The Moment of Truth (U.S. game show)

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The Moment of Truth
A screencapture of the show's logo.
Format	Game show
Created by	Howard Schultz
Directed by	Ron de Moraes
Starring	Mark Walberg
Composer(s)	William Kevin Anderson
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	12 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Howard Schultz
Co-executive producer(s)	Michael Maddocks
Running time	60 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	FOX
Original run	January 23, 2008 – present

Tier	Questions	Prize Amount
1	6	$10,000
2	5	$25,000
3	4	$100,000
4	3	$200,000
5	2	$350,000
6	1	$500,000

The Moment of Truth is an American game show that first aired in Colombia as Nothing But the Truth. Contestants answer a series of 21 increasingly personal and embarrassing questions to receive cash prizes. The show is hosted by Mark Walberg and is aired by the Fox network. The show premiered on January 23, 2008. On February 1, 2008, FOX ordered an additional 13 episodes of the show, bringing its episode order to 23. ^[1]

1 Format
2 Episodes
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Format

Prior to the show, a contestant is hooked up to a polygraph and asked more than 50 questions; there is no polygraph testing conducted during the actual show. Without knowing the results of the polygraph, he or she is asked 21 of those same questions again on the program, each becoming progressively more personal in nature. If the contestant answers honestly as confirmed by the polygraph, he or she moves on to the next question; however, should a contestant lie in his or her answer (as determined by the polygraph) or simply refuse to answer a question after it has been asked, the game ends and the contestant loses all of the prize money accumulated. For each tier of questions answered correctly, the contestant wins the corresponding amount of money. A contestant may stop at any time before any question is asked and collect the money he or she has won. Although a person may stop after any question, once they hear the question, they must answer it. Honestly answering all 21 questions wins the jackpot of $500,000.

The questions vary, increasing in difficulty and degree of personal nature of the questions. To date, not one contestant has reached the 6th tier. Sometimes, a "surprise guest" - such as an ex-partner or a good friend - will come on the stage and ask a particularly difficult question. Friends, colleagues, and family of the contestant who are gathered near the player have access to a button which can be used to switch out a question once per game, an option which is introduced to them after the third question.

Though no contestant has answered all 21 questions truthfully to date, according to Mike Darnell, president of alternative entertainment at FOX, "In the vast majority of contestants, 99%, [they don’t say the machine is wrong]. You get, 'Hmm, I was a little worried when I answered that question.'"^[2] The series requires contestants to sign an agreement that they will accept the conclusions drawn by the polygraph examiner.^[2]

[edit] Episodes

Main article: List of The Moment of Truth episodes

The first episode was the lead out after the highly-rated American Idol, and managed to rate very well itself with 23 million viewers, the highest rating for a premiere to that point in 2008.^[3]^[4]