"Cash Cab" (2005/II) TV series 2005-????

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Director:

Tom Cohen

Writers:

Ben Bailey (writer)
Marissa Brotspies (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | unknown

Genre:

Game-Show | Reality-TV

Tagline:

Unsuspecting taxi passengers hail a cab and suddenly find themselves on a TV game show.

Plot:

Contestants unknowingly climb into a cab and try to win money by answering questions correctly on the way to their desired location.

Plot Keywords:

Trivia | New York City | Quiz Show | Taxicab

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 9	9:00 AM	DSC
Mon. Nov. 9	9:30 AM	DSC

Cast

Ben Bailey

...

Himself (80 episodes, 2005-2006)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company:

Lion Television

Trivia:

The "cash cab" is a licensed New York taxi.

Goofs:

Factual errors: On the map that tracks the cab's progress, 42nd Street is always shown as 42th Street.

Quotes:

Ben Bailey: There are over 13,000 cabs in New York City, but there is only one that pays you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (2009) (TV)

What a great ride! Good, clean FUN!

When described as a "game show taking place in a NYC cab", it doesn't sound all that interesting...maybe downright weak. However, this show manages to take a completely mundane act -- getting a cab ride -- and turn it into a really fun, exciting, and sometimes extremely funny show! The first four "general knowledge questions" of each cab ride are worth only $25 each, which is paltry by today's game show standards. But that's part of what makes it so charming; the answers are actually facts that common people often actually know! (Thus, the low-scale payout of only $25.) Everyone enjoys being right, and they get more and more pumped as the ride goes toward their destination. Questions eventually go up in value and in difficulty. And then there's the ever-popular "Red Light Challenge," which I won't spoil by describing. The only thing to watch out for is the "three strikes and you're out!" rule, and it is completely enforced! Thankfully, contestants have one mobile shout-out (cell phone provided) and one street shout-out (ask a stranger right out of your cab window!). Both are fun, and often helpful. Anyway, my 12-year-old LOVES this show, and part of it is because she can answer some questions herself, much like the first few questions of the "Millionaire" game show. The questions are reasonable (and even educational) and the reaction of the cab riders is almost always amusing -- wouldn't YOU be incredulous to find yourself on a game show just because you hailed a cab? Add to that the fact that Ben Bailey's facial expressions are often hilarious. All in all, it has become our family's absolute favorite show. As Ben would say, "So whaddaya say? You in?"