Take the Money and Run

"Take the Money and Run" is an American reality game show that aired on ABC in 2011. The show was an exciting mix of reality TV, game show, and crime drama elements enveloped in an innovative and unique premise. This one-season television series starred Paul Bishop as the primary interrogator and offered a fresh take on traditional game shows. The series was developed by Profiles Television and executive produced by the team of Matt Wratten, Brant Pinvidic, JD Roth, and John Stevens. Barry Poznick, John Zaccario, and Charles Duncombe served as co-executive producers. Through its six episodes, the show created a fusion of real-life high-stakes drama and the nail-biting suspense of a chase, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats. The premise of the show was clever and engaging. At the beginning of each episode, a team of two people was provided with a suitcase containing $100,000 in cash. The challenge was to hide this suitcase within an hour, anywhere in a designated area. Once the hour was up, the team was taken into custody by retired police detectives including lead detective Paul Bishop, a seasoned LAPD detective, writer, and game-show veteran. The challenge for the detectives was to locate the hidden money within 48 hours using various investigation techniques. Throughout the intense interrogation period, the team must attempt to mislead investigators and protect the money's location. For any shared information during interrogation, voluntary or extracted, could lead the detectives to the suitcase. If the detectives failed to locate the suitcase within the 48-hour period, the lying team would keep the money. But if the investigators unearthed the hidden stash within the stipulated time, the prize money would be forfeited by the contestants. Paul Bishop's presence added a distinct flavor to the show, with his experience, tenacity, and real-world expertise in handling actual cold cases in Los Angeles. Bishop, a 35-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, is an acclaimed novelist and an internationally recognized behavioral analyst and deception detection expert. He played the part of the intimidating interrogator to perfection, adding an intense psychological dimension to the engaging plot of "Take the Money and Run." The imaginative reality show concept and high-stakes gameplay didn't involve physical challenges or obscure trivia, instead, it was a strategic mind game, testing the contestants' cunning, resourcefulness, and ability to withstand psychological pressure. The show was set in various cities across the United States such as Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco. Each city provided a unique backdrop for the hide-and-seek game, with its distinct geographic and socio-cultural landscape. It added to the unpredictability and suspense of the game as the contestants navigated the peculiarities of each locality. Despite only running for a single six-episode season, "Take the Money and Run" garnered considerable attention for its fresh and thrilling premise. It marked an adventurous departure from common game show formats and typical cop dramas on television. The unique mix of reality, crime, and game show elements made it an edge-of-the-seat experience for viewers who found themselves trying to outwit the investigators along with the contestants. The show is an exciting watch for fans of crime dramas and those who enjoy strategic game shows alike. Intrigue, suspense, strategy, and psychological warfare make "Take the Money and Run" an interesting deviation from most game shows one tends to come across. Even though its innovative concept didn't result in longevity, the handful of episodes offer a rollercoaster ride that makes for a captivating watch. Running for approximately forty-five minutes each, the episodes of "Take the Money and Run" leave viewers hooked, wondering who will eventually outwit the other: the smart, deceptive contestants, or the seasoned, strategic detectives. For anyone looking for a watch that offers more than simple entertainment, this show promises a thrilling mix of reality television, psychological gameplay, and the gripping world of crime investigations.

Take the Money and Run is a series categorized as a canceled. Spanning 1 seasons with a total of 6 episodes, the show debuted on 2011. The series has earned a moderate reviews from both critics and viewers. The IMDb score stands at 6.0.