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A while back, I told you that Boston Rob Mariano was now involved in a new reality TV project that he’s calling Tontine, after a big stakes Vegas game. Now a few of the details are coming out about the game and it’s REALLY a high-stakes game for the players!! The Bostonist attended a recent Tontine casting call and found out the incredible twist to the game. According to The Bostonist:
“What would you do for $10,000,000?”
Former reality-show contestant Rob Mariano – “Boston Rob” of Survivor fame – and casting director Tad Frank delivered the following 1-2 punch of statements:
“The 10 million that’s up for grabs is not coming from the network. It’s coming from the contestants.”
This announcement was followed with a question:
“Are you going to be able to walk with 14 other people’s life savings?”
And that’s “Tontine’s” twist. The show’s official website references keys and displays the message “Possession is everything.” But what’s more important is the meaning of “tontine” – “an investment plan in which participants buy shares in a common fund and receive an annuity, with the entire fund going to the final survivor or to those who survive after a specified time,” according to the dictionary.
That’s how the show will come up with $10,000,000, which is the biggest prize in reality-show history. The competitors themselves put up their life savings – every penny – but only one of them will walk away with everyone else’s cash.
But will only the wealthy be able to participate? Ten million split 15 ways is about $666,667, and few people have that kind of net worth. The auditioners’ occupations, ranging from aspiring songwriters to teachers to recent college grads, don’t generate that kind of cash.
For that reason, Frank and Mariano asked the auditioners if they had kids or significant others. Anyone who relies on a “Tontine” competitor for care and feeding might be out of luck if they lose. Plus, anyone who goes on the show will be away from the house for a long time. The shoot is for 100 days – the longest shoot in reality-show history – and the cast and crew will visit all the continents, including Antarctica.
So would you consider risking your life savings for a one-in-15 chance at $10 million? Will you watch the show when it airs? Leave a comment to share your thoughts!
Photograph of Rob Mariano and Tad Frank at the “Tontine” auditions by Caroline Roberts.
Sounds more like a gambling show than a reality show. I would imagine that the producers already cleared up all of the legalities of legalized gambling already.
Is that a joke? I would sure as hell through in my life savings (an old beat up chevy truck) for a chance at the $10 mill… should be a good one to watch!
Now that sounds like some good television
The stakes don’t get much higher than this. I’m expecting a train-wreck with this one.
Jeez. A new era of reality TV has just arrived. For better or worse…..
I’m surprised no one thought of this sooner.
I am one willing to give my little to the chance. Im looking for the one to risk the millions of life savings for some one like me to take it.
Are you asking me to give up my lifes savings to be in the reality show if choosen?
Tontine Productions LLC has been trying to break a major impasse with a network over the future of the show. The root of the disagreement stems from the network’s high-paying advertisers not wanting any part of a show that has the potential to leave losing contestants destitute. As a compromise, the network has asked the creators of Tontine to consider a “watered down” version of the show that doesn’t include the “all or nothing” stakes. At this point, the producers are not willing to make that concession and are holding true to their vision, while considering other distribution partners. The networks are looking for shows that are able to last more than one season. With the 14 losers on the street, Tontine is only a “ONE AND DONE” production. Programming longevity is the key for a major network to go after sponsors and make it worth their while.
This has led to the show being delayed big time. All stated production dates have slipped, no auditioner references have been contacted, nor have any of the returned background questionnaires been looked at. Company assests have been sold, including the Armored truck that Tontine used as a prop to promote the cross country casting tour. Adding insult to injury, the revolutionary concept of letting fans and auditioners interact pre-game on fan site (http://tontinenation.com) has backfired. With no news of progression for the last few months, the momentum has diminished. Contestants and potential fans have transformed the fan site into yet another social network.
Tontine Productions is awaiting a distribution deal before proceeding with this phase of the casting process. Internet distribution is looking more and more likely. The reality is that Tontine cannot ever hope to compete against shows such as Survivor, The Amazing Race, etc. if it only occurs via online distribution. For all intents and purposes the Tontine show, just like its real life financial predecessor, is dead.
Thank you very much Farseer. I’ve been wondering why I hadn’t heard anything more about this and now it all makes sense. I can certainly understand why Tide or Crest wouldn’t want to be associated with one person a multimillionaire at the expense of 14 newly homeless.
I’m not sure I understand how they would find 15 people who are young and attractive in order to fulfill TV viewers wishes for pretty people on their sets, childless so as not to put minors at financial risk, and jobless so as to have 4 months of no income readily available who also happen to have 600+K readily available for the kitty.
IN A NUT-SHELL !!
This process has been a long and way drawn out . However there is a light in knowing that the web-site hasn’t been shut down and there really hasn’t been anyone to say ” yes this is still in the works ” or ” No its is dead in the water ” As an auditioner my-self it has been hard to stay focussed on the game at hand with the “silent treatment” now in force.
Here is one thing to count on though…..
The R.E.B.E.L. will be Kicking ass ALL OVER THE GLOBE if and when this thing takes place !
TAKE IT TO THE BANK BABY ! ALWAYS BET ON A R.E.B.E.L. !!!!
wow how amazingly trashy. i think/hope this has been cancelled