There are more than a few problems with this show. It's too slow. As a game show, it's unique in that it's not a test of anything at all, worthwhile or not; it's pure voyeurism and schadenfreude. (I don't buy the argument that it's testing the willingness to be truthful; this is mere Russian roulette with electrodes.) They need another button. They have the button for the family members to veto a question, but they need a button for the contestant to press when he opts out, rather than an anti-climactic, "I wanna go home." Mark Walberg is the most personality-less television personality since Mr. Rogers, and at least Mr. Rogers meant to be that way.
These are all problems, but they're not the biggest problem. The biggest problem, and the aspect of the show I continually find the most interesting, is that the format of the show compels the audience to applaud all sorts of repugnant things. Mark will ask, "Have you ever stolen money from work and let someone else take the blame?" And when the contestant swallows his pride and discretion and every other instinct he's worked so hard to develop his entire life and says he has in order to get one step closer to earning a few bucks, the audience responds with applause that, if you didn't already know, makes quite clear that yes, a person can be mealy-mouthed with their hands. They have to applaud because everything said on the set of a game show gets applause, and I guess they're encouraged to applaud the contestant's coming clean, and I'm sure there's a sign telling them to applaud, but at root, they're applauding theft. And then, after the computerized voice drags out the confirmation twice as long as any reasonable person should think is necessary, they applaud again. This time ostensibly because the contestant has won more money, but once again without any enthusiasm, because really, who wants to applaud a confirmed thief?
Like I said, there are lots of problems with this show. But this one actually makes it kind of interesting to watch. I picture a contestant on this show in a few years' time answering a question. "Have you ever applauded an act you found morally reprehensible?"
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