Of all channels, PBS has a similar series about executives who spent a day or week working in the crummiest gigs in their own companies in order to "understand their viewpoint". One I watched had the CEO of a cruise ship line take multiple jobs on one of his own ships. Got the workers new shirts so they wouldn't get hot, but continued the company's forced "tipping" policy as "worker enticement." Fun stuff.

This past Spring the Baltimore School for the Arts held an auction as a fundraiser. There was a nice article in The Sun about the event. One of the items up for bid was a dress to be designed by last year's winner of Project Runway, Christian Siriano. He is an alumnus of the school and was present at the auction. The bidding on this item was fierce and finally came down to two contenders: Molly Shattuck and another woman. I don't remember what the winning bid amount was (sorry, I can't locate the article) but Mrs. Shattuck lost . Upon seeing her crestfallen expression, the designer whispered something to the auctioneer who then announced that Christian would also design a dress for Mrs. Shattuck if she would also fork over the same amount as the winning bid. She agreed, the school made even more money and everyone went home happy.

Well, the next day in the letters to the editor came the (inevitable) letter from someone decrying the lavish spending of the Shattucks while everyone's electricity bills are going up etc. The day after that there appeared in the letters to the editor a "correction" to the effect that the letter-writer of the previous day had "failed to note" that the money paid for the dress was a donation to the school. Now, while I didn't necessarily agree with the letterwriter's opinion I saw nothing factually inaccurate in what she wrote. Which caused me to wonder what (or who) had prompted The Sun to run a correction. Also, I believe that the donation was made by the designer (his time, labor, materials in creating the second dress). Molly Shattuck got herself a custom-made dress by a hot new designer. Does she also get to take credit for a "donation"?

this couple should be giving their money to everyone in baltimore that pays a BGE bill and/or has BGE stock.

Hi Z,

I am speaking as someone who didn't grow up with wealth. I am so glad that some of these wealthy snobs will get to experience the real America. The America losing its blue collar jobs, the America where city streets are ruled by poverty and drugs, the America where trying to get into college is a struggle in itself.

I am extremely disdainful to people like Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, and all the kiddies on MTV's "My Super Sweet Sixteen" because they grew up spoiled, and go on television saying how wonderful it is to be spoiled, stupid, and bloody rich. I did not have that! Unlike Ms. Hilton, Ms. Kardashian, and the kiddies on "My Super Sweet Sixteen," I did not grow up rich. When I was a kid, my parents worked their fingers to the bone to put bread on the table. I worked demanding, physical labor jobs since I was a teenager, because mom and dad couldn't afford to spoil me. My first car was a nearly dying Saturn, which I paid with my blood and money, not a brand new Lexus, like you see on "My Super Sweet 16." I did not have the privileges that Paris Hilton did. I am insulted when she comes on the TV with her slutty outfits, promoting as they call on "South Park," the "stupid spoiled whore" persona, thus ignoring the America where people actually work for a living. If I see her on TV one more time, I'm just going to vomit.

Therefore I am glad these rich persons will get to experience the real America for themselves. And the fact that a Baltimore cheerleader will be on it is somewhat amusing.

On a sort of related note: GO RAVENS! THE BEST DEFENSE IN THE NFL! Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Hi Mr. P: I share your disdain for some of these same folks. So, thanks for expressing what I feel as well. Z

That's a kick. I'm not surprised. I think Molly loves the limelight but at the same time she truly cares about people. She's a rare gem. Mayo is lucky.

Awesome. Maybe she can get dropped into one of the CEG families who lost their job because her greedy husband destroyed the company. Or, even better, maybe she and Mayo can donate part of their golden parachute to the employees of the company. This is nothing more than an attempt to deflect criticism, and a chance to say, "but look at all the good we are doing with our money."

What a world we live in where a TV network would even consider using her as one of the anchor celebrities...how long can she use the "oldest cheerleader in the NFL" tag? I guess as long as she remains old...

I have to say I am surprised that I have not seen more responses like yours given the mood of the country toward CEOS with lavish parachutes out of troubled companies. Z

As a former millionaire and Ravens cheerleeder, I'm getting a real kick out of these replies...

This just makes me sick, I am so tired of these "wealthy" businessmen and their trophy wives, especially in Baltimore. If the Shattucks want to give money away, tell them they should give it to their employees since he's the one who destroyed the company and the lives of some of "his" employees. I really don't know how these people can sleep at night!!!

Social climber, not socialite. Ask about her days at Alex. Brown, another company which her husband drove into the ground. Ask how a "marketing associate" at AB ended up marrying the CEO of the company. Nothing but disdain for Molly & Mayo.

Molly and Mayo are a disgrace to Baltimore and to the state of Maryland. Paying $25,000 for a dress at a charity auction a while back wasn't enough for Molly to show her ignorance and disdain for the people her husband is stealing from under the scourge of deregulation. Now she has the audacity to show her face on TV. Mayo ran one of the most stable, customer friendly companies into the ground in no time at all, which is how it always goes when you use the company entrusted to you as your personal gambling casino. Gotta love em - rich by thievery and still prancing on their playgrounds - on our backs. It's past time for thieves and poseurs like these two to live like the rest of us. Better yet, jail would be a more fitting place for what they've done to the employees and customers of BGE.

Bottom line rich people always win, guess these two people will destroy the average person and continue to overcharge everyone so they can play games!

As you said Z this show seems to "connect with tensions in the larger society" and in view of wall street currently being identified as the villains of our economic troubles, the show appears to be a vehicle for those of the small, upper class to regain a better persona with those of the middle and lower classes. Television shows like this one support the idea of the American Dream. If you are a good, hardworking citizen it will pay off, but if we as viewers look at the facts with recent job lay-offs, dismal healthcare coverage, unaffordable college rates, and the widening gap between the rich (few) and the poor (many) one can recognize that this appears only to be true for those who happen to be lucky enough to work along side people like Molly Shattuck-possibly be awarded some of her massive income.

The idea of Ms Shattuck giving money away on any venue is not worthwhile news. Someone should ask the question, Where did the money come from? For those who may not know, Mr Shattuck took a Fortune 500 company and placed it at the brink of bankruptcy. Shares once worth more than $100.00 each were sold for less than $ 27.00. Mr. Shattuck took a medium sized utility and sought to make it into an industry giant. He speculated with OPM, and the resulting disaster took a 175 year old company to its ruination.
I doubt as a stock holder, I'll be interested in this reality.

Reminds me of Jeffrey Levitt and his wife Carol giving away loads of money they got while creating the biggest savings and loan fiasco (Old Court Savings and Loan) this state has ever seen!

"Mr. Shattuck took a medium sized utility and sought to make it into an industry giant." Actually he didn't seek out to do this, he accomplished it. He moved the company into the best financial position it had ever been in. I'm sure he actively set out to ruin the company. What kind of idiotic idea is that. Apparently your not a well informed shareholder. Any idea that the Shattucks have obtained this money illegally as you suggest is insane. I think you would be better of blamming the State of Maryland and the Federal government for the failure of CEG. Oh, by the way, CEG was clearly the "only" company to suffer drastic finacial hardships over the last year.

Mr. and Mrs.Shattuck...how dare your flaunt your wealth when you pushed a company near bankruptcy and caused my husband and many other BGE/Constellation employees millions of dollars is losses from their stock and plans for retirement. You need to forget the reality show and give the millions back to the employees future that you ruined!

The Shattuck's are an embaresment to all things Baltimore.

Why would the producers of the show fail to research these two clowns? Former Alex Brown employees have nothing but distain for them. Employees of CEG are wondering how their company ended up on the rocks, and all of us get wacked with an excessive utility bill every month.

I request that Fox eliminate the Shattuck segment of the show!

Best of luck .....to you... However, I can't believe you would think this is a good time to put

this on the air. I know you stated that it is your $100grand that you are giving away from your

hubby's $14m salary; but, don't you realize that thousands of people (including myself) have lost

$100s of thousands of dollars because of the CEG stock price falling due to the perceived

mismanagement of the company. The fact that I have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and you

are having fun frolicking away (oopps. to charity) $100k of money that I don't have because your

husband mismanaged the company isn't something you should throw in peoples faces. Doesn't you

husband have any control over you?

He didn't make Constellation an industry giant, unless you counted Enron an industry giant. As we found, the only thing giant about Enron was the giant inflation of their stock to the benefit of the Executives. Constellation was a medium size utility with other aspects of its business. Mayo considerably increased the energy trading aspects of the company (accounting for a vast majority of Constellation revenues). This made Constellation appear as a much larger company than it's hard assests would indicate. The problem with energy trading is it is speculative and requires a lot of liquidity. So Mayo put Constellation into familiar territory. He hired former Enron executives and as we saw it caught up to them like it did Enron. He even used some of the same banks as Enron to finance their speculative energy trades.

When someone forwarded this link to me, I was appalled. The Shattucks should hide their faces in shame for the excess they flaunt in the faces of the utility customers and the employees of this once proud company. As an employee, I can't believe the audacity of Good Golly Miss Molly going on national television to flaunt her wealth even more - the wealth she and husband Mayo stole from the stockholders of Constellation Energy. Gambling with one's own money is one thing, but putting other people's lives and futures in peril for one's own gain is just plain common. They are just "trash with cash" as I've heard it put. They should be run out of town without a penny - let them find out what it's really like to be middle class or poor in this country. Shame on them both.

How about giving back some of that 4.68 million he collected in stock options back in February before crashing the company. My retirement lost half it's value thanks to his questionable accounting practices.

How about giving money to sick newlyweds to pay off bills in order to be able to buy food, prescriptions, and an attorney to fight job for discrimination because of my illness.
I don't qualify for programs to help with my medical bills. Some nights we go hungry so we can buy meds.

I think it is great that Millionaires are going to do somthing to help the needy in this country. My question is, why do they go only in big towns like Vegas. Why can not they come to a small little town in the USA and help people that are loosing their homes due to foreclosure? I have went all over trying to get help before we lose our home to foreclosure and I even went to the government site they keep telling people to go to for help and all I have gotten is a big run around and no help. It would be nice to see one of them come to our town and help people this us. i know people are hurting all over the country but never does anything like this happen in our town. Just once it would be nice not to have to worry about where we are going to come up with money to pay for our home and other things we are in great need of. Just once it would be nice to have people remember the small towns of America, we need help too.
Thank you
S. Croy

DO YOU KNOW HOW GOOD THIS SOUNDS TO PEOPLE. JUST LIKE ME IT SOUNDS GREAT. I AM 57 MY HUSBAND IS63 AND JUST FOUND OUT HE MIGHT HAVE AMYRUS ALONG WITH HIS TURMOR. IT JUSY MAKE PEOPLE LIKE ME WISHED IT WAS US, BUT WE KNOW IT NEVER WILL BE. WE JUST KEEP ON STRUGGLING BUY. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SHOW.I HOPE IT IS FOR REAL AND NOT A JOKE.

What a joke. These people who gave away money to less forfunate people should be ashammed of themselves.
The millionare that owned a plane lived in Newport Beach and gave away only $125,000 to 3 people should be shaken up. A person with that much money should have given each of the 3 people a million dollars. He could afford it. I am person that has been waiting on SSD for 2 and 1/2 and I don't have money and I would have given those people everything I have. Shame on the TV station for airing this. I will never watch it again and will tell everyone I know likewise

I feel that Molly is getting unfair and biased treatment based on her celebrity status. Having known Molly as a student and student/athlete I have nothing but the highest respect for Molly and her community service endevours. I find it highly offensive that she is being belittled for her actions on behalf of others simply because she is now a woman of means.

Hello Gary: Thanks for the comment. I am curious about the "unfair and Biased treatement" to which you refer. Where are you seeing it? Do you find it in the comments here? Do you find it in my post? Please clarify if you can. Thanks. Z

To: Mrs Molly Shattuck
This is not a comment but i would like to see if someone could help me get me another car. I know it is more people in the world worst off than i am. I never been thought nothing like this before. When i retired from my job of 31 yrs. I got behind in someone of my bills and lost my car. i need a car to get around. I work i a hosptial for 36 yrs and i know some people need help. When i was doing good myself i help young and older people. I did not have much myself but gave what i could. I don't have anyone i could go to now. I just need a little help. This is the first ever.If anyone could help me you can email and i will send you my phone number.

Thank you

ldesnord@yahoo.com

I am a father with 3 children under the age of 13. My wife and I achieved the American dream by becoming entrepreneurs also investors in the Real Estate Market. Our business collapsed and our investments sink like a brick in deep water. After the downfall of our business plus investments I could not obtain employment due to the economic crisis. Now, my personal property is on the selling block December 18, 2008 by my lender. I have tries many avenues to save my personal property, but with no such luck the lender denied me of any option(s) times after times.

The holiday season is traditionally a time for giving. I hope you will consider giving a gift that will make a difference to the life of my family. Thanks so much for your consideration. In the meantime, please accept my best wishes for a happy and healthy Holiday.

ldesnord@yahoo.com

you can'tbe mad really folk's Paris Hilton,and every rich person you talk about can not help what they do or how they act it'sthey why they are brought up.I f you where brought up with money and the life style they have you too would be like them.We arepoor and we are mad because they have what we want belive me they want what we have love,trust,an honor.I would never wantalife stylewhere veryone know my ever move if I did them I would make it happen anyone can make what they wantof them self so if you wantthierlife style go for it belivein your self sell everythingfollow your dreams thats how they got there wellmaybe not allof them but down thier family tree someone had to get them thier right.

This is absolutely appauling!!! Good to know Mayo's wife can flaunt this when my friends are being laid off left and right! I will look forward to finding another channel to watch that night! Great decision Molls!

Hi, I have an interview with Molly Shattuck that I hope to post later today. Please check back. Thanks. Z

I have know Molly and her parents and sister all my life. They are great people. Good for Molly. You worked for what you have, enjoy it.

...The timing for her "debut" is heartless and just wrong. There have been hundreds of layoffs at CCG and she feels as though now is a good time to give away $$ on tv?? Why not give a little back to all the people who lost their retirement because of the shady management at CCG or the hard working employees who are lost during the holidays scrambling to find jobs and support their families.
I wish both Shattocks would fly their gold parachutes somewhere else other than Baltimore.

She worked for what she has? Are you kidding me? You mean she slept her way to what she has...OK!

Few things that need to be said. Mayo...you shallow ..., you need to take some of your salary (or robbings rather) and use it to hire some people that have any kind of common sense and help you make some decisions regarding issues in your life...like the stupid idea of going on Secret Millionaire. Do you think this is really a good time for this, considering the timing of you idiots gambling away CEG?

In case no one ever told you...money should wisper, not shout. There are plenty of people locally that are wealthly just like you, although they have much more common sense and no need for such shallow attention. Obviously your stupid wife is making decisions for you both. ...clean up your act. You should be embarrased to walk the streets of Baltimore. It is clear that "finding and knowing yourself" was never something that was important to you. Please move far away so we do not need to read or hear about you AND please take the woman... WITH YOU.

I myself think this show is awesome!! When you live as we do having a hard time, living payday to payday, sometimes not even that, I know I personally would be ever so greatful to have someone help me out. Being a single mother raising 3 adopted children, it's very hard to make ends meet. It's even harder now that Christmas is near. I can't even afford to buy my kids really anything, but I know they will be happy with what I can get for them. I'm sure that the people that these millionaires have helped are forever greatful to them.

MAYO......Alex Brown and Constellation.....ruined both. Molly "crying" and "choked up" during interview. An Academy Award performace. Cry for me Molly I lost several thousands of dollars because of the decline of CEG.

"you worked for what you have"...pretty sure this is Mayo's money, which is where the big smack to the face of the Constellation employees comes from.

Reading some of these comments was eye opening. I don't have very much money and it looks like most of the commenters don't either, but why such hostility towards those that do? It seems like everyone right now is hating wealth and think that wealthy people must have done something unethical or illegal to acquire their wealth. In reality, a lot of these people work hard for it and are fortunate enough to rise into high paying positions.

mrs. molly shattuck....or anyone who can help,
i was injured and have not been able to work for awhile. we have stuggled during this time and are about to loose our house. there is no one we can turn to for help. please...is there anyone who can help me? this is the only place that has been a home to me. i have always worked hard and have never asked for help before, but due to the circumstances, i have no choice. thank you for your time...and happy holidays

Well quit your (expletive) and waste the worthless thieving aristocrats.

Appalling is the only word I can think of. Most of us would love to be able to be philanthropists but we would draw the line at using ill-gotten gains to do so. Mayo Shattuck's ego and greed destroyed BGE, has turned a safe investment into speculation and risk, and ended the comfortable way of life for many. I think citizens need to stage a daily protest outside Mr. Shattuck's office and home in order to make life so uncomfortable for them that they leave the state in disgrace. We can't take their (our) money away from them, but we can make sure we don't have to witness them spend it on selfish luxuries with a bit of "nobless oblige" thrown in.

I watched the show for the first time tonight and absolutely enjoyed every minute. Molly was so sincere and so giving of herself to the less fortunate. I don't see how anyone could possibly belittle her and her family for giving so much of themselves. Shame on those who wrote negative things about her.
You go Molly! Good for you girl !!!

Molly ..and her husband live a lifestyle on the backs of all the citizens of Maryland and act like they earned it. They aren't giving their money to the poor, they are giving our money to the poor. The "oldest" cheerleader in NFL history? Give me a break. ...

Dear Molly Shattuck, , or to anyone who can help us,Molly i think it is great that you and your husband are helping the less fortunte And i hope the two of you keep on helping the less fortunate.now my husband has been out of work for about 61/2 months, and i can no longer pay the bills by myself,as i only bring home about $900.00 a month and now both cars,house and everything eles i´m about to lose within this month we need help now we need at least $13,000 to keep our cars,house, ect, i do not want to live out the streets at all. and i´m not to proud to ask for you and your husband help thanks and i really hope to here from you soon.

I have read the negative reports, but think that it is good that you see the need to help others. There are a lot of people in need right now. So keep it up despite the jealousy of others.

I am a por man how need a kind person how can help me with money to pay my bills and some money to food. God bless you

I am in desperate need of $5,000 to make mortgage payments, pay health insurance and utility bills. I lost my job of 20 years last year because the business closed. I have been working recently and will be okay once I catch up. My house will be in foreclosure by mid February if I can't catch up the payments. Please help -- anyone! I am so embarrassed to do this, but have no family left that can help.

HERES A THOUGHT STOP PLAYING WITH PEOPLES EMOTIONS. I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS THAT HASN'T MADE ANY MONEY I SPEND OUT THE LITTLE MONEY I DO HAVE TRYING TO PUT MY SELF IN BUSINESS SO HOW ABOUT CUTTING ME A CHECK FOR 125,000 I LIVE OFF 5,000 INCOME A YEAR SO TRY THAT ON FOR SIZE. IF YOU WANT TO HELP SEND ME INFO & REQUIREMENTS ON HOW YOU I CAN GET THE MONEY WITHOUT SELLING MY SOUL TO THE DEVIL!!!! MSKANE808@YAHOO.COM

Because of my financial situation I had been forced to live out of my car for two weeks I felt hopeless no showers no food. To be honest I use to drive into the local university library to research. I managed to get back on my feet with hard work and determination. I know that some of you have worst situations with kids and family, but please dont give up hope the more time you spend blaming it on some one else the less time you have to come up with a solution.The reccuring theme here is that everyone is in need of financial stability. I was in the same situation, desperately trying to come up with solutions "Faith" is what has worked for me. Also not feeling sorry for myself and always trying to come up with solutions, but remember that what ever doesnt kill you only makes you stronger.

WHY I dont Get it.. IM 66 and sure can Use Enough to Get my small Mini golf going without Biting my lip to do so..OH well GOD BLESS

I disagree with most of the published comments. I think it is wonderful that someone-anyone in the USA can now see that help is needed all around us. Most average Americans do sweat over working their fingers to the bone to provide bread on the table for their families. However, it is unnecessary to down others - That certainly is not the American way. What happened to the morals and 10 commandments in this country - do they even exist in most homes? Ask yourselves. Could my life be any worse - now that I'm losing my life long earnings or I can't spend as much as I would like. Even the ones that work daily don't seem to ever have enough. Try looking at your cups half full rather than what you don't have. Yes!!!! it can always get worse. My daughter works everyday in your public schools teaching other families special education children and her husband works everyday in the Taylorsville police dept protecting the streets. My 18 year old grandchild put a hold on her education to help take care of her 15 year old sister who was diagnosed last year with cancer - Yes I said CANCER - A TUMOR THE SIZE OF FOOTBALL IN AN 85 POUND YOUNG LADY. We strive daily to get her to and from chemo treatments and they live in a very small over crowded home in Louisville, Ky and are faced with over 1 million dollars in medical bills that all 3 of our salaries will never pay - but you know what - we thank God every day for the life of this child in hopes of keeping her alive long enough to really see young adulthood. So get over yourselves and look to the cup 1/2 full and try to help thy neighbor and share what you have instead of complaining how hard it is in your life and staying so self centered that you can't see that helping someone else makes it brighter (even if all you can do is listed to someone else's problems). But, the ones with the true problems don't seem to compain near as much as you people above with your negative comments. IT CAN ALWAYS GET WORSE. SO YOU BETTER COUNT YOUR BLESSING NOW AS THEY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

i'm commenting on the show WITH MOLLY... i think it was wonderful what you did only there are so many families who deserved it more and the woman who's husband died he actually killed himself and she took that money and bought drugs with it...right now i am laid-off work not collecting very much hardly affording car pymts and insurances and mortgage pymts and trying to send my son to school and i was turned down for a parent plus loan and his worrying about paying his rent which i am trying to pay at the moment everything is piling up and i am very greatful for our heath but that doesn't pay the bills and send my son to college....bless you and your family for helping the one person who needed it(the woman in mahanoy city) and i understand you can't help everyone i am just wondering how you came to help who you helped. i just wish i had alittle help but i guess not everyone is fortunate enough to have a helping hand....i am so desperate i have entered who wants to be a millionaire....i write to ellen degeneris almost everyday but my son hasn't got a call from her either....i guess this is my life and i will have to keep it....thanks again for helping the one woman who really needed it and appreciated it....THE WORLD NEEDS MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU

I need some one 2 share thier wealth wit me pleaseeeeeeeeee>>>>>>>>>>>

I think it is great for people who are wealthy to help. When living poor with kids, it limits your ability to be the best parent you can. I'm in a really bad situation myself. I have 4 kids .One boy and 3 girls. MY 13 yr old lost her father 3 years ago and has lost faith. My 3yr old has 2 major medical conditions. PHACES syndrome (only 200 cases world wide)and also hasJRA..My fiance lost his job and now we are losing our home,I should say lost. We have about 2 weeks left in this house.I will be homeless with 4 kids one of which whom is sick. We also have to leave our dog of 13 yrs.that passed away in April (she is buried in the backyard.) MY 13 yr old sits were she is buried when she gets stressed. I haven't even told her that we really are being kicked to the streets in about 2 weeks. I hear of wealthy people helping and wish We could be as lucky to have someone get us started in a positive direction.God bless all the people that help others.

Hi Molly,

You fed my eyes with tears all night long, though tears of joy, compassion and most of all tears of love. I never knew there was such a show on TV and when I saw it the first time today I thought it was a one time show on Mr. and Mrs Myles and Cynthia Kovacs. (SECRET MILLIONIARE) You and your Mom were the second people I saw and all I have to say is God bless youand your family with love, wealth, blessing and protection. May you all live long, Amen. Silver or Gold I have none but I have Jesus who answers prayers and I have asked Him to protect and provide for your family. Again thank you for being there for the needy, for feeding the hungry and for sheltering the homeless. May your days on earth be long in God's name AMEN.