by Tim Peters

Created on: November 13, 2009

In 2003, reality dating shows were still a hot trend in TV and Fox's Joe Millionaire was one of the more brilliant twists on The Bachelor. Picture this: What if the wealthy millionaire looking for the woman of his dreams... wasn't really wealthy? What if he was just a construction worker? And would the woman he chose still love him when his secret was revealed? Answering all these questions is the premise behind Joe Millionaire. Evan Marriott (also a former underwear model, though never described as such during the show) has been set up in a beautiful French castle by the producers, and 20 women have been invited to win his affection. Only he and his "butler" know that it's all a set-up. Joe Millionaire was a ratings machine when it first aired, and it's one of the few reality dating shows that lives up to its hype.

In its format, there's not much to Joe Millionaire that's different from The Bachelor. There are dates in dazzling locales, there are arguments, and there are hearts broken. And, of course, there's the eliminations. Alex McLeod, the nominal hostess of the show, oversees the necklace presentation ceremony, and is little more than eye candy. On the other hand, Paul Hogan (no, not Crocodile Dundee) is featured prominently, with fireside chats, narration, and a very subtle air of ironic amusement that offers nudges and winks to the knowing audience.

Evan himself comes across as a lunkhead. A lunkhead with a chiseled physique that makes him a chick magnet, but a lunkhead nonetheless. Luckily for him, his boorishness plays well into his role as nouveau riche heir to a grand family fortune. It forces the women to either fake their way through in an attempt to get their hands on his non-existent money, or develop a real love connection despite his obvious flaws. And even Evan has some second thoughts about the whole charade, exploited masterfully by the producers who edit it well into the show.

This editing isn't without its flaws, though. One infamous scene with runner-up Nicole Kozar shows her and Evan in a compromising position out in the woods. Regardless of what actually happened (both claim it was strictly kissing), the absurdly cartoonish sucking and slurping noises were the crudest parts of the whole show. Evan gets an especially bad break for the reasons given. His bumbling through as a faux millionaire is played up a little too much, and makes it difficult to see him as anything more than a Forrest Gump-esque bystander to the whole thing.

But

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>