Michael Vick: This is your life!

Who: Mike Vick.
What: May do a reality show about his "road to redemption."
When: Once released from jail.
Where: The show will take viewers from his jail release to his construction job, financial recovery planning, probation transitions, as well as his appeals to return to the NFL.
Why: Because the guy needs a job and we (the TV watchers of America) desperately need another tasteless, mindless reality show to watch.
How(can this be happening): Money Talks.



So the burning question on every one's mind this week has to be which lucky cable group will pick up the tantalizing new reality show featuring Hampton Roads shining star, Michael Vick?

As we all anxiously await the news so that we can preset our DVR's Vick and the would-be producers (and Vick's attorneys of course) are shopping the new series to a number of different stations such as Spike and A&E. The water cooler jokes have already begun about a reality show for Vick on Animal Planet - and while that might make for good office banter I would not hold your breath on that one.

Regardless of the mixed views about what Vick should or should not be doing post-incarceration the fact still remains that once released from jail Vick will have served his time, be in need of a job and be free to do as he wants.

Since NFL teams have not exactly lined up to take him off the Falcon's hands the former Warwick High School star will need to find some other means of earning a living for awhile - even if it is only to pay back the debts of his former high-dollar lifestyle.

Last week a bankruptcy judge threw out the original plans Vick and his attorneys had developed regarding his financial recovery. Now they must regroup and come up with a new plan that pays back more of the debts and liquidates more of his assets.

According to court records from the hearing on April 2nd and 3rd Vick’s current plan left the former star with two large homes and three luxury vehicles. Yet he had the ability to raise less than 10 percent of the income needed to support those living expenses at the time the case was heard.

A reality show would certainly provide a larger and faster solution to his cash flow needs than the $10 per hour construction job a local contractor and family friend has offered the ex-QB once he is released.

Vick, appearing in court to promote his plans, shared with the judge that he was counting on the TV show, as well as a quick return to football to offset the differences in the income needs and the cash available. Unfortunately the judge did not seem to think that either one of those career possibilities posed good odds for actually happening.

I can understand the Judges concern. Even if Vick gets the green light on the show the question is will it actually work out? Will the show get picked up for a whole season? Will people actually watch? Can it sustain the inevitable backlash from animal lovers who think Vick should never be allowed to move on?

Only time will tell.

Primetime that is.

Reality shows are a dime a dozen. Each day brings a new topic or person who feels their 15 minutes of fame is not quite up. So how will Vick stand out in the crowd and why will viewers accept him profiting millions off of his criminal behavior?

I have to say that the judge is not giving the TV watchers in this country enough credit! Vick’s plan will most certainly work!! Why? Because Americans love a comeback story and will anxiously watch each week as a fallen star struggles to get back on top.

In the days of layoffs, cutbacks and furloughs along with miniscule 401k’s and postponed retirement plans people need to feel like they are not alone in all this mess. Most of all they want to see people worse off than them!

This makes Vick a perfect candidate for a top-rated reality show! Broke, Hated, and Unemployed - people will not be able to miss a moment of this train wreck!

Honestly I hope the former Hokie star does get picked up for a show, pays off his debts, makes a little money for himself and redeems himself in the eyes of the public!

I think he should go work at Dogtown while awaiting the NFL’s verdict on his eligibility to return to play.

In case you don’t know Dogtown is a “sanctuary home” and the “last and best chance” for many of the dogs who come there. Earlier in the year they took in some of the dogs seized from Vick’s kennel and dedicated the show to all of 22 dogs who were removed from the home. How do I know all of this you ask? Because they have a reality show on Friday’s at 10pm on NatGeo of course.

I think Vick working at Dogtown would make for some darn-good reality TV. There would be Irony, Drama, Hatred, Defeat, and ultimately maybe even some Redemption.

I’d definitely watch.

At the end of the day, as a parent of children from the human AND canine persuasion, I truly hope Vick has learned the errors of his ways and shows that to us in whatever venue he is given.

His ultimate venue is the stadium. That is where he truly belongs. At some point down the road there will be a team that gives him that chance again – so why not in the meantime allow us to watch him try and get there.


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