MovieChat Forums > Cash Cab (2019) Discussion > Pre-Screened Contestants

Pre-Screened Contestants

posted 18 years ago by joethewonderboy
11 replies | jump to latest

Hi guys! So at the end of CASH CAB on the Discovery channel, when the credits are rolling if you pause your DVR and read the fine print you'll read something like this: "Some of the contestants have been pre-screened before playing".

Does anyone know what this entails? Do they audition? Or are they recently interviewed by some crew on the street who then hails them a cab? I know sometimes there are cameras outside of the cab at the beginning which show the contestants getting into the car. These people must have been followed somehow.

I love this show and I won't stop just because some of the people aren't as much of an "innocent bystander" as the show would like us to believe. But if anyone knows more about this little "fine print" I would love to hear it!

PS Ben Bailey is totally hot :)

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] joethewonderboy 18 years ago

i'm glad i have a second member for the Ben Bailey Fan Club. ;-) I agree with you, every once in awhile the contestants say something that seems to relate to them knowing about it. and i hope it is as simple as a hotel clerk asking them some questions or a friend who works for discovery telling his buddy to come meet him for coffee somewhere. i guess we'll never know.

coming to new york this may for vacation...gonna see the julia robert's play, hopefully Theatre Couture's version of Stephen King's Carrie.....and hopefully, if we're super lucky, take a ride in the cash cab. :)

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] joethewonderboy 18 years ago

oooh, i *LOVE* Bad Meat, my favorite movie!! ;) nah, never even heard of it. but he did seem to be more of an actor than a game show host (although i think he does a stellar job). did you see the episode where he had to make the big opening light/sound show (when they initially get into the cab) *THREE* times before getting a response from the contestant? funny stuff. :)

say, judas, is your website that's listed with your profile actually your site? i love funky news and find it very enjoyable!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] KAnnD86 18 years ago

I would guess that means that the contestants are put through an interview process before the games begins to make sure their personality isn't inappropriate for TV or something like that. I do think it's spontaneous because some of the people can't fake their reactions to finding out they're in the Cash Cab. I believe right after they're informed they're in the Cash Cab, that they are asked to sign a release and told the rules, etc. If they are obnoxious or refuse, then they're obviously kicked out. Anyone who passes the screening portion, moves onto the game show part. I don't think pre-screening means they choose the contestants ahead of time.

Tomorrow's just your future yesterday!

[–] rockstar78 18 years ago

It says on Wikipedia that in the UK version, they are pre screened for a game show but they don't know it will take place in a cab. It also says that for the U.S. version some are pre-screened but not all. Some of the New York ones are truly random.

_______________________________________

Now let's all go home and masturbate.

[–] magnumdb 18 years ago

Well I would think that if their personallity wasnt TV friendly, they just wouldn't use the segment. I would assume the host would just stop asking the questions and either kick em out, or perhaps drive them to the destination but without giving them money. And they would just not record or air that.

Time is money however, so doing that may not be the best choice for the channel.

But it is even MORE puzzling that they say they only do it for SOME. How do they choose who they screen? Or do they have rules on who they will screen?

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] evilclosetmonkey 17 years ago

http://w2.yorkdispatch.com/ydweekend/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1382

This article says that some contestants think they're going to be on a game show and the cab is just their ride to the location.

[–] ilovelucycat 17 years ago

Possiblt their reactions are real when they enter the cab and they find out that they will be on a game show....then they are screened and the show is then edited after the screening and pieced together to look like there is no gap in between them entering the cab and the first question asked????

I LOVE this show and my favorite part is because it looks as if it is all a surprise.