A Game Show from Fox that reins in a Lie Detector for up to 100 questions that randomly spews 21 of those questions that could get them 500,000 dollars.
Simply put, just answer the questions truthfully 21 times and you’ll get the prize. However, it’s Not What It Looks Like. As the contestant progresses, the questions get more personal, and that’s saying something on a low note. Even better, the contestant’s family/friends, the gasp-and-laugh audience, and a surprise guest on a question all have to bear what the contestant has to say. If the contestant answers a question with a false Yes or No, they walk away with nothing.
This show is, by all means, asking if the question’s content was really what the contestant had done. And yep, it has done damage before to multiple contestants, most notably a contestant who fully admitted to stealing, having an affair with another lover, and that she wanted to be married to another ex-boyfriend who subsequently asked the question
. Fox attempted to get a second season following its destructive first run, but it never aired. It’s probably for the better, because lying is always something you’ll do.
This show provides examples of:
- All or Nothing: Once a contestant agrees to hear a question, they must answer it. Subsequently getting a “False” leaves them with no money saved.
- Character Catchphrase: Said by the host after the contestant is introduced: "(name), this is your Moment of Truth!"
- The polygraph will always state "That answer is..." after the contestant answers a question. "True" or "False" are subsequently said after a few seconds.
- Content Warning: Mark gives out a disclaimer at the beginning and the start of the 100,000-dollar questions in the episode example above. He admits that he wanted the episode to not air if he had a say, but the producers opted to air it anyway.
- Five-Second Foreshadowing: It may feel like it, since the host asks something regarding their life (or whoever/whatever) before the actual question is given. If someone is asked about how close the relationship is between their siblings, the next question could be something about them. This slowly fizzles out after the 100,000-dollar questions, though this can still happen anyway.
- As an alternative for passing through the 100,000-dollar questions, Mark might instead plead with the contestant to stop risking their relationships. It usually doesn’t happen and they still go on.
- Forced to Watch: Downplayed, but the contestant’s family/friends have to watch the answers go by. And their reactions… well, let’s say can leave them shocked but well-oiled for the show.
- Game Show Host: Mark L. Walberg, more known for seeing contestants go down the hole and the reality-laden Temptation Island.
- It's Personal: As the questions continue, questions range to asking how the relationship between family (or spouse) has evolved to embarrassing things that the contestant has actually done.
- Lifelines: Starting with the third question, a family member/friend of the contestant can press a white button to force-skip a question that has been asked (it can only be activated once). It might just be the only thing that’ll save contestants from embarrassment.
- Relationship Sabotage: Referenced from the example above; the contestant admitted that she wanted to be married to their ex-boyfriend who asked the question.
- Sadistic Game Show: Once you get to the very personal questions, the contestant may have second thoughts about even appearing here, considering that nearly EVERYONE was going to hear the embarrassing truth.
- Studio Audience: The crowd’s main thing to do (other than watch this unfold) is to react with gasps, laughter, or both.
- In the infamous episode explained above, the crowd's reactions starting with the 100,000-dollar questions might be enough to make one person laugh hard.
- Till Murder Do Us Part: The original Colombian version of the show (dubbed “Nada mas que la verdad”) had one question asking if the contestant had hired a hitman to kill their spouse. The contestant said yes and won 50 million Colombian pesos. No wonder how she ran away with the authorities after that bombshell.
