A Dose of Reality: The Next Joe Millionaire - Episode 1
by Beth Gottfried
Published: October 21, 2003
Trailing on the success of Evan Marriott, (and his 5 mins of fame) David Smith tries his luck as the new “Joe Millionaire.” The shy, modest man with abs of steel is about as stereotypically American as Wonder bread. (if you define “America” as Aryan cowboys with deep southern accents) Despite his southern charm, David seems a reluctant choice for the show. Evan Marriott may have been as dead as a doorpost in the personality dept., but David seems a tad more naïve and genuinely dense. (ex: He is surprised that Italian women speak Italian) His “Golly gee, aw shucks!” expressions may seem endearing at first, but I can imagine that over time I’d want to smack the guy over the head. Of course in doing so I may do irreparable damage to the few brain cells in activity in that brain of his. So I doubt I would take the chance. Cause then there would be no show.
And this would apparently be a bad thing, i think. (?)
Back to the show...
The European women far outdo the American women in last season’s “Joe Millionaire.” They are much more attractive (less skanky) and also more transparent in their superficial motives. They are ALL about the $$. Upon learning that David is a cowboy they express disgust and mock him. But when they learn he has inherited money and is worth $80 Million, they love him. Almost immediately, you can see the dollar signs in those hungry, glazed eyes of theirs. Maybe it’s just me, but in this day and age, watching women like this seems just plain wrong. It perpetuates another negative stereotype that maybe applies to a tenth of a population. (at most) And I’m sure there are plenty of male gold diggers out there. Which makes me think that it’s only fair that Fox air a show called “Betsy Billionaire.”
I’m off my soapbox now.
Paul Hogan (not to be confused with “Crocodile Dundee” dude) is back as the butler and this makes me very happy. When he rolls his eyes at David’s inability “to get anything” this makes me chuckle, 'cause at least somebody at the show seems to get something.
But back to the Euro women…
They must live in shoes because they supposedly never saw the first “Joe Millionaire.” And I’m sorry, call me skeptical, but I think everyone world wide caught whiff of this show. And didn’t Zora (last season’s winner) do a European tour where she rescued orphans while simultaneously endorsing Slim Fast? I’m thinking all the numbers don’t add up here…
What is evident in this season is that this show has a much bigger budget. The filming is much more upscale (if this is possible for a FOX show pre-empting a show called “Skin”) and even the lodgings and accoutrements seem more refined.
From upcoming previews the women get REAL catty (especially the Swedes) as they duke it out for the love of their penniless cowboy.
So far all they have done is seen the mysterious buck. Next week’s episode promises much more in the theatrics dept…
Stay tuned.
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