Here comes the moment I dreaded writing about. I just have a feeling I’ll be getting yelled about for this. However, I think it definitely deserves a place on our lineup. I don’t think FOX’s The Moment of Truth is going to be forgotten soon. It was one of those shows, much like American Gladiators, that was popular during the writer’s strike when there was absolutely nothing else on, but once actual good programming returned it became irrelevant. It was the show people loved to hate. There was one person in particular which made the show stand out. This was contestant Laura Cleri.
If you watched the show, you know that some very emotionally difficult questions were asked, but those came later in the game. Laura’s questions got tough very early and never let up. The four questions going for $100,000 were brutal, as she basically admitted she regrets marrying her husband and wishes she was married to her ex-boyfriend. She won $100,000 and it still didn’t let up. Next came the now infamous question of did she cheat on her husband. She did admit to it. However, Laura lost all her money on the question, “Do you think you’re a good person?” She said yes, and the lie detector said no.
I know there’s a large negative reaction to the show which I understand, but it generated the most attention out of any game show moment this year. It made CNN the next morning. It really showed how far people will go for money. Forget Deal or No Deal where you see people gamble the money they say they need badly for a faint chance at a million dollars. Laura knowingly destroyed her marriage and image on national television and left with nothing. It wasn’t a good moment, far from it. But I can’t tell you how many psychology and communication professors I’ve been emailed by from around the country asking for this clip to use in their lectures. There are much better, happier moments, like the millionaires on Deal or No Deal. But I didn’t see those making it on national news programs and papers next morning.
Remember, it wasn’t just me that did this countdown before you flame me. Nearly 50 experts voted, and this came in as number four. Barely at place four, but it did.
Moment of Truth: For the brief time that it was popular, what do you think made people care about The Moment of Truth so much? Was it a guilty pleasure for you, or just plain garbage?
12 Responses
I watched it when the show was posted online. It was SURREAL and I found the horrific facial expressions Mark Walberg was displaying pretty interesting.
And then, six months later, when Laura added me on some social networking web site, I said to myself while looking at her name and details on her page about her appearance on “Truth”…, “OMG! That woman I saw on TV was my OLD HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE OF MINE!!!” For reals. She was a classmate of mine and graduated with me back in June of 1999.
I heard today she’s totally divorced from that man and possibly has a book coming out, if the publisher loves it.
Posted on December 28th, 2008 at 2:36 am
OK, firstly…to answer this MOT question: I, personally, thought it was total garbage…but, that’s just my opinion.
Secondly…Fordee: She possibly has a BOOK coming out over this? Come on! Well, I guess anything will sell, these days. As for her being your classmate…she had to be someone’s classmate. It just so happens she’s your classmate…and (possibly) someone else’s on here.
Posted on December 28th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
This show is absolute garbage. That’s not my opinion, that’s the truth. Trash such as this is an extremely large contributor to the lack of morals in our society today.
As for this being the only moment to show up in the news…
The only goal of the liberal news media is to make a profit. They know what sells; stories of war, terrorism, murder, a floundering economy, and other such destruction. They know that nobody wants to hear about how Mr. Goody-Twoshoes got a dollar more change than he should have and returned it. The story that sells is the one about the sadistic, selfish bank robber who shot 16 people in a sick attempt to steal a few bucks.
My point being, just because it’s news-worthy doesn’t necessarily make it worthy of greatness.
Posted on December 28th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
She knew exactly what she was getting into and willingly took that chance.
I have ZERO sympathy for her at all.
Posted on December 28th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
You’re not the only one who thinks Moment of Truth (a.k.a. Jerry Springer: The Game Show) is garbage. How this show became popular is beyond me.
And, let me get this straight, you go on a game show, get a divorce, and, all of a sudden, you get a book deal? (To quote Don King) Only in America.
Posted on December 28th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
It’s not only garbage, it’s, to quote The Congress of Wonders, “Tasteless Garbage!” The more I think of it…the less I think of it.
Posted on December 28th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
It is a while pile of stinking garbage.
Posted on December 28th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
I get what you’re saying, K.C. And I respectfully agree with it. It’s kind of like the old saying “If It Bleeds, It Leads”, and something like this falls under this catergory. They know that nobody cares about the man who saved someone from a burning building, yet, a child gets killed by a drive by and all of a sudden, albeit sad as it is, it’s the top story. It’s not about being great, it’s about getting people to care.
Posted on December 28th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I personally only saw parts of episodes here and there, never a full episode. I couldn’t do it. The concept was just plain wrong to be a game show. If people are willing to go on T.V. to spill there secrets, do it where its appropriate (like Dr. Phil or Maury). At least there they can get you and your loved ones some help with the effects of the truth.
Posted on December 28th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
In my opinion, this show is worse than Temptation, Primetime Deal, Opportunity Knocks, and Bid4Prizes combined. Those shows were dull and repetitive, but at least they weren’t… morally disturbing. This show is proof that “the door to lewdness & vulgarity only swings further open, and never further closed”.
It seriously pushes the limits of what’s acceptable on TV. It’s gone too far.
Like Rusty, I could only make it through 1/2 an episode.
Posted on December 29th, 2008 at 1:37 am
I used to be able to say only Fox would offer completely tasteless, trashy shows like this (and let’s face it, Fox has only a handful of good shows… lol), but the cold truth is all of the networks have done a show like this at one point or another.
Whatever the case, let’s hope it’s gone. I’d much rather see 100-200 people at work on a scripted hour drama or half-hour sitcom than on the unemployment line because of dreck like this.
Posted on December 29th, 2008 at 9:31 am
This format was always just a case of probing and waiting for one extraordinary moment of television. This was that moment.
The show actually produced another that was simply hysterical, namely the contestant that walked away under pressure from her family to then get the proveout question ‘Have you ever felt trapped by your mother trying to control your life?’. Now that’s a brilliant moment.
Posted on January 4th, 2009 at 10:28 am
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