I watch The Millionaire Matchmaker with Patti Stanger regularly and even though I know it’s Reality TV (and all that entails—-enhanced drama, set up dramatic confrontations between the participants, fudging a little on the truth, etc.) I get what I expect: mindless entertainment.
I don’t look for much ‘realism’ as I watch Patti interviewing clients but I do await some realism when it comes to the interview process.
But just imagine how her ‘highly trained staff’ Destin Pfaff, COO and Rachel Federoff, VP of Matching must look to those millionaire date hopefuls.
Make no mistake, Patti’s staff is exemplary. They, like Patti, are good ‘pickers’ and they find women for Patty that would warm many a millionaire’s heart.
According to IMDB (The Internet Movie Database) Destin received top honors in college fiction and journalism while in college; he’s written and produced screenplays and has partnered with Stanger in a number of films.
Rachel Federoff, according to Wikimedia, Rachel joined the Millionaire’s Club after seeing her boyfriend (and now husband) working for patti on the show and thinking it might be fun to join. She joined the team and there is little doubt that she is intuitive, has a good understanding of what makes people click, and is a kind and caring individual.
Federoff attended Fullerton College where she studied psychology and Theatre Arts. She has many interests and her abilities include charity work and producing short films.
Moreover, Rachel Federoff is a former special effects make-up artist. (italics mine)
Okay here is where I get ‘petty’ as in “she’s getting ‘petty”
I confess to having a a hard time keeping a straight face as these two individuals, Dustin with his Mohawk, and body jewelry and Rachel with her pink bangs, and what looks like ‘Goth’ tattoos on shoulders and arms, sit with Patti in chairs facing the women who are being interviewed for the job of being a millionaire’s date. (And perhaps a millionaire’s bride.)
Patti begins to interrogate them and sparks began to fly. If the women are beautiful and well dressed there’s No problemo but if they’re not “all that” the interview process can resemble a Marine DI meeting a new batch of raw recruits.
When the women don’t come up her standards, she openly criticizes their makeup—you look like a stripper! —My God, I see a camel toe; —what’s your problem?— your picture is how many pounds ago?—you have a belly!—you need to take better care of yourself— what do you call that hairdo?—-your hair is dry and that color is not known on this planet—is that a wig? and so on—All the while Dustin is nodding his Mohawk head and Rachel’s pink bangs bob in agreement.
As I watch the women take in Rachel’s and Destin’s body tattoos, hair styles, and unorthodox style of dressing, I can almost see them biting their collective tongues until they bleed so as not to say anything that will get them kicked out of the Patti’s club before she can say, “Meet my Millionaires!”
On one episode, a woman challenged Patti opinion of her figure and style of dress. The woman stated that she had a better body than Patti and Patti was just jealous of her. Patti goes ballistic. She yells (The Marine DI surfacing again) and says something about pushing the woman down the stairs. (Which could lead to her making a match in a prison jumpsuit.)
Why couldn’t’ Patti Stanger have her brilliant associates work in the background (and do what they do best help her run a multi-million dollar business) and hire two other people (who look like they might date millionaire’s themselves) to help her interview the applicants? (Rachel and Destin could coach her for heaven’s sake, they just wouldn’t have to be seen as representatives of the Millionaire Club.)
I’m not attacking them as people or business associates; I’m only suggesting that they might serve Patti better if they were not seen during the interview process.
Or to put a Donald Trump spin on it, “It’s not personal, it’s business.”