crying kids every game. #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/hXrWmQ4rUY
— RKT, NBCT (@GoSunDevils) March 19, 2018
A die hard fan in maroon and gold crying? I feel you kid. #gophers #ASU pic.twitter.com/1PE19vlNvg
— Nadine Babu (@NadineBabu) March 15, 2018
Cincinnati kid wants to vomit after that chokejob pic.twitter.com/sTv4dfizfC
— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) March 19, 2018
The practice has slowly been leading to more and more backlash on Twitter.
I think we can STOP showing the crying kids thank you.
— Freddie Coleman (@ColemanESPN) March 19, 2018
CBS/TNT etc really needs to stop showing crying kids in the stands. It’s just dumb.
— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) March 19, 2018
Let’s stop showing crying children at the end of these games @CBSSports @marchmadness @MarchMadnessTV Show a little compassion. Nobody wants their child on TV in tears.
— Bradley R Stangel (@Stangelbrad) March 15, 2018
stop showing crying kids. stop showing crying kids. stop showing crying kids. stop showing crying kids. stop showing crying kids. stop showing crying kids. stop showing crying kids. stop showing crying kids. stop showing crying kids.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) March 19, 2018
Hey TBS, TNT, CBS PLEASE STOP SHOWING CHILDREN CRYING WHEN THEIR FAVORITE TEAM LOSES A HEART BREAKER. AT LEAST HAVE A HEART FOR CHILDREN. SICK AND TIRED OF WATCHING THAT. THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT TOURNAMENT. STOP RUINING IT FOR THE KIDS.
— Barry Leonard (@wufpakfbfan) March 19, 2018
Dear Tourney Producers: Enough with the crying kids!
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) March 19, 2018
Yes, the shots have led to some quality meme material over the years. But the more important discussion here is if constantly showing children in anguish at the end of tournament games is at all explotiative or otherwise in poor taste — one that CBS and other networks should probably continue to evaluate.
