In case you haven’t heard, the Hollywood Writer’s Strike is finally over. I’m all for the writers getting their due, but did they have to inflict Reality TV on us as a means to get their demands met? Seriously, American Gladiator was taken off FOR A REASON!! Anyway, with the writer’s strike over, one of my favorite shows (as a PF blogger) is coming back on the air; "The Riches".

If you haven’t seen it, Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver star as vagabonds that assume the lives of the Riches. It shows their struggles to fit in to ‘high society’ and many of the hidden problems that wealth causes. If anything, they’re MORE miserable than when they didn’t have the money or mansion.

It’s an interesting comment on the idea of wealth that Americans have. The idea that ‘more money will solve all the problems’. As illustrated in "The Riches", there’s more to the story, and certainly no happy ending.

Money Can’t Buy Happiness, But it Can Rent It

Wayne Malloy (Eddie Izzard) finds that having the trappings of a good life, the mansion, nice cars, and expensive toys, is hard to maintain. He’s forced to impersonate a high-paying lawyer to get enough money to maintain their lifestyle. (No mention of retirement funds, college funds, or savings accounts in this show).

Lesson: Things require maintenance and money. Too many THINGS can drain you dry and ruin your happiness.

Dahlia Malloy (Minnie Driver) deals with a substance abuse problem, and finds that she’s not the only one in the beautiful world they now live in that has problems. Infidelity, drug abuse, lying, cheating, and criminal acts are just as common here, just less visible. (It’s not polite to air the family’s "Dirty Laundry").

Lesson: Money doesn’t solve all the problems, and in many cases CAUSES more/different problems.

The kids (Cael Malloy – Noel Fisher, Dehlilah Malloy – Shannon Woodward, and Sam Malloy – Aidan Mitchell) all have to deal with being in a new school, new friends, and a lifestyle of abundance that they aren’t used to. As expected, they rebel in various ways.

Cael tries to keep the family together, and is against the whole thing. He wants to go back to his previous life.

Lesson: Find a place in life where you’re happy, don’t ‘force’ yourself into the life expected of you.

Dehlilah is starting to adapt and is beginning to ‘fit in’ the best of all, going so far as to start dating one of the boys next door.

Lesson: Be adaptable, situations change, and sometimes the new situation isn’t as bad as you first think. Opportunity knocks all the time.

Sam, the youngest, also has a perchance for cross-dressing, and art. He’s never been one to ‘fit in’ and isn’t ashamed of who he is and what he does. He’s comfortable with his own skin and enjoys it.

Lesson: Be happy with what you are. No amount of money is going to be able to change the person you are on the inside. Learn to accept your flaws, your abilities, and your nature.

A Microcosm of All Problems Money

The thing I love about this show (other than the fact it gives me LOTS of things to write about the rich not having it as well as you’d think) is that it typifies a lot of the preconceptions we have in the west about the benefits of money.

"If I make lots of money, I’ll be happy."

"Getting that big raise will smooth over my marital problems."

"He won’t pay attention to me, maybe he will if I redecorate the house."

"Why can’t I have the Mercedes coup like Sara has!?!! You must not love me!!"

Money doesn’t solve problems. Using money correctly, and identifying the real problems, can solve them. When all is said and done, money is a tool, the same as a shovel or hammer. If you have relationship problems, or difficulty relating to your children, money is the LAST thing that will make things better.

Put the wallet down, and start TALKING to your family. You’ll be a lot richer for the experience.

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