Representing on Reality TV: Bostonist Visits the Tontine Auditions

Many of the potential contestants who tried out for the reality show Tontine at Fanueil Hall on Saturday were great when the videotape rolled. They clearly rehearsed, and they knew how to answer questions like "What is the most outrageous thing you have ever done?" and "What would you do for $10,000,000?"

But their faces changed just ever so slightly when former reality-show contestant Rob Mariano - "Boston Rob" of Survivor fame - and casting director Tad Frank delivered the following 1-2 punch of statements:

"The 10 million that's up for grabs is not coming from the network. It's coming from the contestants."

This announcement was followed with a question:

"Are you going to be able to walk with 14 other people's life savings?"

And that's "Tontine's" twist. The show's official website references keys and displays the message "Possession is everything." But what's more important is the meaning of "tontine" - "an investment plan in which participants buy shares in a common fund and receive an annuity, with the entire fund going to the final survivor or to those who survive after a specified time," according to the dictionary.

That's how the show will come up with $10,000,000, which is the biggest prize in reality-show history. The competitors themselves put up their life savings - every penny - but only one of them will walk away with everyone else's cash.

Some people who might be willing to eat worms, put themselves under surveillance, or make out with Flavor Flav for money might not be willing to risk everything for the potential reward. When informed of "Tontine's" twist, some people said they wouldn't mind taking other people's life savings, but their eyes weren't agreeing with their tongues. One man admitted to Frank that he just couldn't do that.

Only one potential competitor really sold it when he said, "I could care less. Once you get in there, it's all about you." Frank and Mariano's eyes lit up - even if the guy didn't wind up as one of the final 15 contestants, he had the attitude they were looking for.

But will only the wealthy be able to participate? Ten million split 15 ways is about $666,667, and few people have that kind of net worth. The auditioners' occupations, ranging from aspiring songwriters to teachers to recent college grads, don't generate that kind of cash.

Frank said that he's looking for people from all financial backgrounds. One of Tontine's staffers, Phill Gunter, said that the network airing the show - no one is revealing the network yet - will fill in the gap once the cast is assembled. Personality and a willingness to risk everything is what's most important.

For that reason, Frank and Mariano asked the auditioners if they had kids or significant others. Anyone who relies on a "Tontine" competitor for care and feeding might be out of luck if they lose. Plus, anyone who goes on the show will be away from the house for a long time. The shoot is for 100 days - the longest shoot in reality-show history - and the cast and crew will visit all the continents, including Antarctica.

Of course, Mariano, who will host the show, is looking for a Boston personality perhaps a little like his own. He said, "Boston people are grounded, they know who they are." He looked back at the people waiting to audition. They were calm, and they weren't doing crazy things like standing on their heads to catch his eye. He added, "Everyone's trying to put on the cool guy image." The Boston player has his or her game face on from the get go - but those faces might slip a little if they're asked to risk it all.

Photograph of Rob Mariano and Tad Frank at the "Tontine" auditions by Caroline Roberts.