Mark L. Walberg Movies
Not to be confused with the actor and former rapper Mark Wahlberg, Mark L. Walberg (occasionally credited without the initial) established himself as one of the more popular emcees of reality show programming during the early 21st century. He began his career as an executive assistant at Dick Clark Productions, then hosted a sports-themed news magazine program on the ESPN cable network, where he quickly caught the eye of legendary NBC prexy Brandon Tartikoff and snagged his own talk program, The Mark Walberg Show (1995). Walberg moved into the reality sphere in the mid-2000s, coincident with the surge in popularity of that genre; his innumerable assignments (which placed a markedly strong emphasis on competition-based reality programming) included hosting Fox's Temptation Island (2001), TBS' House Rules (2003), and Fox's The Moment of Truth (2008). Meanwhile, Walberg stepped behind the camera to create and produce the Odyssey network's original series Sunday Dinner, alongside friend and collaborator Mark DeCarlo. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide- 2008
The Fox network's publicity packet for the reality-quiz show The Moment of Truth promised to expose the "Deep, Dark Secrets" of its contestants. Hosted by Mark Walberg (Temptation Island, the weekly, hour-long series was based on Nothing But the Truth, one of the most successful TV programs in Colombia. In the American version, the contestants submitted to a polygraph test before appearing before a studio audience, where they were then asked 21 tough questions based on the results of 50 responses given during the aforementioned test. With each answer, a computerized voice was heard to declare "True" or "False", with escalating cash prizes (up to $500,000) offered for each true answer. In no way were the contestants "ambushed": they knew what the questions would be ahead of time, and they were given the option to change their answer before appearing on-camea, or not to answer at all. Even so, the series stirred up a storm of controversy when on one episode, a married woman admitted to having an extramarital affair--thereby destroying her marriage before an audience of millions. The Moment of Truth first aired January 23, 2008 ... and that's the truth. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark L. Walberg
- 2004
Former Beverly Hills 90210 costars Jason Priestleyand Emma Caulfield are reunited in this frothy made-for-cable romantic comedy. Priestly plays Ryan Banks, a once-popular movie actor whose career is in the toilet, not only because of bad role choices but also because of his unsavory reputation as an irresponsible womanizer. In hopes of revitalizing Ryan's career, his manager and best friend Todd Doherty (Bradley Cooper) comes up with an inspiration: A network reality show called "I Want to Marry Ryan Banks", in which the title character will live in the same house with 15 attractive young women, all of them prospective brides. In fine Mark Burnett tradition, one of the female contestants will be voted out each week by the viewers, with the winner chosen by popular demand. The girl who seems to have the inside track is blue-collar Charlene "Charlie" Norton (Emma Caulfield), who has entered the contest because she needs the prize money. Complications arise when, as the series draws ever nearer to its conclusion, Charlie balks at the notion of wedding Ryan Banks, only to be told that if she doesn't, she'll be sued within an inch of her life--and making things even stickier, Todd Doherty has fallen in love with Charlie himself! Produced for the ABC Family channel, I Want to Marry Ryan Banks was first seen on January 18, 2004. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
This cable TV series managed to be a melting pot of reality show, decorating show and game show -- all under the watchful and omnipresent eye of a major manufacturer of home-improvement material. During a 12-week period, three teams of amateur remodelers (two per team) competed in renovating and redecorating a single house, room by room. Whoever did the best job was given the completed house for keeps, with a panel of professionals -- realtor Shad Bogany, designer Kelly West, builder Stephen K. Hann -- and the home viewers as judges. Naturally, the task was complicated with obstacle courses, scavenger hunts, furniture-moving contests, and the like -- not to mention a list of fixed and irrevocable rules. Among these: the teams could not seek out any professional help or ask their friends and families to pitch in; the size of the team's weekly budget (or as it was called here, "allowance") was determined by the outcome of the weekly fun-and-games competitions; and all materials used in the renovation process had to be purchased from the sponsor. Hosted by Mark L. Walberg, House Rules first aired on October 10, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Originally titled Relationships, this hidden-camera reality series was assembled for the FOX network by the same production company responsible for Fear Factor. In each episode, a romantic couple tested the strength of their relationship with such contrived "challenges" as having a beautiful supermodel woo a young man at the behest of his sweethearts. Secret cameras recorded the results, which were often more sentimental than sensational. The avowed purpose of the series was not to break up loving couples, but to bring them closer together; to this end, much time was spent on such romantic gestures as expensive gifts and billboard proposals. Co-hosted by Mark Wahlberg and Claudia DiFolco, Anything for Love debuted June 16, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mark L. Walberg, Claudia DiFolco, (more)
- 2001
The Fox Network's Temptation Island was evidently designed for those viewers who felt that Survivor was too staid and conservative. Hosted by Mark Walberg, the weekly, hour-long series contrived to place four unmarried but "committed" couples on a Caribbean island, where the sincerity of their relationships would be sorely tested by all manner of tantalizing temptations -- specifically, an array of 26 shapely girls and beefy guys in skimpy swimsuits. Lewd and lascivious stuff? Nonsense -- this show served a public service, at least according to producer Chris Cowan, who insisted that the purpose of Temptation Island was to match people up with the right significant others, thereby guaranteeing a lifetime of romantic bliss. At the same time, Cowan promised that the series would live up to the standards set by Survivor by featuring "people you're going to love to hate and those you'll love to love." Temptation Island made its much-heralded premiere on January 10, 2001. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1997
Are there undiscovered treasures in your garage? Could the rickety table found at a flea market turn out to be a genuine antique worth large sums of money? One man's junk could well be another's collectible. Antiques Roadshow has been a popular television show for years and this video offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the reasons for its success. Here is a selection of the best moments of the show, supplemented with previously untelevised scenes. The show's appraisers are interviewed and information regarding the value of forgeries and reproductions is presented. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
