The stars of Fox Television’s "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" are headed for an annulment, without even a 24-hour period of marital bliss.

Thursday, February 24, 2000

The stars of Fox Television’s "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" are headed for an annulment, without even a 24-hour period of marital bliss.

It seems the groom has a dark past and the bride has cold feet.

Darva Conger’s pronouncement after her return from her honeymoon that she made an error in judgment by appearing on the show is more than just the final installment of a rather controversial run for the show. It is an affirmation that the idea itself was goofy and more than a little morally bankrupt.

The bride said she entered the competition on a lark and that when she spent a little time with her new groom, she found that he was a person she wouldn’t "ordinarily have a friendly relationship with" and that they were not compatible.

Well, duh. What did she expect – a puff of smoke and Prince Charming?

Ms. Conger said she was in shock when she won, that she had an urge to run off the stage. Too bad she didn’t have that same urge before the bikini competition.

Several other voyeur network shows are planned this year – putting real people in manufactured situations so that the rest of the world can watch.

Fox’s experience should teach us that writing for television is fine, but that real life is best left to the individuals and that manipulating love, marriage and families for ratings just might backfire.

We will see if anyone gets the message.