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Players Must 'Give Big Or Go Home' In New Oprah Giveaway Reality Series
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Published: February 28, 2008
Leave it to Oprah Winfrey to combine celebrity, charity and reality into a television show that could bring her more money and fame.
"Oprah's Big Give," debuting at 9 p.m. Sunday on ABC, is the first of eight one-hour episodes on which 10 people are given a challenge to help needy and worthy strangers.
The Big O herself makes multiple appearances during the run of the show.
In the first episode, she hands the 10 contestants sealed envelopes with only a picture and the name of a complete stranger. Under intense pressure, they must give big to change this person's life in just five days.
Before it's over, a widow gets cash to save her home, a wounded soldier gets a helping hand, a homeless mom gets an apartment, a medical student gets money to pay off his school loan and a woman who works with the developmentally disabled gets a new recreation center.
There are more tears and heartwarming moments than 10 episodes of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."
It's a curious mix of generosity and greed. While the contestants are doing good works, they also are racing against one another for a cash prize of $1 million. The show's motto is "Give Big or Go Home."
The players aren't exactly Mother Teresas. There is the usual mix of aggressive, self-absorbed types who appear on reality shows.
"Big Give" combines elements of "The Amazing Race" (players have to travel the country to track down their needy ones) and "The Apprentice" (players are paired in teams and have to develop fundraising events because they start out with only $2,500 in seed money).
Winfrey defends this as a series that will show viewers how they can do good work, too.
Along the way, Hollywood celebrities get involved and make guest appearances. In the first episode, for example, Jamie Foxx donates $50,000 to one of the charity cases.
Celebrity guests include Jennifer Aniston, John Travolta, Jada Pinkett-Smith, tennis legend Andre Agassi, skateboarding idol Tony Hawk, auto racing star Danica Patrick and others.
Nate Berkus, a frequent contributor to "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and a celebrity interior designer, is the host.
At the end of each hour, the contestants face a panel of three judges who rate their leadership, accomplishments, creativity and presentation.
The judges include "Naked Chef" Jamie Oliver; Tony Gonzalez, star tight end with football's Kansas City Chiefs; and Malaak Compton-Rock, wife of comedian-actor Chris Rock.
The players are:
•Angelo, 30, a West Point graduate and Iraq war veteran from Ann Arbor, Mich.
•Brandi, 23, a pageant queen from Chicago.
•Cameron, 22, an entrepreneur and dot-com millionaire from Roanoke, Va.
•Carlana, 38, a paraplegic, author and media executive from Glendale, Calif.
•Eric, 37, a former model from Boston who works as a disaster relief worker
•Kim, 39, a National Football League marketing specialist from Brentwood, Tenn.
•Marlene, 37, a train attendant from Chicago.
•Olussegun "Sheg," 23, a pre-med student from Nashville.
•Rachael, 31, a singer and actress from Los Angeles.
•Stephen, 43, a real estate developer from Bedford, N.Y.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( cjdunkel ) on March 9, 2008 at 9:57 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I think you are doing a wonderful thing helping people out that needs help your a gift from god. You are a wonderful lady keep up the good work that you are doing. God bless you
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