“The Moment of Truth” (8 p.m., Fox): What’s the going price for a deep, dark
“The Moment of Truth” (8 p.m., Fox): What’s the going price for a deep, dark secret? Apparently, no more than $500,000. That’s the top-dollar amount contestants can win on Fox’s unbelievably sensationalistic “The Moment of Truth.”
The show is just far-fetched enough to make it a prime-time hit (one of the biggest of the entire 2007-08 season). The voyeuristic reality show has scandalous guests submitting to hot-button personal topics to win large wads of cash. To make matters worse: They reveal it all in front of their loved ones, a studio audience and the rest of the world. After a successful first season this past winter, the outrageous “Truth” is returning for season two (8 p.m., Fox). This show is brainless enough to be a huge summer blockbuster, too.
Here’s how the best (or worst) episodes usually play out: A contestant is sitting in the hot seat, risking public embarrassment for himself and for his family and friends. With each dire truth revealed, the hot-seat contestant gets more money.
The financial winnings can be as high as $500,000, but most contestants — if they avoid being caught in a falsehood by a lie detector — can only endure the price of a $100,000 truth (with questions like: “Have you ever wanted to cheat on your spouse?”).
But there’s no price tag to be placed on the shame and humiliation these contestants decide to put up with.
And yet, we watch anyway because it’s not us up there, and humiliation is entertainment in today’s prime-time climate.
“According to Jim” (8:30 p.m., ABC): The Devil wants Jim to pay up. So that’s how this show has stayed on this long!
“Secret Lives of Women” (10 p.m., WE): “Secret Lives of Women” turns extra eerie with a special look at stalkers, including the infamous case of astronaut Lisa Nowak, who followed an alleged romantic rival for weeks and attacked her with pepper spray.