The Pioneer Times

Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Denise Graham Monica Lauren

Have you ever had your moment of truth? Do you think you are a good person?
Who would have thought that question could cost the latest contestant on FOX's new reality game show, "The Moment of Truth," to lose $100,000?
Monica Doskis, a soon-to-be graduate of WPU, had a surreal experience when her sister, Lauren Cleri shocked "Moment of Truth" viewers last week admitting to cheating on her husband. She also confessed that she'd rather be married to her ex-boyfriend as her husband and family sat five feet away.
"We have all made stupid decisions in our lives at one point or another," Doskis said. "The game was all-real but the way they portrayed it on television, FOX definitely twisted the truth. There was a time when my sister explained her answer and they didn't air it - maybe to make her look worse than she did. "
Doskis revealed that before the show the producers told her and her family to talk more and make things a little more interesting.
"They didn't tell us to say anything in particular, but what they told my sister to say, is a different question. Mark, the host, even told her to change one of her answers - probably to help her keep moving on and get to the juicy part."
A FOX spokesperson did not return a call for comment.
"The Moment of Truth," if you have not already heard of it, puts contestants going through a series of interviews, questionnaires and polygraphs to capture their deepest and darkest secrets, with their family and friends sitting right next to them.
Cleri's moment in reality TV all started when she came across an ad on monster.com. All she had to do was apply and write a 100-word essay explaining why she would be good for the show. Next thing she knew, she was on her way to L.A.
"During the show, I was like this is really awkward," said Doskis. "I wasn't the one being asked the questions, but I was more like I shouldn't be hearing any of this and she is my sister, let alone 8 million viewers."
Not only did Cleri's answers and comments on the show affect her and her husband, the aftermath is still being felt by her family.
"The day after the show aired we got so many phone calls to be interviewed," said Doskis. "It is so crazy. Reporters have been bugging me; People Magazine, CBS News, Timer Warner and Access Hollywood all called my house asking for me."
Doskis believes that producers make these types of shows for the sheer profit. They do not care about the contestants winning or losing, they just want viewers to watch the show.
Stacy Kanarick, a senior marketing major, believes its all about the drama. "Secretly, you know the viewers, including myself, do not want them to win the money. What fun would it be if we didn't see a struggle?"
Even though people have had both negative and positive things to say about the show, Doskis supports her sister no matter what.
"As for my family and I, we don't really care about it anymore. Years from now we are all going to look back and laugh about it."

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