AimzsterHow much is a relationship worth?
March 11th 2008 23:15
The Moment of Truth premiered on Australian TV on Channel 9 last night. Dubbed the most controversial show ‘ever’ (by the producers themselves), it seems to be a cross between Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and The Jerry Springer Show.
Each contestant, prior to the show, is asked 50 questions, whilst strapped to a polygraph. They’re kept in the dark as to whether or not the polygraph picks up each of their answers as TRUE or FALSE. 21 out of these 50 questions are then picked for the show to ask the contestants again. If the contestant answers the question truthfully, as determined by the polygraph, they move on to the next question and accumulate more money. Answering all 21 questions truthfully will win them the grand prize of $500,000. But, unlike Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, if the answer is deemed a lie, they lose all the money they’d accumulated throughout the show.
Each question becomes more personal and embarrassing in nature as the contestant progresses, with questions like ‘Do you love your mother more than your father?’ and ‘Would you sleep with your ex if you knew you’d never get caught?’ To make things even more uncomfortable, three of your loved ones sit just metres away, hanging on the contestant’s every word, their reactions recorded by the camera.
I love reality TV - I love the impromptu outbursts, bickering and sometimes occasional shoving that result from stress, anger and frustration, accepting that if I was in a similar situation, I’d be most likely reacting the same way, no matter how much I laugh at the lack of decorum and control. But last night, watching a personal trainer uncomfortably confess to having done something that would cause his wife to distrust him and seeing his wife’s nervous reaction, I cringed.
*Spoiler ahead*
Take an episode that had just aired in the US and which was shown on 9’s A Current Affair last week – obviously to promote the coming show. Contestant Lauren Cleri confessed to adultery and still loving her ex-boyfriend, believing she should have married him instead while her devastated husband sat nearby. The audience booed and groaned, catapulting me back to the Jerry Springer days when several from the audience would have stood up and called her a ‘Ho!’ but Cleri pressed on, her eye on the grand prize, citing she’d revealed too much to give up now. In the end, to the delight of the crowd, her YES answer to ‘Do you think you are a good person?’ was deemed a lie and she promptly lost the $100,000 she’d accumulated.
Seriously, what kind of a person would go on a show to reveal dark little secrets that may cause a breakdown in their personal relationships just for a chance to win money? And to bring their loved ones on the show to be scrutinised, and ultimately be judged, by a million strangers on national TV? How much are their relationships worth?
The Moment of Truth is the third highest rated program of the season in the US among the 18-49 year olds. It gives viewers another chance to delve into strangers’ lives, chuckling at their discomfort and gasping at some scandalous revelation.
But watching this show made me very uncomfortable, akin to what I felt when my old boss told me an employee was dying of cancer by jovially saying, “Hey! Guess who’s got cancer?” and settling down for a gossip about the said employee.
The Moment of Truth, hosted by Mark L. Walberg
Each question becomes more personal and embarrassing in nature as the contestant progresses, with questions like ‘Do you love your mother more than your father?’ and ‘Would you sleep with your ex if you knew you’d never get caught?’ To make things even more uncomfortable, three of your loved ones sit just metres away, hanging on the contestant’s every word, their reactions recorded by the camera.
I love reality TV - I love the impromptu outbursts, bickering and sometimes occasional shoving that result from stress, anger and frustration, accepting that if I was in a similar situation, I’d be most likely reacting the same way, no matter how much I laugh at the lack of decorum and control. But last night, watching a personal trainer uncomfortably confess to having done something that would cause his wife to distrust him and seeing his wife’s nervous reaction, I cringed.
*Spoiler ahead*
Take an episode that had just aired in the US and which was shown on 9’s A Current Affair last week – obviously to promote the coming show. Contestant Lauren Cleri confessed to adultery and still loving her ex-boyfriend, believing she should have married him instead while her devastated husband sat nearby. The audience booed and groaned, catapulting me back to the Jerry Springer days when several from the audience would have stood up and called her a ‘Ho!’ but Cleri pressed on, her eye on the grand prize, citing she’d revealed too much to give up now. In the end, to the delight of the crowd, her YES answer to ‘Do you think you are a good person?’ was deemed a lie and she promptly lost the $100,000 she’d accumulated.
Seriously, what kind of a person would go on a show to reveal dark little secrets that may cause a breakdown in their personal relationships just for a chance to win money? And to bring their loved ones on the show to be scrutinised, and ultimately be judged, by a million strangers on national TV? How much are their relationships worth?
The Moment of Truth is the third highest rated program of the season in the US among the 18-49 year olds. It gives viewers another chance to delve into strangers’ lives, chuckling at their discomfort and gasping at some scandalous revelation.
But watching this show made me very uncomfortable, akin to what I felt when my old boss told me an employee was dying of cancer by jovially saying, “Hey! Guess who’s got cancer?” and settling down for a gossip about the said employee.
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Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
Just what we need. More trash.
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Mich
BTW, You're ex boss sounds like an heartless idiot. Just as well you don't work for him/her any longer!
Comment by What's Your Story?
What's Your Story?
So You're Getting Married
Nothing!
Is this for real? Man. Maybe those guests are actors. Gosh. Some producers are sooo running out of ideas. Why prey on the dark side of humanity? Come on! Let's do our own little things for world peace!
Comment by Aimzster
Health and Beauty
Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop
Mich, he was the biggest d*ck I knew. I left pretty much after that - I think that was the stick that broke the camel's back for me.
WYS, sadly, all the controversy is working with all the ratings it's pulled in.