The Next Internet Millionaire

The Next Internet Millionaire
DVD Boxed Set
Published	Joel Comm

The Next Internet Millionaire was an online reality show hosted by Joel Comm and written and directed by Eric Holmlund. The world's first Internet reality show and based on the NBC show The Apprentice, the program was released entirely on the Internet in 2007. There was a $25,000 prize and the opportunity to work together with Comm on a project with the goal of earning $1 million.

Joel Comm of Loveland, Colorado, and Eric Holmlund of Fort Collins, Colorado, conceived of the show in 2007. After 300 potential entrants sent audition videos to producers, the first round of voting eliminated all but 50 contestants. People on the Internet were allowed to help select the contestants, though the final decision was made by Comm. The contestants were not allowed to include their Internet business endeavors, so that viewers could vote for them based only on their charisma. On July 17, 2007, six men and six women were chosen as finalists, from Canada, Costa Rica, England, and the United States. The reality show producers funded all of the contestants' trips to the filming location. The winner would receive a $25,000 prize and the opportunity to work together with Comm on a project with the goal of earning $1 million. They flew the contestants out to Loveland and began the two-week filming on July 22, 2007.

The Next Internet Millionaire was viewable only on the Internet; according to Canwest and the Lincoln Journal Star, it is the first Internet reality show. Author Michael A. Banks said it was the "first competitive Web reality show". The show had 12 episodes, which were released every Wednesday on the show's website. It was based on The Apprentice; the producers referred to it as the "online version" of that program and as "The Apprentice Meets YouTube". The contestants were expected to finish 12 assignments including making a website, copywriting, and Internet marketing. They were coached by roughly a dozen "Internet marketing experts" who write books about how they make money.

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