Secret Millionaire: Spreading The Wealth
Episodes 1 and 2: Recaps by Jenny Lane
December 5, 2008
Secret Millionaire is Fox’s newest addition to the Reality TV genre. The concept is simple. Take millionaires (presumably multi-millionaires), put them in scruffy clothes, drop them in a bad neighborhood, and make them live like those around them for a week. During that time, the millionaires are supposed to meet people and learn about their stories. When the week is over, they then write checks for “at least” one hundred thousand dollars to one or more of the people that they have met.
A few questions immediately pop into my head. Yes, it’s supposedly their own money. I do wonder though if Fox is giving them a “salary” so that they’re not digging into their own pockets for the money. The phrase “at least” also intrigues me, it will be interesting to see how many of them write checks for exactly one hundred thousand, and how many choose to give more.
We’re also told that the people that the millionaires meet will be told that the cameras are due to a documentary being filmed on poverty. Hmm, two new people appear out of the blue with sketchy stories, and ask a lot of questions. And coincidentally, a camera crew just happens to be filming a documentary at the exact same time that these new people show up. I wonder if that’s going to make anyone suspicious.
Finally, the clips I have seen show the millionaires handing over personal checks that they have written out of their personal checkbook. Really? Do these people even have checking accounts? Even if they do, are they really going to be able to go and drop a hundred thousand dollar check in their account with no questions? I sure hope that after the show, the producers exchange the personal check for a cashier’s check.
Tonight, Fox is airing a two-hour premiere. It’s actually a double episode, with two different millionaires being covered. As the show begins, we hear lovely violins in the background, and see several wealthy people doing what they stereotypically do. There’s a guy sitting on a private jet drinking champagne, another with a line of expensive cars, and another sitting in the back of a limo. Then we see several scenes of the now uncomfortable millionaires working hard and rubbing elbows with the poor. Finally, we are shown tear filled clips of them telling the people that they have met that they aren’t actually poor, as they hand over their checks.
The first millionaire we meet is Greg Ruzicka, who we see standing in front of a limo and a private jet, wearing an ugly light tan suit. I’m struck by how tall and thin Greg is, thin to the point of wondering if he’s recovering from an illness. Greg tells us that he “runs a multi million dollar law firm in Irvine, California.” He tells us that he leads a “very privileged life,” as we see him drinking champagne on his private jet (and calling the flight attendant ‘my dear’) and golfing. He names off several cars he owns, including an Aston Martin, Mercedes, Audi and Rolls. He says he has owned 15 airplanes, and has a 48 foot boat (he gives the specific name, but my eyes are glazing over) that he takes up and down the coast. Greg says he lives in two locations – Newport Beach (and he specifically notes that he lives at the ‘very end of the peninsula) and Maui.
Greg says he dreamed of making his first million by the time he was 32, and he made that goal. He says that his firm specializes in foreclosure and bankruptcy. He smiles as he says “when the economy is doing poorly, we do very very well.” At a bar, he toasts an older gentleman (perhaps his father), who asks Greg when he’s going to spend more time with him. Greg’s answer is “as soon as business slows down, and they stop foreclosing on every house in southern California.” The older man says “well we may never see you again,” and then they both laugh. Greg pulls out a big wad of bills to pay for the two drinks, and tells us that “business is incredibly good right now.”
Greg tells us that his personality is “anxiety ridden, driven, intense, probably an A plus” (as opposed to a type A). The scene cuts to his beautiful home along the beach, and then we hear a loud electric guitar coming from inside. Playing the guitar is a younger guy with longer dark hair, and also a very thin build. My first thought is that maybe this is Greg’s life partner. Then I shudder as Greg informs us that this is his son Cole, who is 22. Cole takes a short break from playing the guitar, long enough to give the camera an evil look, and to wipe his nose with the back of his hand.
I read on the internet that Cole wants to be a musician or a model. From hearing him play for a few seconds, and now seeing him, I can’t say that I think he’s going to be very successful at either. The guitar playing sounds completely stereotypical “rock band wannabe.” As for his looks, his nose is huge, his hair is thin, his posture is bad, and his build is scrawny. Picture an Abercrombie model, and then picture the opposite.
Greg stammers and says that Cole is “much more of…sort of…the…artistic type…from the…uh…educational standpoint.” Cole says he used to worry about how he was going to accomplish what his father has, but he doesn’t anymore. Greg says he now has an “incredibly tight relationship with his son” as we see them golfing. Not surprisingly, he says Cole got whatever he wanted, and talks about leasing a castle in Ireland for Cole’s 15th birthday. He says it’s going to be enlightening for Cole to see that not everyone has had the blessings that he has had.
Cole and Greg jump.....
Jenny lives in the Silicon Valley with her husband, daughter and five furry kids. In addition to all things reality tv, she loves Nip/Tuck, Big Love and the Food Network. She’s addicted to her laptop, so if you’d like to feed her addiction, you can e-mail her at Jenny@RealityTVCalendar.com.
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