Abby Sunderland's Dad Was Exploiting Her to Get a Reality Show: He's Balloon Dad Two!

Abby Sunderland's father, Laurence Sunderland, has signed a contract to do a reality show called Adventures in Sunderland, about his family of "daredevil" kids, he revealed to the New York Post.

He also admitted that he's broke, has seven kids, another on the way and that "the show might be about family, it might be about Abigail's trip. It's something that was shopped around," he said.

Now, are you shocked? Angry? Was 16-year-old Abby sent off on a dangerous global sailing voyage at the most dangerous stormiest time of the year in the Indian and South Pacific Oceans -- as I've previously reported -- just so her dad could score a TV show?

Abby ran into serious danger in a remote part of the Indian Ocean after days of stormy weather. Her mast broke, she lost satellite communications, and she was alone adrift.

Fortunately, after a frantic international rescue effort, Abby was located by an Australian plane on Friday and finally picked up by a French sailing vessel, Ile de la Reunion, late Saturday.

So the question now is -- did she truly decide on her own to pursue her passionate dream of breaking the world record for youngest non-stop global sailing trip or was she influenced to undertake a highly dangerous exploit as a stunt to get her dad a TV show deal?

Is she really just an older version of Ballon Boy, 6-year-old Falcon Heene?

Is 16 actually mature enough to not be influenced by a fame-craving parent? In fact her father told the NY Post, "we thought it might be a good idea if it was encouraging kids to get out and do things."