Cash Cab (II) (2005– )

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

Stars:

Ben Bailey

5 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ben Bailey	...	Himself (84 episodes, 2005-2010)

Storyline

The player keeps answering questions trying not to get any wrong. If they get three incorrect answers, then the cab pulls over and they are dropped off wherever they are. They lose any money they would have won. The first four questions are worth $25 each, the next four questions are worth $50, and any question thereafter are worth $100. If a contestant has won more than $200 and the cab is forced to stop at a traffic light, the driver will start a Red Light Challenge. The driver will read a question that has multiple correct answers (usually five or more), and the passenger will then have 30 seconds to give a designated number of those answers (usually all five). Doing so is worth an additional $250 to the fare, and failure to answer the question will not count as a strike, so there is no risk. The passenger is allowed two "Shout-Outs" during the course of the trip, and each type can be used only once. The first type is the Mobile Shout-Out, in which the contestant is allotted a ...

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Plot Keywords:

trivia | quiz show | new york city | taxi | non fiction

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Game-Show | Reality-TV

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Details

Official Sites:

Discovery Channel

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lion Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

No contestants know that they are entering the "Cash Cab", but some contestants are pre-picked and told that they are taking the cab to the location of shooting of a different show. All others are randomly selected while trying to hail a taxi.

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

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

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Connections

Referenced in After the Catch: Bering Sea Brothers (2009)

User Reviews

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?"