Cash Cab; Win Money on New York City Taxi

Millions of passengers hail cabs in New York City competing for the attention of more than 12,000 licensed cabs.

One in several million will unsuspectingly hail and enter Discovery Channel's "Cash Cab." The "Cash Cab" is the only cab in New York City that turns an otherwise simple taxi ride into an instantaneous game show, with the opportunity to win money.

Contestants are pre-screened, but, according to Wikipedia are not told they have hailed the "Cash Cab."

Host, Ben Bailey, greets riders like you'd expect on any cabby to do. Once he finds out their destination lights and bells signal riders they have entered the only cab in New York City that will allow them to win money for a ride. Bailey agrees to drive passengers to their destination if they agree to play along for the chance to win some cash.

Off the air, participants fill out wavers and other legal paperwork prior to their departure.

Participants win money for every correct answer to a general knowledge question. As questions become more difficult contestants earn more money. If a participant is stumped they have the option of a "shout out" to random people on the streets of New York, and a call to someone who may help them.

Four questions are worth $25, four are worth $50, questions after that are worth $100 each. $200 can be won at a "Red Light Challenge" if they correctly answer a three part question within 30 seconds. Bailey questions the contestants until they reach their destination. As long as they answer questions correctly Bailey continues the ride. Contestants are given two strikes for wrong answers, but on the third strike Bailey puts them on the curb.

Once they reach their destination Bailey pulls out cash passengers have won in the "Cash Cab." He then tempts them to risk their winnings double or nothing on a video question. Some participants take the money and leave, others cannot resist the chance to double their money.

Behind the scenes, a production crew follows the "Cash Cab," filming contestants as they exit the taxi. The money they are given on film is phony. Contestants return the bogus cash and are mailed a check for their winnings.