Tontine Productions Reaffirms Support for Host 'Boston Rob' Mariano After Altercation With Would-Be Contestant Upset Over Show's Twist

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Tontine Productions, producers of the upcoming reality television series, "TONTINE", today reaffirms its support for the show's host, "Boston Rob" Mariano. During a recent open casting call in San Diego attended by Mariano and Casting Director Tad Frank, a potential contestant became hostile and assaulted Mariano after learning of the show's unique "twist," resulting in an altercation which was captured on video and widely disseminated on the Internet. "This show is not for everyone, we know that," says Ted Haimes, an executive producer of "TONTINE", referring to the fact that the winner's $10 million prize will be funded by the 14 losing contestant's life savings, "but no one is forced to take part. Thousands of applicants are embracing their potential participation as a life changing opportunity; clearly, this applicant did not see it that way."

In the video, originally posted on http://www.YouTube.com, the would-be contestant is seen entering the private casting area and disrupting an interview in progress, then dousing Mariano with a bottle of water and shoving him forcefully, at which point Mariano is heard asking him repeatedly to walk away, before being shoved again.

"Rob is a passionate and stand-up guy and he stood up for our staff, who felt personally endangered by this individual and his antics," continues Haimes. "We hired Rob because we felt he was the perfect representative for "TONTINE" and our opinion hasn't changed."

About "TONTINE" -

Promising to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, "TONTINE" pits 15 extraordinary individuals against each other in a series of mental and physical challenges lasting for over 100 days. The competition is based on the premise of a tontine, an investment scheme created in the seventeenth century in which all participants willed their entire estate to a common fund, with the last surviving participant receiving the whole, combined assets of the group. For more details about the show, visit http://www.JoinTheTontine.com. 

SOURCE Tontine Productions

-0- 08/23/2007

 

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