TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Millionaires Open Hearts, Checkbooks On TV Show

ADVERTISEMENT

By WALT BELCHER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2008

The Fox network, which has a reputation for some of the lowest of the low-brow reality shows, proves it has a heart with "Secret Millionaire," a feel-good reality series debuting at 8 tonight just in time for the holiday season.

Based on a successful British series, the premise here is that it's better to give than to receive.

These hand-picked millionaires move into communities undercover as common working folk strangers. They size up the needy for a week and then in a tearful reveal they give away $100,000 (of their own money).

Executive producer Bruce Toms ("The Real World") has said that finding the right millionaires was the key to the project.

There were more than 9 million households in America with a net worth of at least $1 million (not counting primary residences), in the most recent report by TNS Financial Services, a market research and polling firm.

Toms' production team searched to find those willing to open their wallets. Most were already involved in charitable work.

Some were reluctant to go public on a reality show until Toms showed them the British show, which draws about as many tears as an episode of "Extreme Home Makeover."

These millionaires are not show boaters like Donald Trump. Many are self-made and none are selfish.

"Secret Millionaire" may be just the kind of show to warm our hearts in these cold, hard economic times.

CBS TRIPLE THREAT: CBS starts prime time at 8 tonight with the classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," followed at 9 by a televised special built around announcing the Grammy nominees. B.B. King, Celine Dion, John Mayer and Taylor Swift are scheduled to perform. The Grammys will be presented in February.

Capping off the lineup is "The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show" at 10 with Heidi Klum, Selita Ebanks and Adriana Lima among the models. The show originates from the lavishly restored Fontainebleau Miami Beach.

STORYTIME: Hundreds of Tampa-area residents have already signed up to tell their histories when the mobile StoryCorps trailer sets up in Ybor City on Dec. 11-22.

This national nonprofit effort to collect personal stories (about 20 minutes each) has partnered with community radio station WMNF, 88.5 FM.

More reservations for Tampa stories will become available on Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. but the slots are expected to be filled quickly. The mobile trailer returns Jan. 5-17. Call (800) 850-4406 for information or go to www.storycorps.net to book a reservation.

StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another's lives through listening. Since 2003, tens of thousands of everyday people have interviewed family and friends.

PARK HISTORY: The PBS series "History Detectives" is looking for artifacts from any of the country's 400 National Parks.

As a prelude to PBS' fall 2009 debut of Ken Burns' new documentary series, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea," the "History Detectives" are looking for national park-related items with historical significance.

To submit historical items for consideration go to: www.pbs.org/historydetectives and click on the "Submit Your Story" box in the lower left corner of the home page.

BECK ON CALL: Fox News Channel will launch new host Glenn Beck's self-titled program on Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. Beck, who got his national start at Tampa's WFLA radio, recently left CNN Headline News.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT