With the pending arrival of “Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County,” we’ll welcome a whole raft of new OC reality-show stars. To celebrate, the Watcher has named the Eight Greatest OC Reality Stars. We’ll unveil one a day through Aug. 15.
NO. 2 - EVAN MARRIOTT, “Joe Millionaire”
“Joe Millionaire” ranks as the most spectacular one-hit wonder in reality TV history. The 2003 Fox series racked up staggering numbers; the finale was watched by 40 million viewers, ahead of even that season’s “American Idol” finale.
The premise, for those who missed it the first time around: Evan Marriott, a broke Dana Point construction worker/model, posed as a multimillionaire in search of a wife. Twenty young beauties were dragged to a French chateau to battle it out for Marriott’s hand, unaware that their Prince Charming was a fraud.
The show’s success hinged on Marriott’s ability to play the role of reluctant fraud, and it was a perfect bit of casting. It was a moment that could not be recaptured for anyone. A second season of “Joe Millionaire” crashed and burned in the ratings. The women all faded into obscurity. Evan got a little bit of work in Hollywood before heading back to the construction business.
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The countdown so far:
NO. 3 - CHIP & KIM McALLISTER, “The Amazing Race,” season five
NO. 4 - LISA TUCKER, “American Idol” season five, “Star Search”
NO. 5 - JESSICA BOWLIN, “The Bachelor” season five
NO. 6 - KAYSAR RIDHA, “Big Brother 6,” “Big Brother All-Stars”
NO. 7 - SARAH JONES, “Survivor: Marquesas”
NO. 8 - LAURI WARING, “The Real Housewives of Orange County”
