As the moderator of a Nichiren-related yahoo board, I received a strange solicitation a little while back. The writer is looking for "spiritual families" to appear on a reality TV show - there's $20,000 honorarium for each family. I am posting the letter here, and if any of you know anyone who is interested, I can give you the info. If you know a Gakkai family which wants $20,000 and is willing to do this, well, who knows....it would certainly make an interesting experience at kosen-rufu gongyo!
Some of you know my evil past - that I used to work as a writer for television "relationship" game shows, putting people together on unlikely dates for The Dating Game and Love Connection, as well as creating marital disharmony for fun and profit on The Newlywed Game. So getting this e-mail was a definite piece of karma for me. I don't watch TV at all these days, though - I unplugged my cable when we invaded Iraq and I haven't looked back. For those of you who might be interested, here goes. (I took out the lady's name)....
Good Afternoon!
My name is (name here) and I am a casting producer for ABC Television's hit reality show, Wife Swap. I am currently trying to cast a spiritual family for an episode of our show and thought perhaps one of the people in your Yahoo! group might be interested in this great opportunity. Your group has caught my attention and I thought it couldn't hurt to send you an email to see if you might be able to help me with this.
In case you are unfamiliar with the show, the premise of Wife Swap is to take two different families and have the mom's switch places to experience how another family lives. For half of the week, the mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. Then she introduces a "rule change" where she implements rules and activities that her family has. It's a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach about other families and other ways of life.
Wife Swap airs on Disney owned ABC television on Mondays at 8 pm - the family hour! There is another show that copies ours but our main focus is to have fun, learn, and teach others in a positive light. They focus on conflict. I just want to make sure our show doesn't get confused with theirs!
Requirements: Each family must consist of two parents and at least one child between the ages of 7 and 17 and should reside in the continental U.S. (There may be other children living in the home who are older or younger than the required age…as long as one child is in the required age range.)
My hope is that you would pass this information on to your members and if they are interested, they will be able to reach me. Maybe you even have a family in mind that you could refer me to. This is a very unique experience that can be a life changing for everyone. In addition, each family that tapes an episode of Wife Swap receives a $20,000 honorarium for their time. Anyone who refers a family that appears on our program receives $1,000 as a 'thank you’ from us.
I appreciate you taking the time to read this - I know it is an unusual request. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at my number below. Thank you for your time and have a great day!
(name here)
Knock yourself out, guys.
Byrd in LA
Posted by wahzoh at August 13, 2007 11:14 AMThis show would only be interesting if it were a true wife swap, with all marital privilges and bedroom cams. Now that's good TV.
Charles
Posted by: Charles at August 14, 2007 05:34 AMYou're a dirty old man, Chuck, and God bless you for it!
Byrd in LA
Posted by: Byrd in LA at August 14, 2007 10:53 AMFinally World PIECE
Posted by: Bruce Maltz at August 14, 2007 04:48 PM