Feb 9: The newlyweds fly to Barbados.
Feb 10: Bride Darva Conger dumps the Multimillionaire.
Feb 15: Fox airs Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire.
Fox's promotion for the show is miniscule.
Amazingly, 20+ million American viewers tune in anyway.
The stunt drew world wide attention. Initially, the media took a light hearted view of the story. A New York City newspaper then feinted outrage. The rest of the media meekly followed suit. The anti-Darva blitz was on. Hundreds of newpaper's columns and magazine's articles have been devoted to the Darva Conger media pile on. The negative press continues today. It is fueled by a combination of anti-Fox/ anti-Reality shows sentiment mixed with the perversed feminist concept that condemns any women that does not adhere to the rigid roles feminists deem acceptable for female behavior.
Nevertheless, holding to the show biz adage "there is no such thing as 'bad' press", Darva Conger became famous - and rich. Her celebrated Playboy pictorial was a phenomenal hit. Combining beauty, brains, grace, and steadfast tenacity, Darva captivated the public. The fact that she also was involved in one of the wildest stunts ever pulled off on television didn't hurt her selling points either.
Networks, noting the undeniable ratings success of 'Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire' began scambling to air their own Reality TV shows. There is also a concerted effort to create their own Darva Congers out of the show's participants.
No matter what, television history will inevitably record Darva Conger as the first star of the Reality-TV genre.
note: The restraining orders against the groom were discovered weeks after Darva called the marriage off. "She never gave the marriage a chance." This was the way the groom described Darva's attitude all along. Curiously, the restraining orders offered Darva a "legal" out of the marriage that was unavailable without them.
www.darvashouse.com
official Darva Conger Website
People's - 25 Most Intriguing People
of the Year 2000
Entertainment Weekly Bests of 2000
Woman's Own Magazine
November 2000
Playboy
August 2000
Steppin Out Magazine
July 12, 2000
