Survivor Denise's sob story...what a crock(Spoilers about reunion show)

[Disney1fan2002]

I know there is an official Survivor thread, but this has me so mad, I wanted to vent.

I do not know which Massachusetts Denise lives in, but it is not the same one I live in. School lunch ladies DO NOT make $7.00. Minimum wage in this state alone is $7.50, and most school districts I know start lunch ladies out at over $8.00/hour. START. Last I knew, Douglas MA was not a poor town.

Now, Denise seems like this has been her job for a few years, so she would not be below $10.00/hour if she has been working a few years.

But...whatever. Lunch ladies do not make a lot of money, so I guess she wanted to make a point. What I have a problem with, is she is now a school janitor, and wants people to think it is a step below lunch lady.

Here in MA, janitors (actuallythey are called custodians)are union. Denise probably started her "scrubbing the toilets" job at $17.00/hour.

I am just so mad, that she can sit there and cry how poor she is, so Mark Burnett hands her $50,000. I wonder what all the other Survivor's think about that. EVERYONE can use the money.

Anyone else lose respect for Denise with her sob stories? Her being on Survivor alone, netted her about $750/week while she was there, plus her purse for 4th place. She has a better bank account than me right now.

SHE GOT ON THE SHOW...that is more than MILLIONS of people can say.

 

[mirthmaiden]

Yeah, I'm kinda feeling that way too. I liked her a lot until that sob story speech she made to Amanda, then at tribal council. I mean, I don't really fault her for wanting to play up something that might be beneficial, but there are much subtler ways she could have gone about it and come out looking much better.

 

[MareQ]

Guess you just don't like her huh?

I have no problem with her and have no issues with her story and no issues with her being given $50,000.

 

[Jennifer S]

You are assuming in your post. You do not know for sure exactly how much she makes. Why would you be so mad that she got money? It's not like she is rolling in it. I'm glad she got the money. I think Survivor opens many doors for all on the show. If this money helps her out then great.

James only got the money because of his hot body? Are you mad at that too? What about the other survivors - think they are mad? No one looked mad last night.

 

[va32h]

I didn't watch the reunion show - what context did Denise get the $50K? She finished in fifth place, and that sounds like the amount the 5th place person gets.

Winner gets the million, second place gets $100K, third place gets $85K, fourth place gets $65K and so on.

First person voted off gets $2500!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

You are assuming in your post. You do not know for sure exactly how much she makes. Why would you be so mad that she got money? It's not like she is rolling in it. I'm glad she got the money. I think Survivor opens many doors for all on the show. If this money helps her out then great.

James only got the money because of his hot body? Are you mad at that too? What about the other survivors - think they are mad? No one looked mad last night.

I guess mad is the wrong word. Frustrated? Yes. James won a personality contest. (Which I can say I do assume was set up for Denise) but since Denise did not win, Mark Burnett gives her money anyway.

I guess you can say I am jealous, Yeah, that's it. I would love to go on Survivor and deposit the stipend into my bank account. Denise may not have made a lot of money at her job (more than $7.00, I can say that with certainty) but they money she made being on the show the entire 39 days, plus her 4th place win, she wasn't hurting for money.

Denise made assumptions with Amanda and how everyone of them were "all set" and she has to go back to her crappy job. How does she know that they are all set?

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I didn't watch the reunion show - what context did Denise get the $50K? She finished in fifth place, and that sounds like the amount the 5th place person gets.

Winner gets the million, second place gets $100K, third place gets $85K, fourth place gets $65K and so on.

First person voted off gets $2500!

Denise won 4th place.

Jeff announced a few minutes after giving James the $100,000 fan favorite prize, that a decision had been made just a few minutes ago, that Mark Burnett, after hearing how Denise lost her job as a lunch lady, was going to give her $50,000. So, it is to go WITH her 4th place prize money.

Denise had said when she got back home, her status from Survivor was a distraction to the kids, so they asked her not to come abck to the lunch room. But she was then offered a janitor job with the school.

 

[Jennifer S]

I guess mad is the wrong word. Frustrated? Yes. James won a personality contest. (Which I can say I do assume was set up for Denise) but since Denise did not win, Mark Burnett gives her money anyway.

I guess you can say I am jealous, Yeah, that's it. I would love to go on Survivor and deposit the stipend into my bank account. Denise may not have made a lot of money at her job (more than $7.00, I can say that with certainty) but they money she made being on the show the entire 39 days, plus her 4th place win, she wasn't hurting for money.

Denise made assumptions with Amanda and how everyone of them were "all set" and she has to go back to her crappy job. How does she know that they are all set?

She left her family and went on National TV. She lost the job she loves - regardless of the amount of money she makes-I think it's great Survivor shares the wealth. That show makes a ton of money. It's not like Denise was sitting on a couch for 39 days. I say great she made her situation work for her.

Hey why don't you apply to be on the show? Maybe that could be you someday.

 

[va32h]

Denise won 4th place.

Jeff announced a few minutes after giving James the $100,000 fan favorite prize, that a decision had been made just a few minutes ago, that Mark Burnett, after hearing how Denise lost her job as a lunch lady, was going to give her $50,000. So, it is to go WITH her 4th place prize money.

Denise had said when she got back home, her status from Survivor was a distraction to the kids, so they asked her not to come abck to the lunch room. But she was then offered a janitor job with the school.

Humph. Well that's interesting. I doubt she got fired for being too popular - couldn't they just take her off the front line?

She would have had to take a two month long leave to go on Survivor, maybe they just couldn't hold her job for her? That sounds more likely.

Makes me wonder when Mark Burnett grew a heart - LOTS of contestants have lost their jobs after going on Survivor, most notably Cindy from Guatemala who was a zookeeper. They didn't get any cash.

 

[bicker]

Regardless of the veracity of the story, it's Burnett's money. The only person who has standing to be indignant is Burnett. Now, if she used a bogus story to get the fan favorite prize, that would be different.

 

[Tink_Or_Belle]

I stopped watching after they announced the winner but DH and I BOTH laughed when she said to Amanda Todd has this you have this I HAFTA go back to my FAMILY... to us it sounded like she didn;t like her family

 

[shep]

I thought that was kinda crappy that Courtney said she 'sucked' at life...glad she apologized for saying it though

 

[Todd&Copper]

Maybe now that she "won" over $100K she can get a better haircut (that mullet is hideous!).

 

[beckanoah]

I guess it's hard to say unless you're her whether it's true or not. I know I make less than 7.00 an hour though (as a work from home single mom!). Wonder if Burnett would like to help a girl out!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Maybe now that she "won" over $100K she can get a better haircut (that mullet is hideous!).

Oh, but you didn't hear the reason for it?

She said because of being a lunch lady she has to keep her hair short, but wants long hair to let her husband know she is a woman.

Since she is no longer a lunch lady, she can let it grow out now, but it looks like a fresh haircut.

 

[beckanoah]

Well, mullet does NOT say feminine to me no matter HOW you try to spin it.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Well, mullet does NOT say feminine to me no matter HOW you try to spin it.

 

[DMRick]

I'm not sure, with her education why she would be a "lunch lady" unless she loves kids and enjoys the job. She sounds like she could do any numbr of jobs. She also owns her own Karate School..I assume she used the $50,000 to do that.:

Denise Martin was born and raised in Revere, Massachusetts. She attended Revere High School, Class of 1985. She spent one year at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and then attended Wentworth Institute of Technology, where she received a certificate in Technical School/Telecommunication Electronics.

Martin rides her scooter to her job as a lunch lady for fourth through seventh graders. This involves preparing and serving lunch, along with cleaning the kitchen, five days a week. She previously worked as a short-order cook and a central office technician for a phone company. She also operated and maintained a video game route at eight different colleges, repairing and maintaining video games and juke boxes.

Martin is a Second Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate. She is a student at Revere Karate Academy in Revere. She recently opened her own karate school, Douglas Karate Club. She is a member of the International Kenpo Karate Association. Her hobbies include collecting Budweiser memorabilia, axe and knife throwing, stick fighting, and playing sports with her three daughters. She is an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan; she even named her dachshund Tedy Bruschi K9. She describes herself as competitive, outgoing, strong-willed and determined.

Martin currently resides in Douglas, Massachusetts with her husband of 16 years, Robert. They have three daughters, Erin, 13; Emily, 10; and Samantha, 9. Her birth date is May 5, 1967.

 

[tinatark]

Public Records are awesome!

http://www.mapsonline.net/douglasma/

half acre + lot, 1800 SF colonial, 4 bedrooms, 1.5 bath - purchased in 2001 for $180k, current assessment $250k+

 

[WhatATreat]

Found this on another site:

The school that Denise worked at posted a comment.

Press Release: Mrs. Denise Martin
December 17, 2007
Douglas Public Schools

On the “Survivor China” television program that aired on December 16, 2007, Mrs. Denise Martin, an employee of the Douglas Public Schools, stated that she was demoted from her position as a cafeteria worker upon her return from taping the show. This statement is false. In fact, Mrs. Martin held a full-time position as a custodian prior to her participation in the series, and she returned to this same position upon her return from China. Mrs. Martin was granted - at her request - an unpaid leave of absence so that she could participate in the “Survivor” program. We were pleased and excited to support Denise, and have enthusiastically cheered her on throughout the duration of the show.

Although Mrs. Martin was a cafeteria employee prior to her selection as a contestant, she asked to be considered for a promotion to full-time custodian, and was promoted to this position on March 30, 2007. This promotion came with additional benefits and a higher salary. Following her leave, she then returned to this same position.

Regretfully, the Douglas Public School District was inaccurately portrayed as failing to be accommodating to an employee during what the District viewed as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity. This is far from the case. On the contrary, we granted all requests made by Mrs. Martin so that she could participate in the “Survivor” series. Since Mrs. Martin was on an approved leave, her position was held open for her, and she returned to this same position upon her return from China. As a District, we make every effort to support our employees, and will continue to do so.

Nancy T. Lane
Superintendent of Schools


I really liked Denise, but I'm not so sure now after reading all this.