(apologies to WKRG - I know the show is on another network...)
Last night (3/9) the guy was voted off who gave the car to the restaurant manager. I thought the gal who took the women out for manicures/dinner should have been gone, because she didn't do anything that lasts. Ok, for one day they felt special. Feelings don't last, and they still have medical bills they can't pay. Dinner is one meal, whereas the restaurant fundraiser multiplied the seed money many times over. So the guy wanted to "reward" the restaurant guy for helping - I don't think that was wrong. I think the judges were wrong. What do you think?
I watched the show for the first time last night and I've gotta say, it was REALLY emotional! Now that I know how good it is, I'm definitely hooked.
Regarding the women's day out, I agree with you 100%. As soon as the giver said she was going to give manicures and pedicures to the women I thought, what a colossol waste of money. Well, maybe not a waste...but certainly not as well-spent as it should have been, or could have been had she been a little more creative. These are women who have almost NOTHING. And after their day of beauty and meal out...they still have nothing.
However, I agree with the judges that giving the car to the restaurant manager was not the thing to do (though I understand the contestant's rationale). The vet had way more use for the car - or the money had he received and then sold it.
As an aside, the vet didn't seem that happy or appreciative with what was given to him...but maybe that was just the editing.
Now the guys who teamed up...wow! What a phenomenal job they did. And the lady in the wheelchair. Both those gifts brought tears to my eyes.
If I am ever assigned to go to a strange town and find someone in need, I would not go to a library. I would go to the Church and ask the secretary who she knows who needs help. She knows who is out of work, who is struggling, who is marginalized by society, and yes, even by the Pastor.
Oh, and the gal who just met a random guy in the parking lot? Too scary for me. He could be an axe murderer & she wouldn't know. Well, maybe not so scary with the cameras rolling... lol
Ok, give me your opinion about last night's conflict between Rachael and Carlana. I think the wrong one was picked to go home. Rachael was a steamroller, very uppity, and then tried to put it off with "who elected me leader?" Carlana was at a distinct disadvantage because of her wheelchair, and I think Rachael is still in the game because she's like Oprah - "I remember where I came from" she says. What do you think?
Yet again, we agree! Maybe it's the editing that's not showing us everything the judges are privy to, but I most certainly thought that Rachael was the problem within the team...though they did do remarkably well, which was awesome. However, just as the one judge said, teamwork is really really important...and Rachael acted like she was running the entire challenge alone.
Carlana was getting on my nerves just a little, but again I think the editing was crafty that way. But based on the things that were shown about Rachael, she was NOT a team player by any means yet she was rewarded by staying in the game while Carlana seemed to pay the price for something that wasn't apparent to me.
Okay, for the first time I agree with the judges. And it wasn't even that hard a decision. I mean seriously...you've got $100,000 and the one lady could only give away $16,500?! I do feel for her though, being directionally-challenged myself. But that was just lame.
And the guy who promised to pay for the firefighter's funeral - and then didn't! Unforgiveable!
So, those two definitely deserved to get the boot.
A couple of comments though. What's the deal with product placement for Target? Several of the shopping sprees occured at Target stores. GREAT PR for them, for sure.
"Brother billionnaires." I'm still astounded that there are people so rich that they're happy to just show up with a case full of $700,000 in cash to give away for a television show. It just boggles my mind.
Again, giving flowers away just didn't do it for me. Wasn't that the same contestant who gave the facials and pedicures last week? Sure SHE had fun, and the flower vendors made out like bandits...but that was just $2,000 wasted to me. I was surprised when the judges thought it was great.
The guy who worked with his dad to provide great stuff for the impoverished neighborhood, the one who paid for automotive work and the grocery-store giveaway were the most worthwhile and creative, imo.
But you know what? Under the same circumstances, I'm not sure how well I would have done. $100,000 is a LOT to give away in service or merchandise with the restrictions they had and my mind was churning the whole time, wondering what I'd have been able to come up with in 24 hours.
Did you ever see the movie "Brewster's Millions" with Richard Pryor? That's what this episode reminded me of. In the movie, Monty Brewster had to spend 30 million in 30 days, in order to get his real inheritance which was 300 million. He, like these contestants, had conditions: he could not own any assets at the end of the 30 days. He could not give more than 10% to charity. Spending money was a lot tougher than Monty thought it would be.
Likewise, Kim (the directionally challenged) thought it would be easy, and she fell flat on her face. She found out that she's not the best at everything, and good luck to her. Maybe she'll be humbler after this experience. The other guy with the funeral, man, I felt so bad for the family - he should have left whatever he was doing & paid for the funeral, then come back to the store. The store will still be open, but to promise something that big & not follow through - unacceptable.
I would have had a hard time with this challenge. I did wonder, though, why the grocery guy didn't go to 5 different stores, and the car repair guy, go to every car repair place in that zip code. Was that against the rules, or do I just not have enough imagination? Oh yeah, flower girl - she had to tell people "FREE FLOWERS" because they'd think she was selling them like the street vendors do. LOL -Did you see her throwing them at people? I think the vendors from whom she bought the flowers were grateful for her large purchase. In that regard, I'll give her credit for the idea. But it sure was a time-waster for "only" 2 grand.
I don't hate the judges so much this week, except that they still owe Carlana an apology.
Best show so far! Is it possible we're the only two people watching Oprah's Big Give?
I guess the judges made the right decision this time, but it was hard and I hated to see Sheg go. He really seemed like a sincere and caring guy...thought I admit, the $500 he spent on the family's fiesta party could certainly have been used in a better way.
I LOVED all the creative ways the participants came up with to give...not just with money, but with themselves. The young beauty pageant girl really redeemed herself this episode, and the short clip of Steve (?) just listening to the guy washing dishes talk about his failures but with such optimism yet hope...well, it was really really emotional.
So do I understand correctly that the winner at the end will be given a million dollars by Oprah? What do you want to bet that whoever that is will not keep the money for themselves but instead continue paying it forward? I hope so anyway.
Yes, it's just us! You wonder why it's on prime time with only 2 viewers. I had to be in and out of the room while this was on, so I didn't get to watch it straight through. The luau thing bothered me the same way the manicures did a few episodes back. You throw them a party, and they still can't pay their bills.
There was a situation at a local church a few years back, where a few weeks before Christmas, the wife was diagnosed with a life threatening illness. The husband was out of work, and everyone at the church was moved to pity & so they bought gifts for the children. Their kids had every toy under the sun, and the couple still had bills they couldn't pay. It's fun to buy toys, but that's not what they needed. The man took most of the toys back to the store to get money to pay doctor bills. Why couldn't the church people see that? Because buying toys is fun. Paying bills is not fun. All the members of that church are not all about "having fun" but too many were, that year.
I thought it was funny the way Rachael wanted to help the lady clean her house or something, and the lady said it didn't need it. If she came to my door and offered the same thing, I'd tell her no, too! You may not bring a camera crew into my house and show the nation that my kids left their backpacks on the floor of the livingroom, fingerprints on the doors & windows, and toothpaste in the sink. Puh-leeeze! I'd let her pull weeds if she wanted to. Hee hee.
I don't hate the judges this week, but they still owe Carlana an apology.
