It’s official: the reality television craze has come to a pathetic peak with Fox’s new game show, The Moment of Truth. Truth joins the ranks of other delayed guessing games like Are you Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, Deal or No Deal and 1 vs. 100.
Host Mark L. Walberg asks willing contestants–who strive for the prize of half a million dollars–personal and possibly “life ruining” questions in front of their vulnerable family and friends and a surly live audience.
The contestants are tested beforehand with a polygraph test, and then asked those same questions on stage. Those in the hot seat have the option to reveal the truth and get the money, possibly ruining their relationships with their family, loved ones, co-workers, clients, etc., or drop out of the competition.
Like most reality shows, actual reality is truly nonexistent in this series save for the un-famous faces of the contestants and the supposedly dangerously revealing questions. The show is clearly made up of willing participants who are after the money and have brought on their accompanying companions who are in on the joke. It is silly to the highest degree, but illustrates a sad, dark underbelly of desperate people who want to gain fame and fortune even in the most pathetic manner.
The show, in a Jerry Springer kind of way, is difficult to get through alone. It is the kind of show that can only be tolerated and perhaps entertaining when watching it alongside friends with a good sense of humor.
