It's tough when 'reality' is over

Not that he's entirely sympathetic to the plight of the reality-TV has-beens. "At the end of the day, I say to myself — there was something inside them that wanted this experience and that's why they sought it out. So they're doing what they need to do and getting what they want out of it."

And Probst figures they should all get what they can out of it while they can. Like Amber Brkich and Rob Mariano, the winner and runner-up of "All-Stars" who are planning their wedding after reality-show romance. "A guy like Boston Rob is one of the ones who makes me smile because I've become friends with him, and I've watched him and Amber," Probst said. "And their attitude is really clear, and that is, 'We're going to make as much money as we can. We're going to go to as many parties as we can get invited to. And if I can throw the (first pitch) out at the Boston Red Sox game, that is a dream come true. And when it's over, I've got my sweetheart and I'm going to go back to my construction job.' And I think he will."

Mariano and Brkich are wavering about offers to turn their forthcoming wedding into a TV special or even short-run series. "It's our wedding. We have to be careful," Brkich said.

"I don't know if we really want to do that," Mariano said.

But Probst figures they should take the money and run. "I'm certainly in their ear saying, 'Don't be foolish. Take every dime you can get from this experience, because you're a laborer who makes $50 grand a year, Rob, and if somebody's going to pay you a million dollars, who's the joke on?' " he said. "And they're an adorable couple. I've spent time with them. They're truly in love and they get it."

---

E-mail: pierce@desnews.com