A Face to Face Meeting with Reality TV Executive Producer Scott Satin: A Man with a Vision, Twisted Though It Is

Entering Reality TV Executive Producer Scott Satin’s office is like wandering into a television museum. Where else would you find cereal boxes with names like “Raisin’ Doubts” and “Corn Fakes,” or bowling balls engraved with secrets of former reality show contestants? But here they all are; mementos from two of Scott’s wildly successful creations: Meet My Folks and Who Wants to Marry My Dad? On his desk is a tiny baby doll holding a cigarette in its mouth. I try to place that particular item within the Satin TV oeuvre, but he insists it’s merely an incense burner that he found eye-catching.

Here’s the deal: Mr. S and I are vacationing in the Golden State of California, and Scott Satin has graciously invited us over to Nash Entertainment HQ for a visit. This was very exciting for us, as neither Mr. S nor I have ever visited a television studio before. Just getting admitted in the front gate was an experience. Then again, I’ve spent most of my life under a rock, so feel free to rate that thrill accordingly.

Once inside Nash Entertainment offices, we were greeted by Scott’s lovely assistant Tammi. Although Scott was running a bit late, Tammi kept us out of trouble. She’s had experience in this capacity, as she was the chaperone for last year’s Marry My Dad contestant, Joanne “Men Stink” Newborn. Among Tammi’s duties in this department were to keep Joanne in her hotel room and away from everyone else in the days leading up to the filming of the show. No one could chance the contestants even running into each other in the lobby. Even innocent ventures out to dinner had to be cleared in advance.

Eventually, Scott arrives, and we wave goodbye to Tammi. He ushers us into his office, proudly pointing out the aforementioned props from past seasons. And then, we get down to business; the business of Who Wants to Marry My Dad 2. This season, the Dad in question is Marty Okland, and his three beautiful daughters are trying to find him a wife.

“Have you seen the promos for it?” Scott asks excitedly. “NBC is promoting it as ‘the most romantic reality show ever.’ I’m telling you, America will be in tears by the last episode. This is a couple truly in love.”

Scott plays us video clips of the promos, and sure enough, the announcer does sonorously declare it “the most romantic reality show ever.” “Wait, there’s more,” Scott continues. “The first time the women see the dad, they don’t even know it’s him.” Scott changes tapes, and Mr. S and I view a scene from the first episode.

The women are told that they can pick out engagement rings in advance of meeting Dad, something that excites them very much. But who’s in the store helping the ladies with their selections in one-on-one sessions? Why, it’s the Dad, in a suit and faux glasses, pretending to be a diamond expert. This is where he forms his first impressions of the ladies.

I ask Scott to tell us more about Marty, the show’s latest Dad. What’s his background, aside from having to pretend he knows about engagement rings? Scott is a bit coy, but says, “I’ll tell you what I told the ladies: I know for a fact that the last time Marty left Vegas, he had a truckload of chips.” Hmmm, what could that mean? Mr. S then asks Scott about his own background, but Scott would much rather talk about his shows than himself, other than to say he got his start in writing and TV game shows.

Thus we find out about other Satin creations on the horizon. Brace yourself, people: we’re gong to get Outrageous Live TV Show Moments 1, 2 & 3, the offspring of the incredibly – and inexplicably – popular Outrageous Game Show Moments 1 – 5. “I don’t know why they rerun them all the time either,” Scott admits.

In addition, Scott is creating a show for MTV called, Who Wants to Be a Superhero? Contestants will invent and appear as their own superhero, and be judged over the weeks, ala Donald Trump, by comic book legend Stan Lee, creator of Spider-man. The sole superhero left standing will have his or her original creation come to life in a comic book written by Mr. Lee himself. Even to a non-comic book fan like me, this sounds pretty cool.

Another Satin production coming just on the heels of Marry My Dad is TBS’s first reality show, Outback Jack. It’s The Bachelor meets Survivor: pampered and primped ladies are taken to a mansion, supposedly to meet their Bachelor, but instead are whisked away to Australia, where they must sky dive out of the plane (still wearing their evening gowns) in order to meet “Outback Jack.”

“He’s a real life Crocodile Dundee,” Scott promises. “The ladies go nuts over him. They’ll have to camp out and lead his outdoor life in order to compete for Outback Jack’s affections. And these are women used to having manicures, pedicures, and massages twice a week.”

“And then, there’s another dating show I’m working on. I can’t tell you much about it, except it will have the ultimate twist. But people are going to flip over Marry My Dad 2. The last episode will have it all; tears, laughter, and the rejected finalist falling completely apart. What more could you ask for?”

Unable to think of an answer, we ask for Scott to pose for a couple of pictures. He chooses to stand next to his beloved Meet My Folks/Marry My Dad props. We snap away, say our goodbyes, and head out of the studio, our heads spinning in anticipation of what’s in store for American TV, and the domino effect on World Civilization in general. Yet, in that instant, the only thing Mr. S and I can agree on is that driving away from a television studio is far less exciting than being admitted inside.

Once again, I’m sure your thrill mileage may, and will, vary.

No, Andrea Shuman did not receive even a lousy Nash Entertainment T-shirt for her troubles. Budget cuts, she supposes. Andrea will recap THE MOST ROMANTIC REALITY SHOW EVER, Who Wants to Marry My Dad 2, when it returns to NBC on Monday, June 21, at 10 pm eastern. You can reach her at ABostonGal@yahoo.com.

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