Review: 'Secret Millionaire'

I am of at least two minds about "Secret Millionaire," a new reality show from Fox -- based, like so many reality series, on a foreign model -- in which the very rich go incognito among the very poor for six days to learn or remind themselves what it's like to live on a pittance. At the end of each episode, the millionaire will give at least $100,000 of his or her own money to a deserving person or persons met over the course of the week -- part of the show is about finding them. With the economy going over Niagara Falls in a barrel, it seems the right time to explore the real and psychic space between the haves and the have-nots.

Although there may be some (other) millionaires in the audience, whose hard hearts "Secret Millionaire" will met and whose purse strings it may loosen, the greater audience for this is the ordinary rest of us, who at least might have had trouble paying a bill sometime. Although the participating tycoons attest to the life-changing aspect of the experience, it is, as entertainment, more about the big giveaway than the still-revolutionary notion of giving away one's goods. (Instead of just learning to, you know, appreciate them more.) Its forebears are "Queen for a Day" and "Extreme Home Makeover" with their narratives of suffering rewarded.

It's also a little like those old tales in which a king goes disguised among his subjects to reward the deserving good. And I couldn't help thinking of "Sullivan's Travels," the Preston Sturges comedy about a Hollywood filmmaker disguising himself as a tramp to learn about poverty -- especially a scene in which Sullivan's butler, who knows whereof he speaks, warns him off: "The poor know all about poverty and only the morbid rich would find the topic glamorous," and they "rather resent the invasion of their privacy, I believe quite properly, sir."

Does "Secret Millionaire" exploit the poor? I don't imagine that this is what the producers mean to do -- I am pretty sure they mean to make some people happy, and some people into better people. I don't know whether you can rightly call it exploitation to give a person $50,000, and presumably the people whose distress is nationally displayed here have agreed to the displaying. But most reality TV lives off of emotion, like some life-sucking "Star Trek" alien: Exploitation is its stock in trade, tears are the signal of its success.

I certainly don't mean to question the sincerity of the participants, either the witting millionaires or the unwitting subjects of their largess. (And in each of the two episodes that aired Wednesday night, the participants gave more than they were contractually obligated to.) In the first, Gregory Ruzicka, a Newport Beach lawyer who makes hay from home foreclosures, is landed in a depressed beach town with his young-adult son, given $150 -- welfare wages -- and let loose to survive. They do some manual labor, meet a woman who takes in the homeless and a little girl suffering from cancer; they feel for them, and bond with one another. In the second, Todd and Gwen Graves, whose money comes from a Baton Rouge-based chicken-finger fast-food franchise, move into a trailer and travel out to see what Katrina hath wrought (and is still not righted).

With the millionaires writing checks on their personal accounts, I can't help but wonder how much Fox is going to make on this thing, and where that money will go.

-- Robert Lloyd

Pictured: Millionaire Molly Shattuck

(Photo courtesy Fox)

Comments

[Z]

He gave out more money, but it was an hour show, they cut out the others. It's TV, they chose the pieces that were the most compelling.
I know Gurbaksh personally and he WOULD NOT nickel and dime needy people.

[Megan]

This show is disgusting. I live in Imperial Beach and at the beginning of the episode it stated that 250,000 residents live in poverty..... who did the math on that one??? Imperial Beach only has 28,000 residents. Overdramatic??? Just a little bit. And our beaches AREN'T even close to looking like that. IB isn't the nicest place but its not as bad as they make it. Many people are outraged at how we were portrayed. I certainly hope that FOX apologizes for their extreme dishonesty and sets things right.

[Wayne in Chicago]

I think Secret Millionaire is very inspiring. The idea is pretty simple to implement in your own life: get out in some poor neighborhoods where you live, start talking to people, and you'll probably pretty quickly find some people you'll want to help.

I did enjoy the show with G, although considering G seems to be the wealthiest of all the millionaires, I would imagine he felt embarrased at the checks he was giving out compared to the other millioniares that had much smaller fortunes. G seemed like a super good guy though, and I really felt he was inspired to do much more charitable giving. I believe he will be a real positive force in San Francisco.

Don't slam the show though or begrudge the millionaires fortunes or how much they give, the fact is they are giving substantial sums after the goverment has already taken 50% of their income in taxes.

[Doris Stewart]

Molly Shattack, my name is Doris, I am writing hopely for some Help. I am 69 years old. I live alone. I am on SS surcuity. I barely draw enough to keep a roof over my head.I can't get any Help because I have some property. But I worked 42 years for what I got. And its not paid for.I struggle every month. And some months I don't have food money, But I fell about three months ago and its not healed yet. But I have a artifical heart valve and take coumandon which is a form of rat poison to keep my blood thin so it can go through my heart valve. You can check every thing out on me call sheriff office, and Tallahassee Memorial Hospital in Tallahassee,fl. I have a 7 year old great grandson and I can't even get him Christmas,because my money is gone at the first of the month. I don't even have a vehicle. When I fell 3 months ago I cut my rightleg to the bone. I would be very appreticatly if you could fine it in your heart to help me.I need help greatly. You can check my story outI still owe $121,000 on my home. I would love to get my ggrandson something for Christmas. I hope you don't feel I am begging I am in great need. Thank you so much. doris

[kim]

This cheerleader needs to ditch her jealous, negative drag of a mother. Hanging around with her old downer morose mom is not healthy. You should not add people to youershow like this that need therapy. It is supposed to be about the people and there stories, not some old grouchy hag.

[wandamclaughlin]

We are not millionaires, not even close to being rich, not famous, nor anticipate ever being any of them. We are I'd say middle class work ing people,(my husband works much harder than I I would have to admit) but we enjoy our everyday small town simple life, enjoy our little grandchildren when time allows, HOWEVER, I honestly would love to be a millionaire for just one day in my life, just to have the satisfaction of giving like these people are so fortunate to be able to do.. what normal, everyday person wouldnt want to be able to give like the millionaires do... We can only dream to do such things.

[Nikki]

I live in Imperial beach and heard about a program bashing us. I got on the web and watched it and was in awe! I can't belive they would make up this crap for drama and not even care about what it does to our town! IB has worked REALLY hard to clean up our city and has done a darn good job, then this happens. Now our reputation is trashed in front of the whole country. Don't get me wrong charity is really cool, however, making up lies is certinly not!

[Dajing]

Typically over-scripted, fake-looking and silly show from Fox. Rich people dropped into these poor conditions - with an army of TV crew to watch over them, contracts protecting them, and then doing the Queen for a Day shtick with people who obviously know from the start that they are going to be getting something from this, though perhaps not how much. Was this produced by the same guy who did Donald Trump's show? "Reality" and "Fox" do not fit in the same sentence.

Let's see Fox give 100% of its ad revenue from this show to homeless shelters and rehab centers. Don't hold your breath.