Genie in a brothel (The Secret Millionaire)

Member Name: 1st2thebar

Product:	The Secret Millionaire
Date:	22/05/09 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Shows inner cities forgotten society

Disadvantages: Doesn't solve long term problems

Secret Millionaire
Reality TV Show - Channel 4
Titled: Genie in a Brothel
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Genie in a Brothel
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I find it highly entertaining that our media seem to dredge up so much dirt about people when there is so much dirt about in our inner cities. This week the Daily telegraph has courageously dodged the golden bullet from the House of Commons pea-shooter as far and now the house is in such disarray, now the Speaker Michael Martin has got his marching orders, and will be leaving on June 21 2009. New order is required as many Millionaires will be looking for peerages as cash-strapped MP's will be tempted to be bought at the right price. Go down to those poor slum-towns and smell the rich tapestry of life, ailing in the wind and it's not coming from un-kept moats. The inner cities are suffering still from the 1980's where there are generations of unemployment lurking in the shadows; what the ITV show 'Secret Millionaire' makes public is the utter despair of these people who have never been given an opportunity, and this is where 'Secret Millionaire' exploits to the very best it can, in a media format called entertainment. Further-more, it is all in secrecy so it is a 'candid torch-light' of what lies within our inner city walls - Who will grasp the wallet the hardest for the 'Secret Millionaire'; who will reside emotionally within their mind perimeters?

The general format for the show starts each week the same, just like 'groundhog day'; a millionaire leaves their luxury life behind, takes on a secret identity and lives undercover in a deprived area of the UK or U.S. for a week to ten days. The living budget in the UK is a measly 65.00 GBP per week, which is the same as what Jobseekers allowance entitles you to have to survive in the UK, and that is without any expenses. The 'secret genie' then quietly resides themselves in a conveniently available one chair one stove bed-sit and start counting their allowance, which takes 12 seconds and that's including the time spent wondering where the cleanest place to sit is. The millionaire then starts to divulge into the collapse calamities of their chosen inner city by then entering 'drop-in' centres and perhaps even working as a volunteer alongside the locals who usually greet the millionaire with open arms and a friendly smile. It would be more realistic if it were a grisly wince.

The main problem that the secret genie has is wondering where to spend the entitlements; you are not given an allotment patch and not a sign of the local drug dealer who would obviously smell you out if you really need the cash. In one episode the millionaire told the camera that he would spend the whole 65.00 GBP on lunch alone, without much thought. It's amazing how much a bagel costs in Chelsea. They then have to forge their way into this society without detection of their true identity. So asking people in a pub, "How do you manage with dole money every week?" Is a real none starter, but they ask just the same. This is where the docu-styled reality TV show falls foul of the rules and like our parliament is pretty farcical as they continue to ignore the bigger picture of true poverty. No-one asks so many questions, simple as.

The Secret Millionaire at least shows what kind of projects that manifests themselves on in these deprived areas that have been long forgotten by MP's with memory of sieves. You here of cuts left right of centre, a huge amount of volunteers are also on the bread-line dressing down their own crazy debt ridden lives to cater for the unfortunate many who have been left by the wayside, which so happens to be the case in our democratic capitalism that dislodges true values and in return fills the boots of greed. - Their stories are real and quite honestly disgusting to hear especially from the fourth biggest economy in the world. It is a good time to start asking the fraudulent, mincing pinstriped duck-house members of parliament to experience these life entrapments in their own constituencies. It would make such good reality TV; Channel 4 over to you.


Ultimately, the millionaire has to make one of the biggest decisions of their life to where there gifts of cash rewards should go to. Most of the rewards tend to go to schemes that have been forgotten that does extreme good in the inner city areas. They appear pretty Joanna Lumley like to these stricken groups who do actually look very surprised when the secret millionaire bares their true identity. Naturally, there are tears and laughter that fills the voyeur that is the 'TV audience' with a lovely warm feeling inside, which lasts for another 12 seconds before you turn-over to something more interesting. The whole program builds up purely to the end. Naturally, if someone only did volunteering for one week, even in a brothel, I would ask questions myself like "Are you a secret millionaire?" - Or is it you can't stand the stench of humbugs and old socks. The whole situation opens up a unique viewing of what actually goes on within our grimy walls of the deprived and forgotten boroughs.


The formula to the program is a well thought-out one with quite a few flaws but Channel 4 has a heart and nevertheless are doing good in showing what lies in these boroughs. Whether anything actually materializes in producing these docu-styled reality projects I doubt it. It is still a money grabbing corporation that always benefits regardless the storyline and content. What is for sure the millionaire gets some air-play and recognition in whatever business they've got rich doing; so the only losers are still with the community which has been left with a story to tell and relative survival for a few months. Meanwhile all goes back to normal after one week.

There has been only one episode that a millionaire took a lad out of extreme poverty and offered him a 'job' in his corporation as a trainee apprentice, that was worth more than several thousand pounds for a run-down scheme that will never see any extra coppers again from a greed infested government. The Channel 4 experiment seems to capture the emotion behind the individuals plight, yet bows to the understanding that the millionaires always require a condition to their investment. I can't blame them as many successful people always look at the terms of contracts and search for loopholes, it is cajoled with being successful; but just the same the series is working towards a society reality check as well as feathering mansions.

Reality TV - Secret Millionaire - Channel 4 - 9-10pm - Thursday evening

Thank you for reading,

Copyright - 05-2009 - 1st2thebar

Summary: Secret Millionaire - Where is Joanna Lumley when you need her?