While I doubt I'll be watching this time around.... I'll say it depends on what the 'prize' is. If the prize benefits the kids/family, than I can see Nicole working hard to get them that (all the while making it fun off course).
I get the sence that Nicole is actually a very sweet, caring girl (did anyone see when see was Punked a while back? She was trying to be so nice to the waiters even though the were being inappropriate to her) and that she only hammed it up on the first 2 shows to add a bit of spice to a otherwise boring show.