Hollywood and Philanthropy: Charity Gets Attention on TV

The Philanthropist, a television show that will have its debut next week on NBC’s prime-time schedule, is not the first show to bring the concept of giving to the small screen.

Series like the reality show The Benefactor, Oprah Winfrey’s Big Give, and Celebrity Apprentice have popped up over the last few years. But this summer’s show distinguishes itself as a scripted drama.

Charlie Corwin, who helped create The Philanthropist, says he thinks television networks might be more interested these days in shows about good works and service.

“I like to call this show the first Obama drama,” he says. “People are experiencing something of a collective awakening and are more dialed in than they have been in a long time to human problems.”

Following are some of the series about philanthropy that have appeared in recent years:

The Big Give: Ten people competed to find creative ways to help others in this show produced by Oprah Winfrey. The show aired on ABC last year, but was not renewed for a second season.

The Benefactor: In this reality show on ABC, which aired for six episodes in 2004, contestants vied for $1-million from the businessman Mark Cuban.

Blonde Charity Mafia: Scheduled to premiere on CW this fall, this series chronicles the lives of Washington’s “most influential 20-something Alpha Girls,” who “run the D.C. social circuit from charity events to society parties,” according to the network’s publicity.

Celebrity Apprentice: Comedians, talk-show hosts, professional poker players, and other prominent people compete for a job with Donald Trump, in the process raising money for the nonprofit groups of their choice. NBC has renewed the show for a third season.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition: A team of home designers and contractors rebuild houses for families who’ve been victims of a natural disaster or economic misfortune. The show is now in its sixth season on ABC.

The Secret Millionaire: In this show, which originated in Britain, wealthy benefactors go undercover in poor neighborhoods to find local people they think are deserving of a $100,000 donation. The show premiered on Fox in December.