Living the Dream (New Zealand TV series)

Living the Dream was the New Zealand version of Spike TV's Joe Schmo Show, produced by Touchdown Television for TV2.

Description

It was a reality TV show (actually a parody of reality game shows) that began airing in August 2004 and involves a setup that is reminiscent of the movie The Truman Show.

One man, Sam Chambers, thinks he's on a reality TV show called Living the Dream. However, all of the other members in this reality TV show, including the , are actually actors and the entire show is an elaborate hoax centred on the main character. All of the events and games played are staged to give a particular outcome designed to elicit a response from the main character for comedic effect.

The other "contestants" are stereotypes of common reality TV show contestants. They are (real names follow character names/descriptions):

• Mick the Prick – Jason Fitch
• Rima, the Schemer – Awanui Simich-Pene
• Billy the Gay Guy – Jeremy Birchall
• Mule the Former SAS Soldier – Stephan Hall
• Betty the New Age flake – Kirsty Cooke
• Tiffany the Rich Bitch – Sarah Thomson
• Ben the Best Mate - Charlie McDermott
• Mary the Virgin – Victoria Blackman
• Mark Ferguson, the Smarmy host – Himself

At the end of the show, Chambers received the $50,000 prize for which he was "competing" as well as all the other prizes given away in the show.

Sam's colloquial exclamation "Crikey!" became the show's catchphrase.

References