TV Review: Cash Cab
By Bryan Osborn
Ok, we don’t often review TV shows, let alone game shows, but there is one game show that no one I know has heard of and we love it. It is called Cash Cab.
Cash Cab is a game show that is apparently a transplant from the United Kingdom. Here’s how it works. Unsuspecting passengers hail a taxi on the streets of New York. When they get in the cab and tell the driver their destination, they find out that this is no ordinary taxi. Suddenly, the ceiling of the cab flashes with checkerboard lights and bells go off. The host then informs the passenger(s) that they are now on a game show that takes place right there in the cab. The driver/host is comedian Ben Bailey. Currently, reruns air twice each weekday beginning at 6 PM PST on the Discovery Channel, but apparently a new set of episodes is set to be taped in Spring of 2006.
The driver/host of the Cash Cab, then states the rules of the game and offers them the chance to get out of the cab if they do not wish to play. Passengers are asked a series of trivia questions on the way to their destination. If they get three questions wrong the host pulls over and makes them get out of the cab, empty-handed of course. In other words, three strikes and you’re out . . . of the cab that is.
The first four questions are worth $25. The next four questions are worth $50, and any question after that (until they reach their destination) is worth $100. Another fun feature is that if a contestant has won more than $200 and the cab is caught at a red light, a Red Light Challenge is given. In the Red Light Challenge, the host asks a question with multiple correct answers (for example, “Name 5 major American-based airlines”), the passenger then has 30 seconds to list them. If they name all the items in the list, they win $250. If, however, they don’t get all of the answers they don’t get a strike against them or lose any money.
Passengers are also given two "Shout-Outs" during the ride, a Mobile Shout-Out, where the contestant can make a phone call to a friend, and a Street Shout-Out, where the driver pulls over and the contestant flags down a passerby and asks them the question they are stuck on.
When the cab reaches the contestant’s destination, the host then gives them a chance to double their money by answering a video double-or nothing question (one of the seat-backs has a video monitor). The passenger does have the option of just taking the money and running. They usually are able to play 3 different rounds per show.
Overall, this is such a fun show. Even my kids, who don’t know many of the answers (you can take a sample quiz at Discovery online) love to watch it and ask for it by name now. If you have cable, check it out on the Discovery channel. You’re in for a fun ride.
Cash Cab is a game show that is apparently a transplant from the United Kingdom. Here’s how it works. Unsuspecting passengers hail a taxi on the streets of New York. When they get in the cab and tell the driver their destination, they find out that this is no ordinary taxi. Suddenly, the ceiling of the cab flashes with checkerboard lights and bells go off. The host then informs the passenger(s) that they are now on a game show that takes place right there in the cab. The driver/host is comedian Ben Bailey. Currently, reruns air twice each weekday beginning at 6 PM PST on the Discovery Channel, but apparently a new set of episodes is set to be taped in Spring of 2006.
The driver/host of the Cash Cab, then states the rules of the game and offers them the chance to get out of the cab if they do not wish to play. Passengers are asked a series of trivia questions on the way to their destination. If they get three questions wrong the host pulls over and makes them get out of the cab, empty-handed of course. In other words, three strikes and you’re out . . . of the cab that is.
The first four questions are worth $25. The next four questions are worth $50, and any question after that (until they reach their destination) is worth $100. Another fun feature is that if a contestant has won more than $200 and the cab is caught at a red light, a Red Light Challenge is given. In the Red Light Challenge, the host asks a question with multiple correct answers (for example, “Name 5 major American-based airlines”), the passenger then has 30 seconds to list them. If they name all the items in the list, they win $250. If, however, they don’t get all of the answers they don’t get a strike against them or lose any money.
Passengers are also given two "Shout-Outs" during the ride, a Mobile Shout-Out, where the contestant can make a phone call to a friend, and a Street Shout-Out, where the driver pulls over and the contestant flags down a passerby and asks them the question they are stuck on.
When the cab reaches the contestant’s destination, the host then gives them a chance to double their money by answering a video double-or nothing question (one of the seat-backs has a video monitor). The passenger does have the option of just taking the money and running. They usually are able to play 3 different rounds per show.
Overall, this is such a fun show. Even my kids, who don’t know many of the answers (you can take a sample quiz at Discovery online) love to watch it and ask for it by name now. If you have cable, check it out on the Discovery channel. You’re in for a fun ride.
Seed Newsvine
2 Comments:
Hey Bryan. I finally got to see this show and I quite enjoyed it. It's an interesting premise, especially for something that probably costs next to nothing to produce.
I'll be sure to keep my eyes open for it in the future.
I've been watching Cash Cab for about 6 months and I'm addicted! I typically hate game shows, but this one is great. When the people first get into the cab and get seated, dancing ceiling lights come on and 2-second music ditty plays. Seeing their reaction is priceless since they were just expecting another boring cab ride. It's great, and that's only the first 3 seconds of the ride.
Another great element is that nobody knows who the contestants are going to be, it's whoever happens to hail that New York cab. It's the luck of the draw.
Cash Cab is a winner and I hope it's on for a very long time. I've introduced a good number of friends and co-workers to Cash Cab. None of them have ever come back to me with a bad review, they tell me it's great.
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