ISP: Green Card Romance
On today's show: Things get ugly in Iowa; a new reality show for illegal immigrants; and Japanese TV.
Video: The creators of a controversial new reality show say their program is an edgier version of "The Dating Game." That's an understatement.
A pilot and a trailer for "Who Wants to Marry a U.S. Citizen" are already making the rounds online and available at YouTube. The premise of the show is simple. Like "The Bachelor" or "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire," a few contestants vie for the affection of an eligible U.S. citizen. The goal is to fall in love, win the game, and potentially get a green card.
Some bloggers suspect this whole story is a big hoax. A Technorati search for the company behind the show pilot, Morusa Media, turned up only three entries. A quick google yielded very little, except a website for the show called Hookacitizen.com. In the middle of that site is a link to a law firm, the Ratliff Legal Group, which has an immigration practice.
I called the firm and spoke directly to Robert Ratliff directly this afternoon, and asked how he was affiliated with Morusa Media.
"They retained me as a legal advisor," he explained. "That's all."
He claims to have no direct connection to the show, and also stated that the pilot is not an advertisement for his immigration practice.
The show's producer, Adrian Martinez, told CBS News that he has at least one lead on a network interested in developing the show. As of now, "Who Wants to Marry a U.S. Citizen" lives only online.
The creators insist that they are simply having fun, and that there is no political agenda behind the concept. And, who knows, maybe some lucky couple will make a love connection.
As for the other contestants, they run the risk of deportation.
What do you think? Would you watch this program?
Watch an interview with the show creators here.
