Okay, there was definitely something going on behind the scenes there. Because otherwise Brandi would have been the loser, hands down. I'm not sure I think The Big Give is so sexist they wouldn't want both men in the final two though. Surely not. But then again, what possible reason could they have for not outing the obvious person, who just happened to be Brandi? I absolutely don't get it. She didn't grow her given money at all. She made fairly small gifts to several people...and the little girl with the brain tumors? SHE never said it was her dream to be queen for a day. (Or did I just miss it?) It seemed like it was Brandi's dream FOR her, proud beauty queen that she is herself. No...Brandi blew it.

The guys on the other hand were phenomenal! $43,000?!? From friend's donations? Yowsa, he has some generous friends. And the little girl with bone cancer and her family...wow, Cameron really came through on that one. Extremely uplifting and joyous.

I think JT was included just because he and Oprah are big buds, he's known to be philanthropic himself, and he knows how to drive a plane. Excellent question though about who was piloting as they were all seated around the table! They probably had a co-pilot we just never met because he was nobody.

The judges were very unfair to the guys, allowing Brandi to continue on in the finals. Her accomplishments didn't hold a candle to Cameron's and Stephen's.

Whatever are we gonna talk about on Mondays when this show's over?

-nab

I don't think Brandi "gets it." She is still all about herself. She's the big hero going in and giving (other people's) money away, in thrifty little spoonfuls, with cameras rolling, runway smile gleaming, and grateful tears from her adoring fans. She did not grow the money. She did not enlist the community to participate, other than recuiting teachers & kids to miss school so they could stand outside and cheer for a parade that she led. It's all about the "wheeee!" - the style, not the substance. (She said she used to work there - did she say she was a "student teacher for 6 years," or did I misunderstand?)

Sure the girl had fun being queen for a day. What little girl wouldn't? Did it cure her tumors? Did it pay her medical bills? What did they do for the kid's mother who has to stretch the family budget to include not only food, rent, utilities and gas, but medical expenses and transportation as well?

I really liked the guys' ideas of giving - the remodel, the car, all of it. Uplifting & joyous, indeed. I cried. Wonder if next week is going to need a "hankie alert" as well.

Let's see, let's see... something to talk about when the show's over...
Wife Swap? (again, not WKRG) House? (wrong again) CSI? Now you're talking.

You didn't misunderstand. Brandi did indeed say she was a student teacher for six years.

Even though this show is from the great Oprah, it obviously still falls under the reality show guidelines that require manipulation, both of the contestants and the viewers.

As a reality show junkie, I could chat with you about Survivor, Top Chef, Project Runway (which moves to Lifetime next season), America's Next Top Model, Big Brother (I'm embarrassed to say), Workout (new season to start tonight I believe) and the horrible, shameful but entertaining Housewives of New York City.

I off-set the crappola with more cerebral fare, too, but who wants to dish about that?

-nab

Well, it's a shame that the grand finale was sort of a ho-hum affair. Except for the in-fighting and final three drama, the hour didn't have much going for it, imo.

Stephen's the big winner and that suits me fine. Though I like Cameron, he's already got oodles of money, so I think Stephen ending up with the million is somehow more fair. At least the beauty queen didn't win. She'd've probably spent her $500,000 giveaway bundle by buying all the little girls in her home town pageant dresses and letting them ride in a parade.

And all of the formerly-discarded contestants walking away with $30,000 each wasn't a bad deal either. I'd like to know what the total cost of Oprah's little production was. Add up the gift money, seed money for the challenges, all the expenses the contestants accrued, driving and flying all over the country...probably a costly series.

Any idea if there will be a second season?

-nab

neverabridesmaid - 22 April 2008 01:20 PM

At least the beauty queen didn't win. She'd've probably spent her $500,000 giveaway bundle by buying all the little girls in her home town pageant dresses and letting them ride in a parade.

LOL!!!
And flowers - don't forget the free flowers and the pageant bouquets!! I am glad Stephen won. He's building schools in Africa. He's already doing it, before winning this money, so we know it will go for a good cause.

I wish you could build schools here and have kids respect them like they do elsewhere. Oprah couldn't build a school in Chicago, because kids, she said, don't value an education - they just want an ipod. She had to go to thirld world countries, because those who have nothing appreciate something.

I'm not a big fan of Blue Man group, but I saw some serious editing going on. Cameron sends them an email, and next thing you know, he's talking to the guy who offers him a free show and a hundred grand? What did he say? I want to know the magic words. If I send them an email, will they call me and give me a show and money? Seems like a big chunk of logistics is missing there.

Brandi was just there for ratings. As to a second season, it cannot duplicate its originality, nor eliminate the "end prize" factor. The first group was not expecting it, which made them endearing, but the next group will wonder if they get a prize, too. I would like to see a second season, but I would also like to see some follow up. What ever happened to the contestants? And some of the ones they helped? This was all taped last year. Where are they now?