Richard Hatch questions "Survivor's integrity"

[dr.strangelove]

The following story discusses the Richard Hatch (the winner of the first season on the US version of Survivor) tax evasion trial. Hatch reportedly alleges that the producers agreed to pay the tax on his million (if he won) and he agreed not to discuss their cheating (getting food brought to them).

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/23/survivor.taxes.ap/index.html

Although I am a huge fan of the show, I don't think I could ever argue that Survivor had integrity. Its a TV show. I watch it more for entertainment value then for the game show aspect of it. I never thought it was a fair game. Girls who look like Danni and Stefanie and guys who look like Colby and Ethan have a far better shot at making the game than I do. In fact if you are not very good looking, it helps to have a quirky personality like Rupert or Rudy to be selected for the show. Its not fair, its just what makes good TV.

I thought it was funny that CNN chose to headline this story by pitching it as a challenge to Survivor's credibility and integrity.

[Orangepeel]

1. 'Survivor' Winner Hatch Guilty of Tax Evasion

Some 50 million people watched the first "Survivor" jury award Richard Hatch a million dollars back in 2000. Wednesday, a different jury delivered a far less favorable verdict.
The 44-year-old Hatch, who parlayed his victory into a sort of reality-TV celebrity and appeared on "Survivor: All-Stars" in 2004, was convicted in Providence, R.I., of two counts of tax evasion, one of which was for failing to pay income tax on his "Survivor" winnings. The jury also handed down a guilty verdict on one count of filing a false return. He was found innocent of several other charges, including bank fraud and wire fraud, news reports say.

After the verdict was read, Hatch, who was deemed a flight risk, was led away in handcuffs. He faces a sentence of as long as 13 years in prison and fines of $600,000 on the three charges; sentencing is scheduled for April.

More

http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271|99731|1|,00.html

[Suich]

2. I just saw the story on Olberman and the whole thing

seems fishy to me...something's missing. Hatch isn't stupid...it's a stretch for me to think he used the fact that other survivors were stealing food from the tents of the crew (cheating) as a bargaining chip.

OTOH...MAYBE I AM COMPLETELY WRONG!

When I wanted to see real competition, I used to watch Eco-Challenge. Ever since Omarosa (or maybe before) on The Apprentice, the idea of "reality tv" has taken on a whole new meaning.. Two examples are "Santino" on Project Runway and "New York" on Flavor of Love (VH1).
Neither one has any talent...they're there because it makes good tv.

[Qanisqineq]

3. LOL

You watch Flavor of Love? I can't help but watch, it is too crazy. "New York" is just beyond crazy. "Hottie" is another one that bugs me, on the first episode she said she wanted Flavor Flav, the mansion, and his money to all be hers. Jeesh.

As for Richard Hatch -- he was entertaining to watch play the original Survivor, but after that I wish he had just gone away. Too arrogant and if there is one thing I hate, it is arrogance. IMO, I wouldn't be surprised if there is some input from producers or Mark Burnett on who to vote out. There have been seasons where I wish there had been a lot of input b/c it all got too predictable. If the contestants are given or stealing extra food, it can't be much when you look at all the weight they lose.

[Suich]

4. Hottie is a piece of work.

Did the producers put her up to that whole fried chicken thing or is she really that stupid?