Oprah’s Big Give on ABC

By Ally Matteodo

The finale of Oprah’s Big Give occurred on April 20^th, 2008 with one of the biggest reveals ever.  Unbeknownst to the contestants, the winner of the competition garnered 1 million dollars as a reward.  The premise of this show began with 10 people whose main goal was to outgive each other.  Traveling across the United States, each contestant’s target was to devise the biggest and best ways to help out people and institutions.  As the competition continued the ten were soon whittled down to three.

In the final episode, the last three remaining contestants, Stephen, Brandi, and Cameron go to Chicago.  Their challenge is to figuratively give the shirt off their backs (or literally if need be).  They start with nothing and are instructed to work as a team although they will be judged individually.  Stephen immediately calls his friend Bob Muzikowski of the Chicago Hope Academy.  This school provides unfortunate and poverty-stricken youth with a quality education.  However, the school is in desperate need of a new outdoor athletic facility and other funds for an art and music program to help keep the kids off the streets.  Cameron places a call to the Blue Man Group.  Not only does he obtain a complementary performance for the kids, he also receives a promise from the Blue Man Group for a $100,000 donation to the school.  Stephen also makes phone calls to his contacts and manages to raise $60,000.  Brandi has her sights on the Shriner Hospital.  This Hospital offers care to anyone who passes through its doors.  Since a lot of their patients are not well-off, Brandi decides to arrange a course for the children.  She travels to Rosebud, an elite restaurant in Chicago, and convinces the chef to come and teach a course on cooking to the children.  The chef promises he will return every month to the hospital to offer his cooking course to the kids.  Brandi, Stephen, and Cameron also fill a room with goodies such as DVDs, toys, and sporting equipment for the kids at the hospital.

In the end, the three stand before the panel of three judges.  Then, Jennifer Aniston takes the stage and surprises everyone with the announcement that the individual voted the biggest giver will receive $1 million ($500,000 to use at their discretion, and $500,000 to help someone else).  Stephen wins the competition, and his three little girls and wife run out to congratulate him.

Oprah’s Big Give far outstrips any other program as Best TV Show of the Week.  The major reason for this is its extremely positive, altruistic message.  With the airwaves littered with shows based on the premise of people competing in order to win something for themselves, this show completely turns this concept on its ear.  These people are competing in order to give.  Furthermore, even though everyone is competing as individuals, the contestants become friends and work together much of the time.  This is also in direct opposition to many other reality television shows where people must backstab each other and use betrayal in order to get ahead.  This program captures the magic of giving- the viewer is able to see people’s lives transformed before their very eyes and misery turned into happiness.  In addition, although a lot of the changes are brought about by large donations, there are also many instances were change is brought about without the use of money at all.  It’s evident that everyone has something to give, and the program makes you want to give.  Oprah’s last words on the program are “Find a way to give big, your challenge starts now.”  These are inspiring and motivating instructions.  If even a few more people began living their lives in this manner, the world would be a far better place.

Best TV Show of the Week

The Parents Television Council - www.parentstv.org