I’m always looking for heartwarming television to counteract the vaguely evil stuff I secretly delight in watching, so it was no surprise that I wanted to catch Secret Millionaire on Fox last night. Thanks to my nutty family life, I only saw part of one episode and didn’t record the other. But I liked what I did see of the richie-riches being moved by their birds-eye view of the post-Katrina devastation (despite the fact that I wasn’t sure how they explained the camera crew following them), and I plan on recording the rest of the episodes (12/10-11 and 12/17-18).
I later found out that the cameras thing was addressed on-air — some crews were in town days before the millionaires arrived and said theywere filming a documentary on the area. And one weepy colleague of mine, who shall remain nameless, summed up just why I (and hopefully most of last night’s 7.4 million viewers) am willing to give it a chance. Despite a laundry list of reasons to reject the entire production (the clear manipulation, the fact that there was a clear self-promotion aspect on the millionaires’ part to go on air with this, and the idea that Fox is trying to get good karma after years of sociological hate crimes like The Swan and The Littlest Groom) it was really nice to see people doing good things.
What did you guys think? Will you be watching the last four episodes?
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I did not want to watch this. . I did not want to like this. It seemed contrived and manipulative. But, I have to say I flipped past it and wound up watching most of it with tears in my eyes. I still don’t believe the camera crew explanation and the music was definitely purposefully heart-tugging, but I think I will go back and watch.
Question: Is Fox (or the production) paying any of these 100s of thousands for the millionaires? Or is it all their own philanthropy?
Nothing else to watch-so I gave this a chance. I won’t be watching it again.
Blatant manipulation and stupid “da da da” moments, but I watched the first hour with tears in my eyes. I too wondered how they addressed the camera crew. (I missed the first few minutes.) I don’t buy that the targeted individuals were completely clueless.
It was definitely nice to see a different kind of reality show than Fox usually has.
I think it would be cool if they did updates after each episode to show us how each person’s life is different and what they are doing or have done with the money.
Attempted to watch this last night. Seen the first hour, with some tears, but only watched the first hour. For the second hour, after the couple was given a trailor rather than having to find a place, I tuned out. Yes, they sat in their SUV and didn’t want to go in, but they didn’t have to find a place like the father/son in the first ep. Not sure if it’s worth the time to watch more.
Attempted to watch this last night. Seen the first hour, with some tears, but only watched the first hour. For the second hour, after the couple was given a trailor rather than having to find a place, I tuned out. Yes, they sat in their SUV and didn’t want to go in, but they didn’t have to find a place like the father/son in the first ep. Not sure if it’s worth the time to watch more.
The brilliant part is that the richies have to give at least $100,000 of their own money! I missed the first give away of both episodes. How much did construction lady who invited father and son to breakfast get; and how much did woman with feeding program in her house get?
why is always about post Katrina? There are all sorts of disasters that have happened since……..oh, how about the mid-west this last summer?
The construction lady got $25,000 and the lady who fed all the kids got $50,000.
It was filmed last year before the midwest situation
The teeth give away the money. Have you seen a homeless person with million dollar movie star teeth? The camera thing still does not make sense. I would think a cheap button camera on the people would be a more inconspicuous way to do it, but the camera union would have a fit.
Could give some humility lessons for the rich…the money they give away are they tax deductibles? so they(rich) shoot 2 birds with 1 stone…help some family & help their tax returns…hmmmm…let me watch it again …. let the tv viewers be the judge how far this show can go…
My husband loved it and filmed it, but I found it contrived and artificial when I watched later. Missed the first few minutes evidently explaining HOW the camera crew just happened to be there for all the different angles and close-ups. Yup, someone else noticed — poor people just don’t have that “UltraBrite” smile with nice straight teeth. Too contrived for me -I, too, wondered how much millionaires were paid and/or reimbursed. Nope – I won’t watch again. I despise obvious TV manipulation.
I watched both episodes on Hulu. I thought the first one was really good – both the father and son seemed really committed to it. However, I had to wonder just how they got to speak to some of these people, bypassing all natural suspicions. “Hi, we’re complete strangers, and we’d like to meet your cancer-stricken daughter. [chat chat chat] We’ll be back to see you!” Um, ok, that’s a little creepy…
The second episode, I found it silly that they were given housing – it was much more realistic in the first episode when they had to find housing (though who spends $57 / day on housing in a poor neighborhood? even short-term furnished housing? couldn’t you have found a Super-8 for cheaper?) and PAY for it. And then they drove that giant gas-guzzler around. “Yes, hello, we’re between jobs. That’s how we can afford this car, and its ridiculous gas consumption.”
Also, the requisite “coming-out” line is ridiculous. “We lied to you.” What the heck? Liked the show, but lame line.
I turned off the first episode after 5 or 10 minutes. All the talk about how the millionaire was so rich and his life was so wonderful was a turn-off. An example of a show like this done really well was Three Wishes with Amy Grant on NBC. Now *that* was a great show — unfortunately it was cancelled after its first season.
I think this is a good show. The fact that there are wealthy people out there that do not have a clue how the majority live and the problems they deal with. The first episode was more endearing. I think both the father and son took it seriously and I think even learned something in the process. The second story seamed almost forced. I did not get the feeling that the rich couple really learned anything. The second couple however were really generous in their gifts.
What do I think? I think it’s amazing that Abby West is paid to write, considering the inanity of this post. If it’s your job to watch television and report on it, perhaps you shouldn’t confess to not watching the full program or understanding what was happening. “The cameras thing…”? Really? Is that what they teach in J-school these days? I understand this sort of post should be casual, but I expect more from a paid writer.
Not all of them are paid. Just like at tv guide some of them get the opportunity to write recaps on their leisure time that otherwise wouldn’t be on the site at all.
Try being a little more informed before making assinine statements next time.
Btw thanks Abby for the brief comments that allow for people to respond. That’s more than would have otherwise happened if you hadn’t taken the few minutes to write it. Some people don’t have pms and appreciate it
Thanks-ks
I was really into the idea of the show, and made sure to watch it when it was on, But I too had the question on how they were getting all the right video angles, no matter where they were? How could this be for real? Ill watch a few more before I make a decision on the show
Seems phony and contrived. I don’t buy the camera thing either.
I was touched by it. Glad to see your explanation for how the cameras could be so blatant in their presence with people. While there may be a bunch of BS going on in places, there’s no doubt that the people who got the gifts in the one episode I saw deserved them. And little doubt that the couple who were the millionaires got something that money would never buy them. Peace and Love to you… thanks for the info.
I watched my first episode tonight, what a joke, contrived and ridiculous. Even if they are giving away their own money they aren’t giving it to individuals but to organizations. Which, I am sure the Fox network carefully chose for these millionaires. Because they are giving the money to and not individuals, they are getting a tax write off. I am disgusted. First a seven hundred billion tax payer dollar corporate welfare Check, and then a television show which glorifies further tax breaks for the wealthy? It’s a lot of melodramatic nonsense. As I don’t believe for an instant that these people actually gave their own money, or at least were not reimbursed by the Fox network for a good portion of it as compensation for the millionaire’s participation. This show is another opiate for the masses. I suggest that if people who like this show want something that is truly meaningful with substance, take a nice crap.
Yes I will turn in and if you paid attention on the 1st episod, they claim they are doing a documentary about how the low income live and survive. That’s how they explain the cameras. And your right the 1st couple (Father/Son) were sooo much more convincing than the 2nd couple (husband/wife) please your driving around in a BIG luxury car..ummm NO were NOT going to believe your poor! Plz….haven’t watched last nights yet.
The “millionaires’ get to choose 100% on their own who they give money too. It is also 100% of their own money. What you dont see is how every single one of them continue to stay involved with the recipients and continue helping in several ways (not just monitarily) This is a legit show everyone – and it IS good deeds TV! Yay for you Fox!
I love this show, but if they state that the rules of the show are to give away “At least $100,000,” then “G” should have done so. He only gave out $90,000 on tonight’s show. Not a big deal, but come on.
I have seen each episode of the Secret Millionaire. Today’s episode 12/11/08 was a very disappointing episode and makes me feel like sometimes the wealthy are ingenuious about their feelings. I assume the Millionaire gets something out of giving up there own money: Good PR, Tax write off or something that makes them want to give up their own money.
With that said I was impressed with a couple of episodes ago where the husband and wife gave $100,000 EACH to the three people.
Now you have someone who is worth over $300 Million and he disects the money to give out less than $100,000.
When you have this much money it is hard to believe that he was really touch by what he saw when he gave out so little to each of the people.
I was very disappointed by todays episode and made me feel like it was a joke effort.
If future episodes are like this then it will not be worth watching.
What would be nice to see is a follow-up with the people in the future to he how they have done or see some numbers on how the money had help.
With all the money that the millionaires have, is it possible to provide more than just money?
Maybe a job offer, college grant for a child in the family or something more tangible than just some money.
I think this could be an interesting show, but the background music is so LOUD that I can’t understand a word of the dialog. What are you thinking? Isn’t the story important? I can’t get involved with the characters. I don’t hear their story. Please stop the “Music”. It is completely distracting.
To be honest, I have watched all three episodes and the only one I fealt was truly heartfelt was the very first one with the father and son. At least the father walked around in grungy clothes and five o’clock shadow and really played the part of a struggling father. Also, the father and son had no car and walked everywhere. The husband and wife cruised around in their loaded suburban…pretty rough, however they did give away more money then anyone. Tonight’s episode with “G” was ridiculous. Although I understand he couldn’t give the recovering addicts any money for fear of relapse, the cheap SOB only gave away $90,000. A. He was supposed to give away “At least $100,000.00″ and B. $90,000 is chump change to someone who claims he is worth 300 million. I’m sure the joker drops over 100 thousand on his trips to Vegas. It’s a great idea for a show however I believe most of it is totally set up by the production company.