"Oprah's Big Give" - 3/2/08

[TiVo'Brien]

Anybody watch "Oprah's Big Give" last night? I recorded it and saw a minute or two of it. It looks sort of like a cross between "The Amazing Race" and "Brewster's Millions*." Is it worth a look? I like the premise.

*Well, maybe not "Brewster's Millions" exactly, but something sort of like that.

[IJustLikeTivo]

I forgot to watch and I couldn't figure out from the commercial whether or not I wanted to in the first place.

[jennifer]

Our whole family watched it.

I thought it was really neat. There's a lot of stress to do some HUGE things in just the space of a few days.

I dislike the premise that there is a 'loser' every week. If you are taking time off from work and losing income in order to help someone else, you are never a loser.

[Cainebj]

I recorded it but not sure I can bring myself to watch.

I saw 15 seconds of it while it was on and Oprah looked photoshopped live.

[Alfer]

Wife watched it and I heard most of it while I was surfing the web....nothing too compelling to actually make me want to actually watch it...not sure if the wife liked it that much.

[flyers088]

I came upstairs at one point and my wife was crying. She said she really liked it. I have no desire to watch but it looks like appointment viewing for her.

[nick1817]

It was ok.

[DevdogAZ]

Anybody watch "Oprah's Big Give" last night? I recorded it and saw a minute or two of it. It looks sort of like a cross between "The Amazing Race" and "Brewster's Millions*." Is it worth a look? I like the premise.

*Well, maybe not "Brewster's Millions" exactly, but something sort of like that.

Haven't watched it, not sure I will, but I read a review about it and there was a quote from one of the producers where he specifically said that they were shooting for a cross between "The Amazing Race" and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

[FireMen2003]

I enjoyed it...

I was sorta upset at Home Depot in that one case with the manager killed on the job. They didn't discuss all the details, if he had life insurance or not, either way, his wife should not be stressing about the mortgage and keeping the house just 6 weeks after his murder....:down: :down:

[Penny Lane]

won't watch, one of the few that doesn't care for O.

[kdelande]

won't watch, one of the few that doesn't care for O.
Just to be clear, she has a limited on-screen role with this show. It's in the hands of others.

KD

[DancnDude]

If you like Extreme Home Makeover, you'd probably like this show. It's about people being do-gooders for other people with a little competition thrown in. I liked it.

[Cainebj]

Finally watched.
WORST reality show EVER - not an original programming idea in the producers heads it's like they just copied from every other reality show that came before it. ech.:down::down::down:

[TiVo'Brien]

Finally watched.
WORST reality show EVER - not an original programming idea in the producers heads it's like they just copied from every other reality show that came before it. ech.:down::down::down:
Agreed. Waaaay too schmaltzy for me. Where's my insulin?

[xuxa]

Haven't watched it, not sure I will, but I read a review about it and there was a quote from one of the producers where he specifically said that they were shooting for a cross between "The Amazing Race" and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

and they missed - wide.

[DevdogAZ]

My wife watched and told me she hated it. Said it was a complete copy of other shows, and then after all the feel-goodery, they go and ruin it by kicking someone off. She and I have both always thought that there are certain of these shows, such as Biggest Loser and Beauty and the Geek, where elimination should not be part of the format. If you're trying to make a feel good show, where people learn and grow and improve their lives, you really shouldn't kick them off. Instead, they should simply give incentives to those who do the best.

[getreal]

My wife watched and told me she hated it. Said it was a complete copy of other shows, and then after all the feel-goodery, they go and ruin it by kicking someone off. She and I have both always thought that there are certain of these shows, such as Biggest Loser and Beauty and the Geek, where elimination should not be part of the format. If you're trying to make a feel good show, where people learn and grow and improve their lives, you really shouldn't kick them off. Instead, they should simply give incentives to those who do the best.

Interesting concept. I agree that non-mean-spirited shows shouldn't kick people off. The Biggest Loser is insulting right from the title, but the concept is good. But instead of kicking people off of the show, they should just take them out of the running for the grand prize, but continue to get the health (nutrition counselling and personal training) aspects, as they desperately need it.

But it doesn't really bother me that they kick people off of the Big Give.

With the guy who gave the millionaire restaurant owner a free car after giving the needy guy only $4300 -- I felt the producers needed to step in and redirect the car to the needy guy. Ugh! That guy needed to go home, as he was throwing Oprah's money in the wrong direction. :down:

Personally, I don't like that the vast majority of "reality shows" promote and reward betrayal, narcissism, backstabbing and lying. No wonder society is taking a nosedive.

Let's see more "reality shows" which promote GOOD qualities, like charity and assisting those who need a hand up. :up: