Posted on 12/01/2007 10:21:04 AM PST by television is just wrong
PHOENIX (Reuters) - A Los Angeles company is touting a new reality game show called "Who Wants to Marry a U.S. Citizen" that aims to create televised matrimony between legal citizens and immigrants who have temporary visas.
The show's backers at Morusa Media hope to make a sort of love match between reality TV and a national obsession with immigration. But the producers make no promise that a marriage will occur or lead to U.S. citizenship.
Show creator Adrian Martinez said that Morusa Media has not yet found a network to produce or air the show, but he is currently in talks with one cable TV network and already has signed up contestants for six episodes.
"It's this generation's 'Dating Game,' but with a twist -- it aims to show love knows no borders," Martinez told Reuters.
As in the "Dating Game," which ran on network TV for more than two decades starting in the 1960s, a single U.S. citizen gets to ask contestants various questions. Toward the end of the show, he or she decides which one to select as a potential mate.
So far, most of the contestants are Hispanic immigrants, although at least one is from the Philippines, Martinez said.
In a statement, Morusa said that while it does not guarantee marriage or legal status, it will pay for a wedding party and honeymoon should a marriage result.
"We're just out to play matchmaker," said the show's host, Angelo Gonzales. "There are thousands of U.S. citizens seeking a spouse, and just as many immigrants seeking the same. So we want to make it a win-win situation for all involved."
It is illegal. Did these jerks not see “Green Card?
I thought so.
Off the top of my head, it’s not illegal unless there is intent to defraud. And, if I correctly recall, the temp visa holder must still return to his or her home country (if the visa expires) while the application is being processed.
ping
Besides the legal question there is also the possible incompatibility due to mismatched culture, language nuances and just plain very different expectations from the get go.
Three contestants are deputized as Bounty Hunters and given one week to round up as many illegals as possible. Camera crews follow them around to observe the action. Kinda like Cops.
The one with the most illegals at the end of one week is the winner, receives $10,000 for each illegal deported, and comes back the following week to compete for double the money!
Yay!
It is not illegal because the immigrants who are contestants are here on legal temporary visas (i.e., work or student visas). There are procedures for temporary visa holders to become permanent residents through marriage.
Now, if they were here illegally, they'd have to return home to be able to earn a visa.
Is it a sham marriage? That's a tough call. There are plenty of "matchmaking" TV shows out there. I know this because my immigrant wife watches every last one of them! :-)
Sounds like a new way to legalize prostitution.Get the best consort that money(and your citizenship)can buy.
More evil.
Dog the Bounty Hunter could start a new career.
LOVE IT!!!!!!! :-D
Is it going to be in English?
I’m not surprised anymore. Thanks to the current crop of leaders US citizenship HAS become a joke.
This show is actually a “port over” of a Mexican show that’s been on for the last two years. Just another incursion of the culture of corruption.
Unbelievable!
Hey, sign me up!
“I thought this was a crime.”
Probably not if the contestants are here legally.
But no doubt all the raging femisists of the USA who privately start
to lament never having married...
it’s probably a crime and an obscenity to them.
They idea of “other people” being married and relatively happy has
always bothered them.
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