Cash Cab (American game show)

***Cash Cab*** is an American game show hosted by Ben Bailey. It is part of the global *Cash Cab* franchise that originated in the United Kingdom, and originally aired on the Discovery Channel from 2005 to 2012. It was briefly revived in 2017 and ran until 2018, after which it was moved to Bravo in 2019.

## Rules

When the potential contestants enter the cab and state their destination, they are made aware that they are in the Cash Cab as ceiling lights and a fanfare plays inside, accompanied by the host's greeting. While the only rules given on-camera after the introduction and before asking "Do you want to play?" pertain to his or her driving and the "three strikes and you're out" rule, the contestants are also informed that once their travelling begins, the cab will not take detours of any kind unless directed by a police officer, stop sign, traffic light or other legal means of diverting traffic. Bailey offers them the chance to get out of the cab if they do not wish to play, and contestants who choose to play the game must stay in the cab until they reach their destination or get three strikes.

For the first season, questions were worth $25 each, the next five questions were worth $50 each, and any question thereafter was worth $100. For the second season, the first four questions were worth $25 each, the next four were worth $50 each, and the ninth and succeeding questions were worth $100. In *Cash Cab: After Dark* - and beginning with the regular episodes of season 3 - all of the money values were doubled to $50, $100, and $200.

Each wrong answer earns the contestant(s) a strike. On the third strike, they forfeit all of their winnings and Bailey will immediately pull over and kick them out of the cab. Once players have exited the Cash Cab, a camera crew from the tailing van is already on the street waiting to tape their departure.

### Red Light Challenge

When a contestant has won at least $200 or $300 and the cab stops at a red traffic light, Bailey will announce a Red Light Challenge, where he reads a question that has multiple correct answers, usually four to seven, and the passenger(s) have thirty seconds to give those answers; they do not always have to give all of the answers. Since there is no penalty for an incorrect answer, giving all of them correctly in the allotted time is worth $250 regardless of how many incorrect answers a contestant might also blurt out along the way. The contestant does not receive the extra money if the 30-second time limit runs out, it is also not counted as a strike, and the contestant does not lose any accumulated money. While only the Red Light Challenge is usually played per game, beginning in Season 4 there are multiple Red Light Challenges during certain games.

### Shout-Outs

Contestants have two forms of help known as "Shout-Outs" at their disposal during the game; each can be used only once, and neither may be used on a Red Light Challenge or a Video Bonus. In the Mobile Shout-Out, the contestant makes a phone call to someone they choose by means of cell phone either provided by Bailey or one belonging to a contestant if they have one. The call can take up to a maximum of 15 seconds before the contestant has to give an answer, with the result being either additional money or a strike. The contestant may also elect to use a Street Shout-Out, in which Bailey immediately pulls the cab to a curb so that anyone on the sidewalk can be asked for help, without any official time limit. A second Street Shout-Out is included on a Double Ride. In the revived Cash Cab, the Mobile Shout-Out was replaced by the Social Media Shout-Out, in which Ben activates Facebook Live so that those on the site may help the contestant.

### Video Bonus

Should the passenger(s) reach their destination without striking out, Bailey offers a choice; the option of leaving the cab and keeping the prize money that they have won, or they can stay and try to double their money by risking it all on a Video Bonus question. Bailey offers a video clip and asks the contestant(s) a single question based on its content. If the question is answered correctly, the contestant(s) win double what they have earned so far, but if they are wrong, they lose all of their money "at the very last moment," as Bailey says, and "leave with nothing but a cab ride".

Unlike other versions of the game, U.S. contestants who decline to attempt the Video Bonus are not shown the question they would have been asked.

### Double Ride

Beginning in Season 4, on rare occasions randomly selected passengers are able to win double the amount of money of a normal game. The first four questions are worth $100, the second four are worth $200 and the rest until the end of the game are worth $400. The "Red Light Challenge" is worth $500.

## *Cash Cab: Chicago*

During Season 6, a new spin-off series, *Cash Cab: Chicago*, was aired. It was hosted by comedian Beth Melewski and used the same rules as its New York counterpart. The spin-off was cancelled after one season, but reruns were aired in syndication along with *Cash Cab* episodes. Ben Bailey stated that the show was created during contract renewal negotiations.

## Accolades

Ben Bailey has been nominated for four of the Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host, winning the award in 2010, 2011, and 2013. *Cash Cab* won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show in 2008, 2009, and 2010. In 2013, the show appeared in *TV Guide*'s list of the 60 greatest game shows ever.