# Joe Millionaire **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2002, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230 "2002-12-12T10:25:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/1 "2002-12-12T10:25:30Z")
Okay, the show hasn’t come out yet, but I’m already loving the premise. It’s another one of those fucked up, stupid as shit “Let’s put ourselves on a meatmarket and marry some rich fucker we don’t even know show,” but looks like it’s going to be a whole lot better at the end. Why? Because these women are all going to by unwittingly vying for a guy who makes less money than me! That’s right, if you haven’t seen the ads for Fox’s newest silly show, it’s like the **Bachelor** / **Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire** show where 20 women will whore themselves out for a guy because they think he’s worth $50 million. The trick is, Fox is just spicing everything up and hiding the fact he really only makes about twenty grand. So, they let the wooing and catfighting and stupid silly bitch totting go on, and then spring the big news and see what happens. Is it wrong for me to find such glee in such a stupid premise? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/2 "2002-12-12T10:52:52Z")
Yes. You evil, evil person. Just kidding. I’ll be passing on this latest Fox atrocity, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/3 "2002-12-12T11:04:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Elvis Rojo \* > \*\*The trick is, Fox is just spicing everything up and hiding the fact he really only makes about twenty grand. So, they let the wooing and catfighting and stupid silly bitch totting go on, and then spring the big news and see what happens. > \*\* I’m way out of the tv loop so I haven’t heard of this show you’re talking about, though I am familiar with what happened on WWT Marry a Millionaire. How do you know Fox is going to do this? Are you **sure** they’re doing it on purpose? The WWTMAM thing was reported to be somewhat of an accident/last minute rush thing, definately not planned. Can they really say this Joe guy is worth $50M and let some girl marry him and they say “Just kidding!!! He works at Carl’s Jr.!!! HAHA, what’s with you man? I can’t believe you fell for the oldest trick in the book!” ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/4 "2002-12-12T12:25:19Z")
Given the deceptive nature of the show, it’s a fair bet that after they clear out the women who don’t want a guy making 20K/yr, he’ll pick from the ones remaining and the lucky winner will find out that he is, in fact, worth 50 million. You read it here first. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/5 "2002-12-12T13:10:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\*How do you know Fox is going to do this? Are you **sure** they’re doing it on purpose? \*\* I know because last night while watching Fox, I saw the same advertisement about twenty times specifically saying “He makes $19 Thousand a year, but we’re telling these women he’s worth 50 million dollars.” They spill the beans on the big shocker, so it’s more you’re watching just to giggle at how foolish these people are for wanting to marry someone they don’t even know. The test is to see if these women would stick with the guy if they found out this **Bachelor** was poor and not some high powered attourney. Although, I have to admit, **Krokodil** does bring up a good point. It never occured to me that maybe the guy is a rich guy pretending to be a poor guy, pretending to be a rich guy. It could happen, or Fox could just give the winning couple a good chunk of change as a reward…but still, I like the idea. I mean, these dating/marriage shows are such a fucking joke, I think it would be wonderful to see these women’s faces fall when they think they’ve just bed some super wealthy guy and then find out he works at Starbucks. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/6 "2002-12-12T13:22:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Elvis Rojo \* > **I know because last night while watching Fox, I saw the same advertisement about twenty times specifically saying "He makes $19 Thousand a year, but we’re telling these women he’s worth 50 million dollars."** If that’s the case then you almost _have_ to expect something like Krokidil said, but what would be really funny is if everyone was expecting that and then it turned out that the guy really was a bum. I mean, that’s “reality” tv to the fullest. I could see the Onion headline: **FOX to viewers: "Life Sucks"** ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/7 "2002-12-12T13:24:23Z")
I think it’s sick. They’re going to publicly humiliate these women (and possibly this poor guy) for fun and profit. Ick ick ick. I think it’s a new low. ---
**Author:** ![c\_goat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@c\_goat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/c_goat)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/8 "2002-12-12T14:13:59Z")
> [@](#): > > They’re going to publicly humiliate these women (and possibly this poor guy) for fun and profit. I think they humiliate themselves by going on TV to marry someone they don’t know because they think he’s rich. Or in the guy’s case, by going on TV to beg for a wife. My bet is that the “winner” will not marry the guy, or end up with an anullment/divorce, followed by the playboy spread. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/9 "2002-12-12T15:40:05Z")
Well, the women involved have to be dumber than boxes of rocks if they don’t smell a rat. I guess the story is that the guy inherited the money which would explain why he’s (probably) a beer-swilling lowlife rather than a cultured sophisticated man-of-the-world. But if you inherited $50 million, why would you sign up for this particularly humiliating experience? You could meet equally nice, attractive gold diggers just by walking into a ski resort in St. Moritz and yelling “Hey! I’ve got $50 million dollars!”. And there’s something fishy about our buddy Joe earning only $19K/year in construction. I dunno where Joe lives, but any able-bodied guy who can only earn 19K/year doing construction is either the laziest person on earth, or is really bad at what he does. In neither case is he going to be able to carry out the charade successfully. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/10 "2002-12-12T15:49:13Z")
I agree, I think it’s a great premise and should be good to watch. I wonder if any of the women will sue fox! That would be funny, the guy marries her and says, guess what? I only make 20 grand, and most of that vast some goes towards bills…You need to get a job honey. The look of shock on her face would be priceless, as would her beating the ever-loving crap out of him… ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/11 "2002-12-12T15:50:23Z")
Oh, I’m sure there’s all sorts of legal waivers the women signed before they got to be on the show…Fox shall not be held liable, blah blah blah. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/12 "2002-12-12T17:07:54Z")
I am absolutely 100% sure that FOX will spill the beans after the “contest” is over, but before anyone actually gets married. The whole point is to see (if, in fact, Joe and the millionairette do find true love) whether she’ll stick with him when she learns he’s broke, or whether she really is a money-grubbing gold-digging ho. I think it’s a fantastic idea. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/13 "2002-12-12T17:14:10Z")
Well, Cliffy, I think it’s a pretty stupid idea then. I’m not offended by it, nor do I hate Fox or think it’s the end of tasteful society as we know it. I just it’s…stupid. I mean, _of course_ they’re money-grubbing-gold-digging-hoes. Is anybody under the illusion that those girls would go on a show called “Who Wants to Marry A Twenty-Thousandaire”? ---
**Author:** ![Zazie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Zazie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zazie)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/14 "2002-12-12T17:33:47Z")
I wonder how he only makes 20 grand a year working construction, he must not be working that much… Not that it will make you rich but 20 grand a year?? that is low… ---
**Author:** ![jkirkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@jkirkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkirkman)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/15 "2002-12-12T17:38:23Z")
I think we’re taking a pretty big leap of faith assuming the entire thing isn’t actually scripted and performed to begin with. ---
**Author:** ![krazy\_kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b2d939/32.png) [@krazy\_kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krazy_kat)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/16 "2002-12-12T17:44:45Z")
I’ve seen trailers for the show and the guy is pretty handsome to boot. These women are very shrewd - identifying how difficult it must be for a handsome, rich, young man to reel in some harpy to finance for a while and divorce 8 mo. later… you wiil reap, just whaaat you sew…reap…reap…reap… ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/17 "2002-12-12T20:20:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Finagle \* > \*\*Well, the women involved have to be dumber than boxes of rocks if they don’t smell a rat. I guess the story is that the guy inherited the money which would explain why he’s (probably) a beer-swilling lowlife rather than a cultured sophisticated man-of-the-world. \*\* W00. That’s a fairly classist statement, there Finagle. You’re assuming that because this guy is a poor constuction worker, he’s a lowlife? I love the premise. I have better things to do with my time then watch the show, but the commercials make me clap my hands in glee. Frankly, though, I’d smell a rat if I was in FRANCE, and the guy who owned the castle wasn’t FRENCH. I know royals sell off their family homes for much needed cash, but it would be a tip off to me. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@The\_Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tim)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/18 "2002-12-12T21:01:09Z")
You need to see the comercials to understand how funny the idea is. They talk about Joe and about how women are competing to marry him and then they say, “So why are all these women competing to marry him? Because they think he’s worth 50 million dollars. Now who would give them that idea?” Right as they say that the screen goes black and then fox logo appears in the middle of the screen, the comercial goes on from there with some empty headed sound bites from the brides to be and so on. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/19 "2002-12-12T21:18:25Z")
As it happens, a year or so ago Mrs. H met one of the “brides” who is on this show. This was before the show was taped. The “bride” is a friend of a good friend of ours. We had heard that she was flying out to Europe to be on a show called Joe Millionaire but we had no idea until recently what the real deal was. The show is definitely not scripted. This woman really thought she was on a marry a millionaire reality show. I am sure they will do some selective editing to make the ladies look as idiotic as possible which I love. My friend’s friend wasn’t doing it to potentially bag a rich guy. She was half doing it as a lark and a free trip to Europe and half because she wants to make it as an actress and thinks that this might get her noticed. I am guessing that her motivations are typical of the whole group. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230/20 "2002-12-12T21:39:01Z")
Can you say, Darva Conger? 😃 I may watch-just to see what is going on? Although, you’d think they would have learned from the last time… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-millionaire/142230.md?page=2)