FOX's Secret Millionaire - not impressed
December 7th 2008 23:20
I watched parts of the first two episodes of the new FOX show Secret Millionaire and was not very impressed. Some over-funded yahoos go into an impoverished area and try to pick and choose whom among the little people they deem worthy of their scraps. They are portrayed as making the seemingly huge sacrifice of living among those who aren't members of the country club to garner an "atta boy" on national television.
The first show featured a bottom-feeder who is getting even more rich because of all the foreclosures, who gets "exhausted" by one day's work. In a fair world, he would be made to clean houses, not take them from people. The presence of cameras are explained as a documentary about homelessness.
The second show was set in the area still not recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and uses the misfortune as a backdrop for their little play. A multi-millionaire couple "dresses down" and mingles with the common folk. They get to choose who among the real working people they meet are most deserving of their happy little act. Now not only do the working classes of America have to deal with economic hardship whilst the rich, for the most part, do quite fine - now us common people have to consider that we might be part of a twisted version of Fantasy Island.
When the man of the rich couple talked about putting on his "2,000.00 suit" and wondering how the people would react, I'm sure he wasn't sharing my view, hoping someone might punch him in the face. No, the people who got the money were happy to take it. I can't blame 'em, I would too. What I can't understand is if some rich folks are so wanting to give to the less fortunate, why do they need to stroke their egos on national television when they do it?
FOX claims the show is "unscripted" but it seemed very contrived and over-done. From the RV the couple would stay in for a few days to the people selected, it seemed to very much follow a scripted line, designed to maximize the emotional impact of the show. I suppose that is to be expected, but it would be nice if it wasn't quite so blatant.
Personally, I would welcome a show that featured modern day Robin Hood. Not sure how they would pull that off, but it would at the least be more interesting. Don't get me wrong, the fact that wealth exists in itself isn't a bad idea. When it is flaunted as it is now, and when it is seen as the ultimate level of achievement, that's where I have a problem. One good teacher or fireman will do so much more good in the world than ten trust fund heirs. Persons we look up to shouldn't be the people with "the most toys," but those who do the most to better the overall condition.
Secret Millionaire comes across more as a contrived attempt to allow some of the wealthy to absolve themselves of a little guilt (on television) while letting the little people impress them. Secret Millionaire is nothing more than a crass and cliché play exploiting the big divide in America between the very rich and the working class.
The first show featured a bottom-feeder who is getting even more rich because of all the foreclosures, who gets "exhausted" by one day's work. In a fair world, he would be made to clean houses, not take them from people. The presence of cameras are explained as a documentary about homelessness.
The second show was set in the area still not recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and uses the misfortune as a backdrop for their little play. A multi-millionaire couple "dresses down" and mingles with the common folk. They get to choose who among the real working people they meet are most deserving of their happy little act. Now not only do the working classes of America have to deal with economic hardship whilst the rich, for the most part, do quite fine - now us common people have to consider that we might be part of a twisted version of Fantasy Island.
When the man of the rich couple talked about putting on his "2,000.00 suit" and wondering how the people would react, I'm sure he wasn't sharing my view, hoping someone might punch him in the face. No, the people who got the money were happy to take it. I can't blame 'em, I would too. What I can't understand is if some rich folks are so wanting to give to the less fortunate, why do they need to stroke their egos on national television when they do it?
FOX claims the show is "unscripted" but it seemed very contrived and over-done. From the RV the couple would stay in for a few days to the people selected, it seemed to very much follow a scripted line, designed to maximize the emotional impact of the show. I suppose that is to be expected, but it would be nice if it wasn't quite so blatant.
Personally, I would welcome a show that featured modern day Robin Hood. Not sure how they would pull that off, but it would at the least be more interesting. Don't get me wrong, the fact that wealth exists in itself isn't a bad idea. When it is flaunted as it is now, and when it is seen as the ultimate level of achievement, that's where I have a problem. One good teacher or fireman will do so much more good in the world than ten trust fund heirs. Persons we look up to shouldn't be the people with "the most toys," but those who do the most to better the overall condition.
Secret Millionaire comes across more as a contrived attempt to allow some of the wealthy to absolve themselves of a little guilt (on television) while letting the little people impress them. Secret Millionaire is nothing more than a crass and cliché play exploiting the big divide in America between the very rich and the working class.
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Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
Television is certainly getting tackier and tackier and it sounds like this show stoops to an all time low.
Comment by Anonymous
Good concept poorly executed. Manipulative, staged and scripted. Mostly unsympathetic rich folk who are grossed out by the dirty poor people and the way they live.