Secret Millionaire C4

[DotCommunist]

I'm sure most of the people who have been given money by the "secet millionaires" don't feel manipulated...

Fact of the matter is, most people who "do good" are constantly raising funds. For someone to come in with a large cash injection is a fucking Godsend.

Missed last nights episode because I was watching Stargate Continuum but next week looks good.

I have to say - thinking about last week, and the guys alleged £77m - I would be giving away millions of pounds, not thousands, if I were in his shoes.

I watched that as well. Excellent excpet for the massive paradox which ruined it slightly

 

[Pigeon]

I actually know one of the people on last night's show: I'm trying to get the gen off him bout how much he knew about the set up: AFAIK, prospective volunteers don't usually show up with a camera crew in tow.

 

[baldrick]

it was in birmingham? bugger.

I was actually doing some study for once and missed it

 

[Grandma Death]

I hate seeing them trying to cleanse their conscience on TV,

Thats a bit of a simplistic way to look at it no? Are all altruistic rich people (who at some stage in their lives may come under the gaze of a camera) trying to 'cleanse their conscience' then?

What makes you think they have this desire to even 'cleanse their conscience' in the first place?

 

[Mitre10]

Thats a bit of a simplistic way to look at it no? Are all altruistic rich people (who at some stage in their lives may come under the gaze of a camera) trying to 'cleanse their conscience' then?

What makes you think they have this desire to even 'cleanse their conscience' in the first place?

In the case of the bloke who was on last week, probably the fact he ran what is effectively a legal loan-sharking operation loaning cash to people who could barely afford it at rates of up to 300% APR and has made a personal fortune of £77 million from it in 10 years.

That would take some cleansing if it was me.


ETA: Think this was an exception though, most of them seem like fairly grounded people who have come from nothing and are genuinely self-made, rather than inherited wealth, and seem like they want to give something back to the community.

I remember some bloke from the last series who got so into some local youth cause that he not only gave them several large donations, but he was down there every weekend for months after the programme finished helping them refurbish a building!

 

[Awesome Wells]

I'm sure most of the people who have been given money by the "secet millionaires" don't feel manipulated...

Fact of the matter is, most people who "do good" are constantly raising funds. For someone to come in with a large cash injection is a fucking Godsend.

I'm sure they don't and I'm sure it is. Doesn't change the fact this is a gruesome and manipulative spectacle preying on the poor and vulnerable.

 

[Grandma Death]

In the case of the bloke who was on last week, probably the fact he ran what is effectively a legal loan-sharking operation loaning cash to people who could barely afford it at rates of up to 300% APR and has made a personal fortune of £77 million from it in 10 years.

That would take some cleansing if it was me.

For you maybe but obviously not for the person in question. I still think it's wrong to second guess the motives of the millionaires that appear in the show.

 

[Grandma Death]

Doesn't change the fact this is a gruesome and manipulative spectacle preying on the poor and vulnerable.

Sorry but this /\/\/\/\ is tosh.

 

[Awesome Wells]

For you maybe but obviously not for the person in question. I still think it's wrong to second guess the motives of the millionaires that appear in the show.

Why do they need a tv show to do it?

 

[Dillinger4]

The whole concept fuckin sickens me.

 

[Awesome Wells]

The title is also rather insulting and quite incorrect.

 

[Grandma Death]

Why do they need a tv show to do it?

Why not? Is there a rule saying rich people cant give money away on TV?

Its premise is, if anything, slightly tacky. But millions watch it and, if anything, I think its brought the unsung heroes in society to a wider audience.

People can argue the toss all day about the motives of the millionaires on the show or indeed the show makers but there are some positives to be drawn from it.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Millions watching it isn't really a judgement of quality that assures me, millions will also be watching that ditzy wag Cheryl Cole tell people they can't sing this Saturday. The masses are asses.

I do not believe the end justifies the means. I believe this to be a very cynical show.

 

[Grandma Death]

Millions watching it isn't really a judgement of quality that assures me,

Seeing as quality is subjective I see little point in you raising it. I was merely commenting that it has appeal-so the programme obviously works for all concerned.

I do not believe the end justifies the means. I believe this to be a very cynical show.

Ive seen one episode. I wanted to be cynical but ended out thinking it was ok-not brilliant but ok. However if your obvious issues with millionaires giving away money on TV grips your shit we are never going to agree on this are we. For me I quite like the idea of wide spread coverage of the work some people do in the community-and if this is the best format to get it across so be it.

 

[Pigeon]

For me I quite like the idea of wide spread coverage of the work some people do in the community-and if this is the best format to get it across so be it.

So why does there have to be this preposterous "game show" element to the programme, in which the millionaires are only "allowed" to donate to 2 of the 3 projects? That hardly promotes the good work done by the furniture project missed out on this weeks' programme, surely- it gives the message, if anything, that it's bit second rate. Which must have been an extremely rewarding experience for the por sods working there.

 

[Grandma Death]

So why does there have to be this preposterous "game show" element to the programme, in which the millionaires are only "allowed" to donate to 2 of the 3 projects?

Because rightly or wrongly the programme makers are trying to make it interesting.

That hardly promotes the good work done by the furniture project missed out on this weeks' programme, surely- it gives the message, if anything, that it's bit second rate.

Its not perfect television-its reality TV.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Seeing as quality is subjective I see little point in you raising it. I was merely commenting that it has appeal-so the programme obviously works for all concerned.



Ive seen one episode. I wanted to be cynical but ended out thinking it was ok-not brilliant but ok. However if your obvious issues with millionaires giving away money on TV grips your shit we are never going to agree on this are we. For me I quite like the idea of wide spread coverage of the work some people do in the community-and if this is the best format to get it across so be it.

I don't have a problem with the idea of widespread coverage of work done in the community. But that's not what this is.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Because rightly or wrongly the programme makers are trying to make it interesting.



Its not perfect television-its reality TV.

That's no excuse for this cynical drivel. It's C4 up to their usual cynical business.

 

[Pigeon]

Because rightly or wrongly the programme makers are trying to make it interesting.

That's ridiculous, cheap and insulting; if the programme makers can't make interesting, compelling stories out of the lives of the people they're filming without turning it into a tacky, lazy contest they're clearly in the wrong job.

Its not perfect television-its reality TV.

No. It's shite TV.

 

[Grandma Death]

That's ridiculous, cheap and insulting; if the programme makers can't make interesting, compelling stories out of the lives of the people they're filming without turning it into a tacky, lazy contest they're clearly in the wrong job.

Welcome to the world of programme making-and this style of fly on the wall reality show isn't unique to this programme or indeed C4.

No. It's shite TV.

It may be shite to you but doesnt detract from what it is-reality TV.

 

[Grandma Death]

I don't have a problem with the idea of widespread coverage of work done in the community. But that's not what this is.

Are you suggesting that this programme doesn't in any way publicise the work carried out in the community by voluntary organisations?

 

[Pigeon]

Welcome to the world of programme making-and this style of fly on the wall reality show isn't unique to this programme or indeed C4.

Well, yeah. Lazy exploitative shit's far from uncommon. So what?

Personally, I enjoyed the suggestion for an alternative reality show from Christopher Brookmyre in yesterday's Guardian:

"This week we'll be meeting Tabitha. She's a successful TV presenter with her own production company but she doesn't know which lap-dancing club her coke-addled boyfriend is currenly favouring. She recently spent more than she pays her char per annum to have her home "spiritually cleansed", owns a wardrobe worth more than the average house and hasn't worn a thing wrong since her second form end of year disco. Nonetheless, she couldn't tell you the name of the prime minister without googling and can't find her own £40,000 wet-room without her PA relaying directions via her BlackBerry. Tonight, we're going to help her calculate the true worht of her expereince using our famous vacu-ometer. Then, after we've talked her down from the ledge, we'l have our regular consultant Deirdre on hand to give Tabith some tips on building relationships with people whose affection won't be conditional on her haircut. The show is going to be called: 'So- You want to be a bit less of a Twunt?'"

Now that's one cheap holiday in other people's misery I'd cheerfully watch.

 

[Awesome Wells]

Are you suggesting that this programme doesn't in any way publicise the work carried out in the community by voluntary organisations?

at what cost?

 

[Grandma Death]

at what cost?

Is that you answering a question with a question?

 

[aqua]

this bloke is a cheapskate

 

[Chairman Meow]

I like this programme, and wish I was in the position to do what the millionaires do. I do reckon some of them could dig a bit deeper though. And I didn't know they could only give to some of the projects - I didn't catch it all tonight, but he gave money to three projects. Its a bit shit if they can't give to them all if they want.

I always get a bit of grit in my eye at the cash giving bit.

 

[Dead Cat Bounce]

this bloke is a cheapskate

Just what I was thinking, he gives away around £50K which is like me buying the Big Issue.

Where's my TV show?

 

[N_igma]

Yer fella last week was far more giving.

 

[1927]

Just what I was thinking, he gives away around £50K which is like me buying the Big Issue.

Where's my TV show?

Wasn't even that much.

£10k to the band, £13k to the pet zoo thingy and £12k to the village hall thing!

 

[treelover]

I just posted up this on general trying to get a wider debate, oh well...

'The Secret Millionaire: ‘Heart warming or a bit ‘Gawd Bless Yer Sir’?

Just watched the The Secret Millionaire again on Ch 4 perhaps against my better judgement, I cant make my mind up about the programme, it is definitely heart warming when they dosh out the money to projects that desperately need it, the recipients are truly incredible people doing incredible things in deprived areas and yes it is a way to make poverty, etc interesting and empathetic. Finally, some of them do seem to have a epiphany with many realising their roots are indeed important and in some cases question their values, etc.

But there is also a strong whiff of the Victorian notion of the 'deserving poor’ about the programme and the concept, and yes, at times, it's a bit ‘Gawd Bless Yer Sir’. Many of the millionaires have dubious work practices or businesses such as the multi-millionaire Emma Harrison of A4E who churn out often very poor training/motivation courses and is closely linked to the pushing people back to work welfare reforms. Tonights protagonist, a marketing millionire only donated 30'000 surely thats worth it in corporate publicity he will get. It also feeds into the growing notion of philanthrophy, charity replacing the the welfare state, etc.
.
I really wouldn’t be surprised if the format has U.S roots like The Apprentice,

So, ‘Heart warming or a bit ‘Gawd Bless Yer Sir’


Btw, I put this in general not TV, etc, so as to get a bit of debate about the themes: charity, the state,, who should do the funding, etc etc