25 Million Dollar Hoax: Episode 2 Recap
Good People Transform Bad TV
By Eleanor Meilinger
November 16, 2004
We begin with a flashback to the moment that Chrissy learned the requirements of the "hoax". Last week I failed to note the real distress on her face when she was confronted with the reality of what she was being asked to do. But she did agree to participate.
So we catch up with the Sanfords, who survived the first phase of Chrissy's transformation but are about to be thrown into real turmoil. Hiring another private jet, Chrissy brings mom and dad along with David, Eric and his girlfriend Holly, to Beverly Hills. Dad, not wanting to criticize her outright, cleverly makes a statement about Chrissy's reckless spending while on the telephone. He expresses his wish that she would invest her money wisely and not blow it all. Fat chance!
Mom wonders what Chrissy could possibly want on Rodeo Drive - she's about to find out. Talking on the phone, Lois is surprised by the fact that everyone has not heard about Chrissy's big windfall. We are never given adequate explanation for a lot of inconsistencies like why none of the people they were able to communicate with during the five-day hoax didn't research and question the legitimacy of Chrissy's win. Did the producers contact EVERYONE the Sanfords and Erica knew or did they limit the people they could speak to. Seems awful hard to control once they are "out on the town".
When they arrive on Rodeo Drive the limo is swamped with onlookers expecting a celebrity to emerge. The Sanfords are awe-struck. Chrissy convinces them that she loves the attention and it begins to take its toll. Sitting around watching her get a $300.00
Hairstyle at Jonathan Salon (of Blow-Out fame - another NBC show.) the guys grow bored and head off to get haircuts of their own. "Our sister wins five million dollars and we get to go to Super-cuts," complains Eric.
Holly is the first to crack. "I don't think it's the money that's changing her for the worst or turning her into this terrible person she's becoming. I just think its selfishness and greed." This is the kind of reaction the producers were obviously hoping for, but the Sanfords have so far let them down. Chrissy tells the group her plans for the day - shopping and more shopping. OK, so we get a little eye rolling but they still agree to accompany her.
First stop. Lladro for some pricey, hokey sculptures that although top-dollar resemble the type of statue available in any gift shop. The boys begin to get uptight about the whole "shopping thing" and the kicker is that Chrissy purchases the one piece Holly admires - for herself. The final tally was over $47,000. All this time George Gray provides commentary that hints things will only get worse and Chrissy provides voice-over explaining how hard it was to continue to up the ante and cause her parents such dismay.
In the next store, as Chrissy adds to her pricey wardrobe (this time with the help of real salesgirls and actual, fashionable clothes) the others are offered champagne. "You're going to need it." Lois is told when she tries to turn it down. Guy is visibly uncomfortable watching Chrissy "spend money like water." He gladly accepts the champagne and expresses the need for a lot more in order to tolerate the rest of the day's activities. Chrissy manages to drop about 50k in that store and when the brothers complain about her spending Lois tells them "I think she's winding down now." She couldn't be more wrong. The producers have arranged a day of escalating shopping madness to insure the most supportive of families would break under the strain. SO far they hadn't reacted, even when Chrissy begins to put them down and tell them that they had better get more sophisticated taste, implying that they were not worthy of her company. As she adorns herself in outrageous jewels to the tune of 1.7 million dollars, the cracks begin to show. Chrissy says that her real character would have purchased things for everyone but herself if she won the money. He brothers have given up pretending to support her and express their true feelings. But even at the most confrontational, they don't blow up. She questions Eric's feelings towards her and he honestly says he can't stand her. Chrissy says she spent the whole night crying over what she was doing to her family. In the morning, however, she continues the ruse.
The next challenge - convince the family that she is spending a good portion of her money on promoting herself as a new singing sensation. She leads Holly to believe that she will be supporting her life-long dream of becoming a recording artist. Eric is delighted that FINALLY Chrissy is doing something for someone else. When they arrive at the recording studio they learn the awful truth - Chrissy has arranged to hire an expensive vocal coach to help her become an overnight star -for the hefty sum of $18,000. Holly is crushed and Eric is stunned by the arrogance but the best reactions come from mom when she hears the cacophony that comes out of her daughter's mouth as she attempts a rendition of Britney Spear's "Ooops, I Did It Again".
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