The Philanthropist

When the first episode came on, I said to myself. This show is going to be a huge hit. This show is real. It's shows what a real person is capable of doing with his money, instead of spending it on Rodeo Drive or on another stupid car.

I would rather see this show, instead of another stupid reality series, with half naked people run around a stupid island or a house, after the last bit of bread or whatever.

I hope the network keeps this one. They probably won't. Network's usually get rid of really good shows and keep the garbage.

It's great to see Jesse Martin back on television and something that shows his true talent. And the guy who plays Teddy Rist. He's just fantastic.

I was surprised that some people think this show is a dog and deserves to be scrapped, that the scripts are unrealistic and this stuff could never happen in the real world. I think they are missing the point. Ask yourself this: How many dramas or any type of show can you name, in television land, that even mention philanthropy? How many promote giving of oneself? How many shows inspire the normally uninspired masses to even think about what goes on outside of our fantasy land of the U.S.A.?

Sure, this show has unrealistic plots, portrays a myopic view of world issues, has obvious product placement, and other faults but that is what pays the bills. Without these things this show would never had been made or even hit the airwaves and if it changes the life of even one person, especially one from the class of nouveau riche, it will have done a service to humanity. Sure it is flawed but there is enough truth to it to bring people back and maybe change their lives. It is all about the message, not the messenger. I do so hope NBC will let this one live.

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.

I really liked this show. I only recently watched the last couple of shows that I had missed online. I'll admit that the main reason I tuned in in the first place was out of curiosity because I liked James Purefoy in "Rome." While it would be nice to see the show return (even if it's only a summertime thing), it probably won't, because I know the networks. Every time they come up with a new & interesting concept for a TV show, they promptly cancel it in favor of the same, tired old recycled garbage they they've been spitting out for decades.

I've tried searching for info on it, but I can't locate any info about it on the web. So I'll just assume that the network killed it and move on...

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.