Living the Dream was the New Zealand version of Spike TV's Joe Schmo Show, produced by Touchdown Television for TV2.
Description
It was a reality TV show (actually a parody of reality game shows) that began airing in August 2004 and involves a setup that is reminiscent of the movie The Truman Show.
One man, Sam Chambers, thinks he's on a reality TV show called Living the Dream. However, all of the other members in this reality TV show, including the host, are actually actors and the entire show is an elaborate hoax centred on the main character. All of the events and games played are staged to give a particular outcome designed to elicit a response from the main character for comedic effect.
The other "contestants" are stereotypes of common reality TV show contestants. They are (real names follow character names/descriptions):
Mick the Prick – Jason Fitch
Rima, the Schemer – Awanui Simich-Pene
Billy the Gay Guy – Jeremy Birchall
Mule the Former SAS Soldier – Stephan Hall
Betty the New Age flake – Kirsty Cooke
Tiffany the Rich Bitch – Sarah Thomson
Ben the Best Mate - Charlie McDermott
Mary the Virgin – Victoria Blackman
Mark Ferguson, the Smarmy host – Himself
At the end of the show, Chambers received the $50,000 prize for which he was "competing" as well as all the other prizes given away in the show.
Sam's colloquial exclamation "Crikey!" became the show's catchphrase.