Fox's new reality show

[Guest bob_barron]

From Variety-

 

After months of top-secret shooting, Fox next month will take the wraps off of a reality series that poses a simple question: Who wants to marry a multimillionaire -- who's actually not even a millionaire?

 

 

 

The network has quietly finished production on "Joe Millionaire," a seven-episode series that combines elements of Fox's controversial 2000 special "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" with ABC's red-hot relationship franchise "The Bachelor." The series will bow Jan. 6 at 9 p.m., filling the time slot vacated by "Girls Club." Alex McLeod ("Trading Spaces") will host.

 

 

"In a way, we're ripping the mask off the people (who sign up for shows like 'The Bachelor')," Fox reality programming chief Mike Darnell told Daily Variety. "We find out whether they're really doing this for love."

 

 

"Joe" features 20 single women who fly to France in order to win the affection of a hand-some American they believe to be worth $50 million. The twist: The as-yet unidentified man is actually a construction worker with an annual income of $19,000.

 

 

"It's the gold diggers and the ditch digger," one Fox insider said.

 

 

Viewers will know from the start that the faux Joe is actually a blue-collar guy with no coin to his name. They'll also watch as he undergoes a Pygmalion-like transformation from humble construction worker into someone who might pass for a multimillionaire.

 

 

The 20 women who participated in the show, however, are told Joe recently inherited $50 million and is looking for someone with whom he can share his wealth. Joe will maintain this ruse, though he'll be honest with the women about every other aspect of his life, from education to past romances.

 

 

MAJOR DETAIL

 

 

"All of his backstory is true, except for the money part," Darnell said.

 

 

As in "Bachelor," Joe will narrow down his potential mates each week, taking them on horseback rides through the French countryside near what the women believe is his chateau, or wining and dining them at the Eiffel Tower.

 

 

Rather than hand his rejects roses, Joe will give losing women jewelry of escalating value. The payoff comes in the finale episode, when the faux millionaire chooses the one woman with whom he wants to have a relationship. If the woman agrees to continue the relationship -- Fox isn't saying if a marriage proposal is involved -- Joe is forced to come clean.

 

'A SPECTACULAR SHOW'

 

"In the end, he must reveal to her that he's basically broke," Darnell said. "We get to see if she still wants to be with him. It's a spectacular show with a spectacular ending."

 

Fox Entertainment president Gail Berman knows "Joe Millionaire" will have its critics, just as "Bachelor" has its detractors.

 

"It'll cause some controversy and hopefully grab some viewers," she said. "We just think it's a great spin on these kinds of shows and reality TV in general."

 

What "Joe Millionaire" won't be is a regular part of Fox's schedule. "We cannot duplicate this show. It's a one-time-only thing," Berman said.

 

Indeed, in order to ensure none of the women discovered Joe's secret prematurely, Fox and series producer Rocket Science Prods. ("Temptation Island (news - Y! TV)") produced the series under a cloak of secrecy heavy even by the already paranoid standards of the reality TV world.

 

Less than a half-dozen Fox execs knew of the project's existence. The show was shot in France under the code name "The Big Choice" to further throw off competitors. Most of the production crew in France had no idea what they were really shooting, nor did a butler hired to serve as Joe's assistant.

 

"We had to keep it unbelievably secret," Darnell said. "If the participants knew (the twist), then you're screwed. And if our competitors found out, the women in the show would have found out."

 

While word did leak out about "Big Choice," competitors were never certain about the details of the show, other than that it was relationship-oriented. News that Fox is developing an arranged-marriage series also may have thrown some off the scent.

[The Dames 0]

HAHAHAHAHA...

 

I'd watch.

 

Dames

[Guest NoCalMike]

Here is the thing though. If the lady chosen has half a brain, of course she will say YES on national TV, but after the show is over and no one is watching, she will just leave the guy. I mean even all the millionaires and "Bachelors" haven't even keeped their wives, so what makes you think "Joe Millionaire" would?

[Guest JHawk]

I'll probably watch depending on the time slot.

 

But no way in hell does the chick stay with him after that.

[Guest Choken One]

Which is why they will DO fallow up three weeks later.

[Guest MarvinisaLunatic]

I think whoever wins will sue. I can smell a lawsuit coming from this a mile away.

[Guest chirs3]

Wow - a reality show that might actually be worth watching...

 

Wait, what am I saying?!

 

*dunks head in bucket of icewater*

[Guest Eagan469]

I think whoever wins will sue. I can smell a lawsuit coming from this a mile away.

I'm sure FOX put a clause in the contract that the winning lady is not actually entitled to any cash sum.

 

Or, there is a seperate prize on top of winning the competition.

[Guest Retro Rob]

This will be the first reality show that I have watched since Boot Camp.

[Guest Human Fly]

How much is the construction worker getting for doing this show though? If at the end he's like: "I'm really a construction worker making $19,000 a year, plus the $150,000 I got for doing this show........" It's not near 50 mil. but I bet Fox will take care of them pretty well.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

best idea ever. This is the first reality show I will ever watch, just to see that last spark and glimmer of hope crushed out of some unsuspecting camera slut. Fox, I love you.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Holy shit that's a good idea. Too bad it's going to have a sappy crapfest for an ending when the girl actually says yes. It should be extravagant courtship and living high on the hog for awhile, then her dreams need to be shattered completely, and she leaves the poor sap in her dust, walking away embarassed and broke.

[Guest El Satanico]

How much is the construction worker getting for doing this show though?

I'm sure that he got a hefty paycheck for doing it.

[Guest cynicalprofit]

Um if they dont tell her before they are to get married that he doesnt have 50 million, its completely illegal and grounds for divorce in a heart beat.

 

This is the worst idea every for a tv show, EVER. They still need to do that real life bevely hillbillies though, it would probably be just as fun as the anna nichole show.

[Guest Slapnuts00]

This is just cynical enough to get my interest. Tremendous idea. I wish the whole show had a dark edge focused on completely humiliating the participants, but as mentioned it will probably be a sapfest.