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FOX's 'Moment' stretches the 'Truth'
We're used to reality TV shows redefining survival, romance, singing or dancing ability and whether or not people are hot. On Wednesday (Jan. 23) FOX introduces a game show that will redefine "truth." Literally.
The rules on FOX's Moment of Truth are mighty simple: Contestants answer 21 increasingly personal questions honestly, as determined by a polygraph, and win up to $500,000.
Of course, there's a reason why polygraphs aren't admissible in many courts of law around the country, a fact I mentioned to Moment of Truth producer Howard Schultz on a recent conference call.
"Polygraphs are admissible in some courts in the country. It's not admissible in other courts," Schultz emphasizes. "It really is a state-by-state thing [ED -- It's a bit more complicated than that, but no worries.]. We use a certified polygraph examiner; he's a member of the American Polygraph Association. This guy has been doing polygraphs for more than 25 years. We allow him to conduct the polygraph under the same circumstances that he ordinarily would in his normal day-to-day business."
The polygraphs have all been administered before the filming of each tension-packed episode and the examiner is the final arbiter on whether or not a contestant did or didn't cheat on his wife or does or doesn't feel uncomfortable around the over-weight.
"When he tells us that a person is being deceptive, then they are being deceptive," Schultz says. "When he tells us that the person has told the truth, then they are telling the truth for the purposes of our game. We do not get involved in any of his decision making. He tells us what the decision is and we live with it. And so from that standpoint, I think we maintain every ounce of integrity we possibly can to make it as legitimate as we possibly can."
Somehow I suspect that the show wouldn't do as well if it were titled Moment of Truth For the Purposes of Our Game. Schultz argues that according to their research "polygraphs are estimated to be 94 percent to 98 percent accurate" (most outside observers put the figure at a bit under 90 percent, while some critics of the test go as far down as 70 percent). For the sake of the show, though, that accuracy is completely and totally irrelevant. Even if the machine lies, it's telling the truth.
"[A]ll of the participants in the show have signed a release where they have stated their willingness to accept the polygraph as the rule in the show," Schultz says. "So that is what they are accepting and they are fully aware in the release that whether they still believe it to be inaccurate, for the purpose of the show they are willing to abide by the polygraph's results."
Asked if the revelation of truth for the purposes of the game had resulted in any ended marriages or arrests, Schultz says, "No marriage yet and I sure hope one doesn't end because of it. I can tell you that there was a young man on the show and his girlfriend was sitting on the family and friends couch, and we just found this out last week. That on the drive home from the show, they broke up. And he has spent the last month and a half trying to get her back and we found out that he just got her back. So that's all we know so far."
And are there any lines the questions won't cross?
"Well, there is only a couple of areas that are off limits to us. One area is we won't ask any question that in any way, shape or form can harm a minor child under the age of 18. So we would not ask, for example, a question of the person in the chair, 'Have you ever used your child as a pawn against your ex spouse?' We wouldn't ask questions where children could be watching and could be harmed by the question."
Moment of Truth For the Purposes of Our Game, hosted by Mark "Not That Mark Wahlberg" Wahlberg, premieres on Wednesday at 9 p.m. on FOX.
That last part is funny...they wouldn't ask a question that would harm a minor child. So I guess asking if Dad has ever cheated on Mom wouldn't cause any psychological harm to a child? Especially if the answer is yes?
Dan | Jan 23, 2008 9:52:45 AM | #Now that they've made it clear that basically when they show the contestant hooked-up to the polygraph machine on the episode, it's just for show. Meaning that the polygraph administrator is not using the results from an on-air experiencing, which in my opinion would be greatly skewed. The host is basically reporting the truth/validity of the contestant's answer when the contestant answered the questions off-air, in a controlled environment with the polygraph administer.
Heather | Jan 23, 2008 12:15:18 PM | #Hillary & Obama should go there, so we can find out who is telling the truth.
Janet | Feb 26, 2008 8:51:07 AM | #the show is entirely fake, so I don't know why you're even worrying about these details. It's pretty clear that the people are actors. lame.
ms | Jul 9, 2008 6:11:20 AM | #I love this show.. can anyone tell me that from where i can download the video's of this serial.. free download hmmmm... if u know then please tell me.. my email ID is treijdadshhi@yahoo.co.in ... i know its a bit confusing ID but pls guys, let me know the link.. thanks.. take care.. god bless u
Tejas | Feb 6, 2009 3:23:59 AM | #
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