The Philanthropist

.....but Nigeria and Burma are not household words here. Thanks to THE PHILANTHROPIST, American television entertainment may have just taken a humanitarian turn for the better, while still providing solid entertainment.

This can't help but be a good thing, and I sincerely hope this show is successful. It's entertaining enough, so I remain optimistic.

One thing I noticed, the lens through which we view the rest of the world, so far, isn't filtered by American values. What we see are simple human values. This is a good approach, I think.

Our protagonist, emotionally devastated over the death of his son, is driven to help those who are also suffering, especially children. That this takes place on the world's stage is quite unusual for American television, and long overdue.

I've enjoyed the first two episodes and been moved by them as well. This is what a dramatic series should do.

A piece of Television that is worth watching. Cast is fresh & new. Purefoy is completely HOT, but makes his character believable, it wasn't until recently that I've seen some of his work (Vanity Fair); which was OH SO REMARKABLE. Campbell & Martin are great. Campbell with her elegant way (I hope to see her funny side (like in 3 to tango) in moderation) & Martin with his more 'series' role. Booth is new for me as an actress, but I look forward to seeing what she can bring. I didn't think I watch the show, but I'm glad that I did. I would give it a 10, but because of the "time slot" I'm stuck at 9 out of 10. A MUST WATCH.

The Philanthropist may not win Emmys or Golden Globes but it does something that only shows like Frontline or 60 Minutes. Yes, it's fiction and not hard fact based like those good news magazines.

But hopefully what it does is take real-world problems and show them to people who wouldn't normally watch a television news magazine. It's worth keeping a show that allows the viewers to see beyond their white picket fences or even beyond the person in front of them while waiting at the unemployment benefits line.

We are indeed in one of the worst economic situations we've had in decades. But we ought to always look at it in perspective: It could ALWAYS be worse. I think we Americans, with nearly a century of prosperity and a relatively isolated geography, have forgotten to look beyond our borders. We, the middle class - and even the upper lower class, are likely still better off than 90% of the global population.

This fictional drama depicts real global issues. Slavery in Haiti, dictatorships in Burma, human trafficking in Eastern Europe (and really, even in the US)... These things are real and the average person probably doesn't know anything more than the fact that these things exist. I think that this show helps frame these issues to connect emotionally with the audience (such as it is). Whatever helps.

We complain about the "high" price of gas or milk but we don't live in a country where a cup of rice is all we have in a DAY. Though many say that the government is too socialized, know that it's only because it cares that its people live with at least a certain level of human welfare; that though some will take advantage of it, the vast majority of recipients need the help and deserve it. A society can be judged on how it takes care of those who cannot take care of themselves (the homeless, elderly, mentally handicapped...). Our people should also be judged on our awareness of others beyond our shores.

If this show has opened even one set of eyes to the problems out there then it's done its job. It's not asking any one of us to solve the problem but to be more than just superficially aware. What we do as a society - is up to us.

We can appreciate how good we have it even when it seems bleak and still seek to help those worse off than us, or we can pity ourselves because we can no longer afford the 2+ bedroom house we think we deserve (vs. an apartment) and ignore the human beings who may not even own their own lives.

The Philanthropist is one of the best shows currently NOT on television. This show is a great example of how two different ideologies (for lack of a better word) – capitalism and philanthropy – can coexist and work together effectively. In fact, the show not only demonstrates philanthropy and giving of oneself but it also shares ideas about how to solve tough social and economic problems by encouraging job stability in war torn and poverty stricken areas. Name another TV show that does that.

We need to keep this show on the air and that is why a number of supporters of the show have started a cause on Facebook called "Save the Philanthropist through Charity". You have to search for us through the Causes application on Facebook, not the regular Facebook search box. With the support of fans, we know we can convince NBC to reverse their decision to cancel the show.

This show is incredibly well thought out and inspiring. I rate this as the best show on television, possibly ever. Certainly competitive with the HBO/BBC production of Rome and Purefoy is just as brilliant and engaging as Rist as he was as Mark Anthony. The show is inspirational and provocative. It incites lively discussions about current events in the positive light of what can be done to make the world a better place. The episodes cover all types of events and remind everyone that the biggest differences can be made by individuals who do what they can to help when the opportunity arises. The soundtrack/score is extraordinary and does a fantastic job of bringing emotions into many of the powerful scenes. I hope that this show will continue as it truly is worth watching.