The Joe Schmo Show is a real-life Truman Show—where everyone is an actor except one unsuspecting guy.

It’s a reality show within a reality show. 

The series everyone watched on SPIKE TV was called The Joe Schmo show. But the show Matt Kennedy Gould thought he was participating in was called The Lap of Luxury—a Big Brother style television show. He had no idea that the people he was living with were all actors. 

The series was created by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese (Deadpool). It was hosted by Ralph Garman and written and produced by J. Holland Moore. Season one starred a young Kristen Wiig who played a quack psychiatrist. I must warn you. This show did not age well. It would not survive in today’s #metoo movement. Despite what it lacks in sensitivity, it makes up for in its ingenuity and heart. 

In this episode, Melissa with Moms and Murder and I talk with Chase Rogan, season three’s Joe Schmo, to find out what it’s like to be the star of television’s biggest hoax. 

 

Today’s episode was written and produced by me and Melissa. 

Original music was provided by thechicken.net

Additional music by Blue dot sessions

All clips in this podcast were used in compliance with the US copyright act for fair use exemption, for criticism and commentary