Are you watching “I’m a celebrity get me out of here!“  We hope not (because Heidi and Spencer are rude and embarrasing) and think it’s about time someone on TV tried to do something positive with the platform they have called prime time television.

photo courtesy of the NY Times

The Philanthropist, airing for the first time on NBC this Wednesday, revolves around a chief executive who, after the death of his young son, decides to dedicate himself to charitable causes such as fighting starvation in Haiti and aiding sweatshop workers in Myanmar.

Producer Charlie Corwin’s inspiration for the pilot was an extremely affluent friend who spends time in developing danger zones like Rwanda and Pakistan doing charitable work for those afflicted by war. Corwin is known for his reality shows such as “L.A. Ink” and “Storm Chasers,” but hopes that viewers will be equally inspired as they are entertained.

The show is a bit of a risk, since Americans have proven that they are drawn to superficial, materialistic reality shows such as “Housewives of Orange County” or “Paris Hilton’s My New BFF.”

Will The Philanthropist survive in the Speidi reality-TV world? Check it out Wednesday at 10pm on NBC let us know if it’s doing good. 

June 22, 2009 by rachel
Tags: charity, Charlie Corwin, NBC, new york times, reality TV, television, The Philanthropist