It's nice to finally see at least some decency among the wealthy in "Secret Millionaire." I didn't grow up rich so if Paris Hilton knew what it was like to struggle for cash, I'd have tons more respect for her.

But I must see that a part of me feels that Molly Shattuck is doing this out of fake sympathy. She's too old to be a cheerleader, and ... all she wants attention. And Secret Millionaire is how she can get on TV as a way for people to like her.

How wonderful that they would lower themselves to the just above poverty level so that we may view a reality show that in real life we live every day. Hope the producers are proud of this one.

Hi David,

This is like "The Grapes of Wrath" meets "Queen For A Day." Shame on the producers as well as the participants for using decent, albeit poor people as foil for the"philanthropy" of the uber wealthy. When the cameras stop rolling and "true reality" is back, some are worse off after the "prime time philanthropy." Think of "Extreme Home Makeover" families who can't afford the financial upkeep of their mansions.
What does this show and others like it say about a society that gets its collective"do-gooder" fix by watching a pitiful chosen few receive help amidst the fanfare of prime time bestowment?

Miss Molly playing like she doesn't have millions while BGE employees get laid off. Bet she didn't get choked up about her husband destroying the financial lives of hundreds while they were making millions.

I hope Molly feels better about herself when she goes back to her very insulated life and no longer has to deal with the kind of suffering her husband causes every day. She needs to get a life, give up the money and live in the real world. I guess she has done her good deed and can now hop in her new car and go play golf at the country club and not worry about the little people. I hope they had all their money invest with Madoff

Mr. Shattuck takes the reins at BGE (oh excuse me, "CEG") and jacks up our rates yet can't keep the company solvent. If Molly and Mayo want to make a difference, turn the company back into an old-fashioned utility and lower the rates for thousands of needy customers.

Sad. Very sad. If her goal was, as she claims to do for others, then why do it in such a contrived, public way. This woman may be a lovely person in many respects but her prior "cheerleading" and certainly her involvement with this show demonstrate a craving for attention that is sad and pathetic.

Spin this however you want, but this show is the pinnacle of insulting, patronizing garbage. It perpetuate the class warfare that was declared on working and poor people long ago by those who already have way too much of our common wealth. Shows like this reinforce the idea that the hyper-wealthy, of whom Molly Shattuck is one by virtue of her husband's theft of our money under BGE deregulation, can mitigate their immorality by giving some of their ill-gotten gains away to those they stole it from in the first place. Molly Shattuck continues to be the poster child for what happens to people who are so wealthy they don't need to know how the rest of the world lives but think it makes them philanthropists to dabble in the experience. Of course, after the show, Mrs. Shattuck goes home to one of her many mansions and never has to think twice about paying her BGE bill. I urge Mrs. Shattuck to go to the communities of East and West Baltimore and observe families who have been cut off by BGE because they can't afford the $500+ bills trying to heat their homes with candles and dangerous space heaters. I urge Mrs. Shattuck to visit families who must choose between how much food to buy, what prescriptions to forego and what portion of the rent can't get paid because they can't afford their BGE bills. For Molly Shattuck to achieve a modicum of fame pandering to the idea that she can mitigate her and her husband's thievery is beyond the pale. I hope to see Mayo Shattuck in jail for what he's done to the state of Maryland, the once-venerable and well-run BGE and its employees and finally the customers of BGE who are suffering in untold ways. Fox should cancel the show and the state of Maryland should cancel Mayo Shattuck.

Molly, you did a great thing for many people and I thank you as I know others thank you as well. You showed people less successful that you care just as much about them as a person and as a equal. I only wish to have the opportunity to thank you myself someday.

Warm regards, Larry

Can she not see that the money she is graciously giving away come from Constellation's putrid business practices and the government corruption that sold our public assets to them? What's next...?

While I think it's a great concept, I think these people essentially give the money and run. This means that the majority of "contestants" will burn through the money with nothing to show at the end. Instead, they should be counseled on how to make that money work for them.

As for Mrs. Shattuck, people are likely critical (at least in Baltimore) more of her husband than her. Her husband is pretty much hated by all BGE customers. He has proven himself to be the typical greedy CEO type. As for her, I imagine the criticism is more that she belongs on "The Real Housewives" franchise than a show like this. Other than being a cheerleader and cheering her wealthy husband on ..., has she done much else?

Most offensive show I have ever seen. Makes people who are dirt poor into a carnival act--come see the amazing poor person who not only is dirt poor but isn't selfish!!

Shocking.

I worked with Molly many years ago at Sylvan Learning Systems and she demonstrated her devotion to children and families in a very loving and caring way. She was young and wanted to succeed but always keeping in mind that that she wanted to do "good." This program demonstrated that she has not changed over the years. I am proud to have known her.

Just wanted to say that no matter what people say about her or husband I think they did a great thing. If you don't think that Mrs. Shattuck actually cares after watching that then there is something wrong with you. I say great job!

Waitress? I must have missed that part of the show. I was under the impression that they woke up the next morning after the Landlord Lady showed up the day prior to collect half of the rent. Went to the food store & saw the Help Wanted ad & were given the jobs.

At first I was a bit snippy to the show . . . rich people having to "rough" it for 6 days when I have to struggle with it for EVERYDAY. Some of the comments they air in the beginning "Not unusual for me to drop 3 to 5 thousand dollars for a dinner." truly ate at me. But I watched & I enjoyed the people they met.

Truthfully I have a strong feeling many of these millionaires give much more off camera at later times to the individuals they have encountered. And hopefully people viewing will start realizing we all have problems . . some worse then others . . . and we all NEED each other. There are many ways we can help even if we do not have a check book that yeilds 7 digits or more.

~ May you ALWAYS be Blessed & may you ALWAYS Bless others ~

Molly, I loved what you did and being fortunate myself, I would support you in all of your good doings. Write me if you want be to help with others.
You are wonderful.

I have a general question about the Secret Millionaire show. Since there are cameras at every scene, including in the homes and organizations of the subjects whom the millionaires are trying to help, how is this 'secret?' These can't all be hidden cameras!

“Number one, I don’t read blogs. I mean, why? I went and did something to help other people. If someone wants to be critical about it, shame – shame, shame, shame on them. They should go and, really, go get a life. I didn’t do anything to hurt anyone. I didn’t go and do anything that is exploitative – anything to hurt my family, to hurt anyone else. I genuinely went and did this to go and help other people.”

Did she go to school with Sarah Palin? Perhaps Mrs. Shattuck has a future as VP running mate on republican tickets?

It's ironic that she mentions that she did not exploit anyone or hurt anyone else. She is right. However, if she were guilty by association, then she has done these things. There are plenty of families in Maryland sitting in the cold because their BGE bill doubled and they can no longer afford it. There are Constellation shareholders who are hurting because her husband proved that he's a horrible corporate manager. At the end of the day, her "family" has cause a lot of hurt throughout Maryland. I know that my wallet hurts more because of her husband.

secret millionaire,oh millionaire is very good

Someone please help me!!!!! I need $10,000. I lost my job, do not have any money!!!! Please, please someone help me!!!
Thank you
Debbie

Brilliant: " If someone wants to be critical about it, shame – shame, shame, shame on them. They should go and, really, go get a life. I didn’t do anything to hurt anyone."

Plus, if you write a blog, why on earth would you interview someone who admits they don't READ blogs? And why would she give an interview to a blog if she does not read them? This whole thing is silly.

Wow. For a guy (Mayo) with the bad judgement to send a 200 year old company (BGE) into the ground in a short 5 years of so, really has good judgement in trophy wives.

Wow. She really doesn't know why people would find fault with her for doing this? What a selfish, ignorant and out of touch woman she is.

"Finances got to the point, Shattuck said, where she fretted whether she could 'afford a cup of coffee' in the morning."

Poor girl. You know, David, I can't tell you how many mornings I'd like to stop into my local Dunkin Donuts - or even a gas station - and purchase a cup of coffee only to quickly realize that my $1.35 would be much more prudently spent in the form of gas or some other necessity. Heck, I might even spend that money on a bus fare. I find it grossly offensive that Ms. Shattuck feels that I should "get a life" because I disagree with her choice to flaunt her lifestyle of excess to millions upon millions of hurting Americans right now. The fact that she tries to empathize with all of us normal folk by pulling at the strings of pathos is even worse.

Please, Ms. Shattuck, return to your Ivory Tower of greed and malfeasance and quit trying to play the role of philanthropist. I'm not buying it. Do you want a surefire way to instill goodwill upon the public? I've got a BGE bill the size of a Lincoln Towncar which you may be able to help with.

Z, I commend her for her generosity and noticing little people give. In fact, when they give, they are usually sacrificing something, where those with money do not. It reminded me of something I did years ago to help a non-profit group in Baltimore. I was working for a business that was remodeling their branch offices and I made sure some of the better furniture that was being replaced made it to the non-profit. It wasn't an easy task, and I probably misused my authority, but the non-profit needed it and we could help. I never received anything more than a thank you which was fine. But then one day I saw high profile citizens being honored by the organization and all they had given was their name as someone who supports their cause. While their name was important to encourage donations far greater than I could ever give, I had risked my livelihood to help.

So again, I am glad she recognized the little people who sacrifice more than rich people will ever know.

Love the show would like to see an update show were the people they have helped like the girl with the three boys in pennsylvania to see how they repair her house with the 70,000.dollars check she got that would be great to see.

I have watched all episodes. It gives me hope that the rich might help the poor, and the knowledge that the poor are trying to help themselves and not fall through the cracks. Let's hope the rich want to "out do" themselves. Maybe next year we will see Secret Millionaires giving away a million dollars instead of $100,000 (exception of New Orleans visits w/$300,000). Keep it on -- beats survivor, amazing race and hospital dramas.

First, Molly Shattuck can say shame to people that make comments about her on the tv show. I just have to say something about "her" comments to her mother about no visting her grandchildren enough. She was so out of line! It had nothing to do with the show! It is just as much Molly's responsible for her kids to see their grandmother! She owes her mom an apology. I am a not a grandmother but a mom. That was just mean!

Most of the people who watch this show don't know how the rich got their millions. I know the show sparked a flam in my heart to do what I can to help others in need. I watch this show with my children so they understand the concept of giving and that their are many people less fortunate than they are and in some small way they can help too. Please stop reading so much into what you think the motives are and look at it as one kind act from one human being to another. God bless and Merry Christmas.

I must say I really like the idea of the show. If it helps others give more to the less fortunate, then who cares who does it. Think of all the other "Crap" on TV that these idiots are getting paid for!

I didn't like the part where she told the mom with the 3 boys she had been lying to her and the poor woman stood there with sheer TERROR on her face. That I thought was mean and drawn out. She just lost her husband for God's sake.

They are a bit pathetic in the "Oh, I am so tired" and stuff...LOL! I'm tired everyday...Happy Holidays everyone!

Molly seems like a very nice lady. I do find it entertaining when a rich house wife claims to have a busy and hectic life because she is working out, eating lunch, and taking kids to school. According to Yahoo Finance, her husband cashed in on 43 million dollars of Constellation Energy stock (ticker CEG) before the oil crash. The amount donated on the show represents roughly 1/4 of 1 percent of his earnings in 2008. This is the equivalent of someone earning $48k donating $110. Brings a tear to my eye!

Most of the people who watch this show don't know how the rich came to be millionaires. I know the show lifted my heart to do what I can to help others in need. I watch the show with my grandmother and I said that this is like my mother , but the only thing is she will give her last to less fortunate and she is not a milloinaire she is disable and is losing her house. but she will give what ever she has. so... what happen to people like her. is their any hero out their for her.

Z--hope you are fully recovered soon.

I agree with many of the comments posted here, but what I found most interesting about the show was the relationship between Molly and her mother. I think they each gained a greater understanding of the other, and I hope they continue to build on that. You cannot buy a happy family.

I've "loved" Molly ever since she was featured in an article by the Sun when she became a Ravens' cheerleader. Everyone was so amazed at how great she looked for her age and was able to become a professional cheerleader--never mind having the money to hire a personal trainer and to have cosmetic surgery (no woman has an abdomen like hers after 3 children without help of some kind). And what a wonderful mother and homemaker--never mind the 40-hour-a-week nanny and the housekeeper! Barf!

I'm in agreement with the number of perceptive posters who noted that Mrs. Shattuck is living her cushy life due to her husband's malfeasance in running the local utility here, BGE, and the crushing burden on regular workers who must pay inflated prices to the utility or freeze this winter. Her stunt was obvious to me and I can just imagine her husband agreeing to her giving away a small 1/4 of 1% of his ill gotten gains, for the publicity value alone, it really paid off as most viewers have no clue how he's profitted like a pirate off the backs of working Marylanders and many small businesses who pay unconscionably high rates to the monopoly of Constellation on energy in Maryland.

As for the show itself, Molly's 'generosity' wasn't THAT generous, the couple in Lousiana on the show gave away 3 times as much and they don't have the same amount of huge wealth as the Shattucks.

The idea alone for this show is insulting and perpetrates the classism this country is infamous for around the world. There must be something wrong with a society which finds entertaining the idea of some phony baloney rich person doling out a small tax deductible amount of money to some poor losers whom they never need to see again after they head out of town and back to their cushion of wealth and privilege. Woo Hoo, sorry but I'm not really impressed by the lameness and general insult to the working poor this show doles out to poor residents and viewers too. Underlying the whole show is the premise that these rich classy people are deigning to step down the ladder into the morass of poverty and reality in order to apply a thin veneer of charity on their selfish need for approval. A pox on all their houses.

You cannot buy a happy family

Hi Affiliate,

Affiliate said:

You cannot buy a happy family.

**************************

I like those words. I never watched this show. But I agree with that statement, money, fame no of that can buy happiness.

I am afraid that is what too many people look for these days.

Thanks for the insight today!

My words are relegated prejudges. *Never prejudge. That is my moto.*