LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Fox's newest reality experiment is a modern-day twist on "The Prince and the Pauper."
The network is set to announce "Secret Millionaire," a new series in which wealthy benefactors go undercover in impoverished neighborhoods. For about 10 days, a multimillionaire meets financially destitute locals and experiences what it's like to live on a meager budget. At the show's conclusion, the millionaire reveals his true identity to the community and gives a minimum of $100,000 of his own money to at least one deserving person.
"How often do we see somebody who's homeless on the street and wonder what it would be like to live like that?" Fox president of alternative entertainment Mike Darnell asked. "Whereas the superwealthy are so detached from that experience. This is a really clever conceit and has a great emotional arc to it."
Fox has ordered six episodes of the hourlong series from RDF USA. The network plans to unveil the show Thursday at its "upfront" presentation to advertisers in New York. "Secret Millionaire" is based on a Channel 4 U.K. hit from RDF Media that is returning for a third season and which won the prestigious Rose d'Or award in 2007 for best reality series at the annual Rose d'Or Festival in Lucerne, Switzerland.
"It's going to be huge," said Chris Coelen, CEO of RDF USA ("Don't Forget the Lyrics," "Wife Swap"). "It's got a 'fish out of water' element -- which is always fun -- and it's got the inspirational stories about what these people are doing in their communities. And then there's an unbelievable emotional payoff."
CULTURE SHOCK
"Secret Millionaire" producers sought participants with assets in the "triple-digit-million range" who have lived sheltered lives. Most are men, but not all. Each episode tracks two story lines: the millionaire's culture shock as he or she is immersed in poverty and the rags-to-riches fairy tale of struggling individuals who gain a financial windfall.
Philanthropic reality shows have been increasingly popular the past couple of years, led by ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and, most recently, "Oprah's Big Give." Yet some attempts to capitalize on them have flopped, such as NBC's "Three Wishes" and ABC's "The Benefactor."
