I watched the show last time and even my wife enjoyed the ending.
So I figured I would take a look at it this time.
For those of you who do not know, Joe Millionaire takes an average working Joe and portrays him as a millionaire looking for a wife. They bring in 15 or so ladies who are fed this story and then each week he selects a few to go on to the next week. At the end of the show he proposes and tells the lady that he is broke. In the first show, both the guy and the lady were surprised when he and she were awarddee 1 million dollars. This was after she decided to stay with him
Since it would be almost impossible to do this again in America, they went to Europe to find the ladies. Last night you met the ladies and the guy.
The guy is a Texas cowboy. He seems nice enough if not a little dim. He makes $11,000 a year. He has a hard time not calling the butler, who was on the show last year, sir.
The ladies were told last night that he was a cowboy from Texas. You should have seen their faces. The looks of disgust and shock. But then they were told that he was worth 80 million, and their attitude all changed. What amazed me was the casual level of disdain the Europeans had for him with out even meeting him. Just being told that he was a cowboy from Texas meant, to many of them, that he was beneath them. One girl even said something like "But we are European girls, what does he have to offer us?" In the first show you felt sorry for some of the girls, as you believed them when they said that money was not the point. Here, I look forward to the ladies getting slapped down.
Almost to a lady, after they had been told how much the guy was "worth", mentioned how the money made it easier for them.
I think this poor schlub is going to be in for an awakening. I think many of these ladies are going to try and bed him. This did not happen too much on the first show, but we Americans are more puritanical. I think that many of these European ladies are going to try and use sex and sex only to win this guy over.
We shall see.
Any other thoughts?
msquared
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
quote:Just being told that he was a cowboy from Texas meant, to many of them, that he was beneath them.
Or it could the automatic and inevitable associations to another well-known Texas "cowboy".
Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
It could, but I would be surprised. These ladies did not seem to be thinking beyond their normal day to day lives of clubbing and looking for the next guy to support them.
msquared
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
Another thing I was wondering. Do they really assume that the "contestants" are or will remain in the dark concerning the "twist" only because they're European? I had heard about Joe Millionaire from several sources even though I am not an American, and if I hadn't, I would expect someone to tell me about it if I were selected as a participant. Or are the women isolated somehow?
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
Sorry these stupid girls gave you a bad idea of European women. We are not all that way, you know...
Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
Tristan
The producers made sure that the ladies had never heard of the show, even giving them lie detector tests. The girls are from all over Europe, so I would expect they could find a few who had never heard of the show. For example, they did not even go to England, because the original show had aired there.
Anna, I figured all the nice European girls were already married.
Anna, could you answer this for me though? Am I off base thinking that there is a good possibility that these girls will try and use sex more than the American girls did? I mean we keep hearing about how open and free Europeans are about sex and nudity and stuff. I know that in France, guys having a mistress is not a huge deal,at least socially.
msquared
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
Oh, and by the way, this game seems obviously cheated, because at least here in France, and in other European countries, even if I don't know which, there has been such a game yet. Ours was named "Greg le millionaire" and he was a plumber and gogo dancer. So stupid... Posted by Tzadik (Member # 5825) on :
Interesting. Never heard of the show, so it was rather interesting reading to even learn about a show like that.
Allow me couple of remarks. I am a male from Europe, and to some extend, I have to say, I am ashamed of the way you describe the British girls acted on the show. To feel superior to someone just because he's a cowboy from TX, man, that's bad, really bad! The truth is, things like that do happen. It's sad, but it's true. And it's so wrong!
How can one say, what has the other one offer to me, he/she is only from US/Europe? Frankly, it works both way and for both sexes. (have sad first and second hand exepriences from US myself). All I want to point out - it's impossible to generalize.
Yes, admit that sex used as a mean of getting what you want widely in this part of the world Shameful!!! Why, now that's a question I ask myself too, but can't find the answer(s). But again, it's not only European thing, it is the same world-wide!!!
Must say, your post made me think and what more, made me sad Please know, that not the entire Europe is that way, you know?
Keep us posted on the development of the show, be interested to know how it ends!!!
Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
Oh it was taken from the French show, I think. That is why there is no one from France on the show. It seems mainly Northern European and Eastern European. At least all the ladies speak passable English. However they may have a tough time understanding Texan.
msquared
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
Oh, msquared, it would be difficult for me to answer your question, because here I'm considered as an extraterrestrial : I was a virgin before I met Vincent, and now we're getting married. It is true that we are not shoked by sex before the wedding - maybe because this is a less "religious" country than the USA, or because here a wedding takes a very long time to organize. And we are not shoked by men or women who slept with a few persons before finding the one they will marry. But I would say not everybody consider sex just as "fun" and nothing to see with love. Maybe more people than in the USA, though. But I'm not representative of my generation or my country. By the way, maybe you could explain me your sytem of "dates" because I don't understand. Is it true that you can date someone you hardly know ? If so, in what is it different from a friendly hanging out ?
EDIT : spelling mistakes
[ October 21, 2003, 10:17 AM: Message edited by: Anna ]
Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
Tzadik
Oh I know that most European ladies are not like this. Last year the producers had a lady I think they were hoping the guy would pick. Most of the other American ladies were snobs as well. I think the producers pick some ladies like that to cater to the American belief that all Europeans are snobs. I understand how orchastrated the whole thing is.
The lady who won last year was actually very close, economically to the guy, in real life. She was a teacher who had moved home to be with her mom who was dying. She was much more reserved in her behavior than most of the other ladies. When the other ladies were running around in skimpy bikinis in the jacuzzi, she wore a shirt over her bathing suit. When the other ladies were out with the guy making out, she would kiss him chastely. I think the guy realized that she was closer to him than any of the others.
msquared
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
msquared, that answers my question about pre-knowledge, but what is to stop the women from finding out during the filming of the show?
As for your sex question, I think it depends a lot on how the participants were selected. While it most likely is true that as a whole Europeans have a more liberal attitude towards sex than Americans, there are considerable regional variations as well as the normal differences between religious and non-religious people, city and country side, etc. One would perhaps expect people who agree to participate in these kind of shows to be less morally restricted than the norm when it comes to sex, but that would hold true for the American participants as well.
On the other hand, from your account of the first episode, it would seem that the producers have taken care to select participants that reinforce the American stereotype of European women, or are at least editing to that effect. So perhaps you will get your wish (if that was indeed your wish) and they will run around naked and copulate like bunnies .
Posted by Tzadik (Member # 5825) on :
msquared
I think you don't have the best perception of Europe and European girls. Yes, the morals might not be as strict as in some parts of the US for example (it's difficult to compare Europe and "bible belt" part of the US). You can go to NYC, or LA or something and find just about the same as in Europe.
Obviously, can't speak for Europe, don't even want to do so. But it's not that bad as many americans perceive us, Europeans Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
A date here is going out with some one for a specific purpose. It can be with friends.
I did not word that right.
First, I am 40 and have been married for 15 years and dated only my wife for 4 years before that, so maybe definitions have changed.
A date is when one of the couple asks the other to do something with them. It may involve a group of friends, but to me if it is a date then the two people involved expect the other one to remain with them for most of the time. For example, if my date and I go to a haunted house with a group of friends, we both should expect to spend most of our time close to each other and plan on fininshe the night with each other. I do not mean that in a sexual way. I just mean that I would pick the girl up and take her home when the date is done. I would pay for expenses etc.
If it is just friends, then each person is responsible for themselves.
Does that answer your question?
msquared
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
I loved the first season of Joe Millionare, but not for any love I had for Whats-his-face or any of the women. I loved watching that show because the producers/editors are comic geniuses. They managed to make almost all of the women look like what they really were: complete nitwits. My favorite part is where this one girl was leaving and she's trying to be cool and ask the butler where her suitcase is in French and she ends up saying "Where is my breadbasket?" Of course the producers put in subtitles. I was on the floor.
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
So French is still "chic" ? Oh, and thank you msquared. I will need a complete explanation one day, but that's a good beginning.
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
"breadbasket" ? What the heck did she mean ?
Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
T and T,
Well of course I am hoping for the vaunted European nudity. Why else to watch the show? I would have thought that with TomD's preference for the less dressed female body he would have been watching the show.
The ladies would not find out the twist during the show because of two things. First, the show was completed before it was aired. This is not a live show like Big Brother. Second, the ladies are sequestered at a villa, in Italy I think, where the show was filmed.
msquared
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
I hate to show myself naked to anyone else than Vincent or my gynecologue (don't know the word in English, the doctor for women). I'm definitively bizarre.
Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
Anna,
The point was that the lady was trying to act very sophisticated, which to her meant that you spoke French to the help. The problem was her French was rudimentary at best.
msquared
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Anna, a date is hanging out with romantic intent on at least one part, and if the other does not have romantic intent, then they at least are not averse to the idea.
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
msquared : That I understood, but what does she mean by "breadbasket" ? If you translate in French, it gives "panier à pain" which is the thing in which you put the bread on the table. What is the connexion between that and her suitcase ?
[ October 21, 2003, 10:48 AM: Message edited by: Anna ]
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
anna, i think you'll find many of the ladies here aren't even comfortable showing themselves to their gynecologue.
Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
Anna,
She used the wrong word. The joke was that she wanted to use the word for suitecase and she didn't and didn't realize it. She was talking about how sophisticated she was, but she could not remember the word for suitecase.
msquared
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
I'm pretty comfortable showing myself to the gynecologist. It freaks them out a little, but...
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
My gynecologist is a woman, so that plus the fact she is a doctor makes me feel OK. If it was a man, I would have some problems I think.
[ October 21, 2003, 10:52 AM: Message edited by: Anna ]
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
zan, weren't you just saying i should stop saying shocking things? Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
In what is this shoking ?
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
It was a moment of weakness on my part.
Shock me baby! Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
*sigh*
*needs to make an appt with the gynecologue*
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
*just had one*
*was told she's built for birthing babies*
*was told, really, your diagonal is bigger than my reach*
*was told it doesn't show from the outside*
*asked: when did my mother get to you?*
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
quote:*was told, really, your diagonal is bigger than my reach*
*was told it doesn't show from the outside*
<feels faint>
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
*laugh* I was told once I was built for walking across the plains. I was not amused.
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
BTW Anna, I've got boy parts.
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
ooops Anyway, andrologues aren't funny either, I think.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
zgator, it's okay. We understand about you being androgenous. I think it's great you can joke about it.
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
*can't believe i posted that*
and zan, you cad, how can i edit it with you quoting me!
wow, kat, i'm starting to wonder if there's only x amount of funny in the universe. jon's lost it, but you're seriously cracking me up consistantly.
[ October 21, 2003, 11:19 AM: Message edited by: celia60 ]
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
celia -
Anna - No wait! I've only got boy parts. I mean, man parts. No girl parts here, no sirree Bob. All man here.
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
We are far and far from Joe Millionaire, don't you think ?
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
No, andrologues are nothing to see with androgeny : it's just the doctor for male sexual parties. Just like gynecologist for women. Posted by The Wiggin (Member # 5020) on :
Thats a interesting change in toipic. From Joe Millionire to haveing boy or girl parts. But from most tv shows it's really not much of a jump any way.
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
Well, if Joe millionaire is like Greg le millionnaire, I agree with you, Wiggin. Now in France the great show is a show like Big Brother with about 20 young people in a castle, learning to become "stars", ie singing, dancing and acting. It's called "star academy" and it's very stupid. Each week they throw one out.
[ October 21, 2003, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: Anna ]
Posted by celia60 (Member # 2039) on :
the doctor for male sexual parties?
is that like a stripper in a lab coat?
Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :
I'm thinking celia has received a stripper in a lab coat before.
Posted by A Rat Named Dog (Member # 699) on :
Yay n00b1eZ.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
There's freedom with that username, isn't there?
Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :
All I can remember about Joe Millionaire was the thread Hatrack made about possible endings. We came up with some brilliant twists -- I felt so cheated when Fox took the namby-pamby bullshit thing of just giving them $500,000 apiece (as opposed to offering the girl $750,000 to leave Joe, etc.).
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
Okay, so now the Europeans know. What's Fox going to do next to find women who aren't in on the secret? Take the show to sub-Saharan Africa? India? China?
Oh, here's one -- North Korea. They wouldn't even need to offer up a fake millionare, they could knock it down to Joe Hundredare and Owner a Couple of 50-pound Sacks of Rice. The twist could be that he's actually penniless, but the winner does get the rice in the end.
Third world gold diggers -- that's the ticket.
Fox: it's not just our news channel that's xenophobic
--or--
Fox: Got poor taste? -- you betcha!
Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
What if they don't show it in Europe? They didn't show the first one? Maybe the could pick the next bunch from Russia or even further east in Europe and the Middle East. Turkey, Greece, Albania, the Balkans etc. I bet they could get at least one more show out of it.
msquared
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
Actually, I think it's likely that the producers have added some sort of new twist to the concept just so the viewers get surprised too. I have no clear idea of what, though. It wouldn't exactly be funny if it turned out that the guy is a millionaire for real.
Posted by msquared (Member # 4484) on :
Well the twist is the guy is a regular guy. Just like last year. The real "Twist", the one the regular guy did not know about, is that the producers gave each of them $500,000 at the end of the show. I don't know if they are going to do this again. The Joe this time surely suspects that they will.
The point of the first was that if the girl Joe chose still went with him after learning that he was broke, the producers rewarded the couple. I don't know what would have happened if she had said no.
msquared
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
I'm aware how it played out last year, msquared. My point was that TV dramatics dictates that something new and clever should be introduced. Preferably something that surprise both the participants and the viewers. The problem with the guy really being rich (while the viewers thinks he only pretends to be rich) is that that solution would not provide for a surprise for the women. Thus such a double blind would only be effective if the women at some points learn that the guy is poor. But that was what happened last time, only they were given money by the TV company. So I really don't see how they can improve on the concept, but I'm still fairly certain they will attempt something.
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
What amazes me is that they could actuall pull this off twice.
Posted by Anna (Member # 2582) on :
Well, our "Star Academy" is the third edition, and they seem to think there will be future ones. *sigh*
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Grumble]](graemlins/grumble.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Evil Laugh]](graemlins/evillaugh.gif)
![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
![[Laugh]](graemlins/laugh.gif)
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)