Not since the quiz show scandals of the 1950s have viewers been as up in arms as they are about Timothy Michael Poe. Broadcast on June 4, Poe's April audition for "America's Got Talent" impressed the Austin, Texas, spectators, as well as celebrity judges Howard Stern, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel. Before singing, the self-proclaimed combat veteran talked about the rocket-propelled grenade injury that broke his back and left him with a pronounced stutter.
Now, it seems, Poe may have been a much better actor than singer. Veteran's organizations have questioned his pre-recorded claims about his injuries and combat service. As the Associated Press reported, the Minnesota National Guard delved into Poe's background and could not substantiate his claims.
In a small segment taped backstage in Austin, Poe is talking with host Nick Cannon, who notices that Poe did not stutter while talking to him. His brain injury may also be proven false.
In this age of reality television, Timothy Michael Poe is not the first person to allegedly defraud producers and the American people, however.
"Survivor" contestant tries to pull a fast one.
The show that arguably started the 21st Century fondness for reality competition shows, "Survivor" has turned many contestants into millionaires. It also exposed the darker side of human nature, even after the cameras stopped rolling.
A recent example of this is Denise Martin, former lunch lady and "Survivor: China" contestant. During the reunion show, Martin said when she returned to her school after filming, she had lost her job. Producer and show creator Mark Burnett was so moved by her plight that he pledged to give Martin $50,000.
It didn't take long for Martin's employer to respond. In on-camera interviews the following day, Martin admitted that she actually had taken a janitorial position at her school because it offered better benefits. Martin was noticeably humbled as her boss appeared via satellite and gently told the country the truth about what happened.
The show itself came under fire after its inaugural season. Stacey Stillman, the third contestant voted off "Survivor: Borneo," alleged that producers coerced other contestants to eliminate her. The production company countersued, saying that Stillman had breached her contract with the network via the allegations.
Who wants to marry a stand-up comedian?
Before "The Bachelor," Fox tried its hand with the reality romance show "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?" Rick Rockwell was the multi-millionaire presented with a choice of hopeful brides. By the end of the show, Rockwell selected Darva Conger, proposed to her, and ultimately married her in front of the cameras.
This relationship ended almost as quickly as it began. Stories about the honeymoon indicated that Conger wanted nothing to do with Rockwell, who is probably best known as an actor and stand-up comedian. Conger herself got into trouble for claiming to have served as a nurse in the Persian Gulf.
Both contestants appeared on talk shows afterward, with Conger shedding her wedding dress for "Playboy." It seems the only motivation here was to garner attention for their respective careers, not love.
