Cash Cab (USA)

From The TV IV

Cash Cab

Premiere	December 5, 2005
Finale
Airs	Weekdays at 10:00AM Weekdays at 10:30AM
Creator	Adam Wood
Host	Ben Bailey
Network	Discovery Channel
Style	30-minute game show
Company	Lion Television
Episodes	160
Seasons	3
Origin	USA

Cash Cab (2005—) is a game show broadcast on Discovery Channel which takes place entirely inside a New York taxi cab. The series is an American version of a British show of the same name.

Hosted by actual New York cabbie and comedian Ben Bailey, the series follows the basic format of an average trivia show. Contestants unwittingly enter the cab, identified on its license plate as 1G12, and declare their destination. Bailey flips on the strobing ceiling lights and explains that they are in the "cash cab" and are given the option of playing the game or getting out to catch another cab. From the point they get in until they reach their destination (measured in blocks with no detours unless legally required), the passengers are asked questions of increasing difficulty and cash amounts, starting at $25.

Contestants are allowed two "Shout Outs," one phone call to a friend and one chance to flag down a random pedestrian to help. After three missed questions, the contestants receive no money and are kicked out of the cab, no matter how far from their destination they may be. If the contestants reach a stop light before reach the $200 mark, they're given a question with multiple answers that would score them $200 if they name all of the correct answers.

Finally, should the contestants reach their destination, they're given an opportunity to either take the money and run or risk it all in a video challenge.