Question about "Cash Cab" for those in NYC

[dispor]

I love, love, love this show! But I have to think that it makes people go around hailing cabs in NYC to try to get on the show - and then not using the cab when they find out its not the Cash Cab. Does that happen?

Also, it seems that noone is ever surprised when they get in the Cab anymore. I'm guessing the show is really popular in NYC... It was so much more fun when people were surprised.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I love, love, love this show! But I have to think that it makes people go around hailing cabs in NYC to try to get on the show - and then not using the cab when they find out its not the Cash Cab. Does that happen?

I doubt it. Most New Yorkers that are hailing a cab are trying to actually get somewhere and are happy to get any cab, especially if it's raining, really hot, or snowing!

 

[swanmom]

Dispor,
I guess you are not a New Yorker There are about 13,000 cabs in NYC. Most of which are in Manhattan - which is only about 23 square miles in area. You'd have to be pretty lucky to find the 'cash cab' by opening doors on all the cabs you see. (The only advantage is that your vocabulary would be enriched by learning more than a few choice words in many different languages from the drivers who stopped for a non-customer! )

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Yeah, you'd have a greater chance of winning the lottery. Manhattan looks (to me) like 90% cabs. And when you get a cab, you get in it because you never know when the next available one will come along. Finding the Cash Cab would be like a needle in a haystack.
But that was a good question. Probably one of the only cities in the US where they could film this show. L.A. would be out, it's too expansive and everyone has a car.

 

[Disneydude123]

I know why noone seems surprised because I know someone who has been on the show. My friend is an actor who went on audition that had a callback and they told him they wanted him to bring his family with him when he returned. He did not know why but did so anyway. When he returned for the callback they told him they have a job for him up town right now but we are sending a cab for you to get you there. They all went outside and the producer hailed the cab in question and they all got in and surprise your on Cash Cab. His video is on Youtube. I guess some things are not as real as they seem.

 

[SandrA9810]

It's funny when people act like they don't even want to be on the show. Or the ones that are too excited, but not smart enough to even answer some of the simple questions.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I know why noone seems surprised because I know someone who has been on the show. My friend is an actor who went on audition that had a callback and they told him they wanted him to bring his family with him when he returned. He did not know why but did so anyway. When he returned for the callback they told him they have a job for him up town right now but we are sending a cab for you to get you there. They all went outside and the producer hailed the cab in question and they all got in and surprise your on Cash Cab. His video is on Youtube. I guess some things are not as real as they seem.

Um yeah... I kind of thought it was obvious that there's no way an actual random Cash Cab was out there. There's no way that wouldn't be set up some how.

 

[Robinrs]

I know why noone seems surprised because I know someone who has been on the show. My friend is an actor who went on audition that had a callback and they told him they wanted him to bring his family with him when he returned. He did not know why but did so anyway. When he returned for the callback they told him they have a job for him up town right now but we are sending a cab for you to get you there. They all went outside and the producer hailed the cab in question and they all got in and surprise your on Cash Cab. His video is on Youtube. I guess some things are not as real as they seem.

Found this online:

Are the Contestants Actually Random?

Here's where it gets a bit tricky. If you've watched the end credits of the show closely, you've seen the line, "Some contestants have been pre-screened prior to their appearance on the show." This opens up a whole can of worms that leads to all kinds of rumors and assumptions.

What we know is that some contestants are indeed random, and picked up off the streets of New York. Not all of these contestants make it on the show, even if they play a complete game, however. Keeping in mind that the goal of any television program is to entertain, there are bound to be some contestants that just don't deliver.

Other contestants are indeed screened and/or recruited. There have been reports of a variety of different methods for this process – some people have said that they were approached on the street and asked if they'd be interested in appearing on a game show. Others have attended auditions and played mock trivia games.

The key thing to understand though is that none of these contestants, pre-screened or otherwise, know that they are about to play Cash Cab. Those who have auditioned or been recruited are told that they have made the cut, and that a taxi is coming to pick them up and take them to the filming location. Of course, when that cab arrives, it's the Cash Cab.

 

[AlleyKat]

I also know someone who played and won (no strikes and they correctly answered the video bonus question).


He and the friend he was with had to fill out a lot of paperwork (releases, tax information, etc.), which took at least 15 minutes to do. So, between the time Ben tells contestants they are on Cash Cab and asks if they want to play, they have been filling out forms.

The money handed to the winners is not real; they are mailed a check.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Interesting thread....I will look at CC differently now. I did figure out they were filling out paperwork and being coached in that break.

So not random, but random with screening.

 

[AlleyKat]

So not random, but random with screening.

In the case of my friend, it was random.

Not all folks are screened.

 

[kacaju]

Too funny. I recently took my Mom into the city, and I did think after we got in the cab that this had better NOT be a cash cab!! LOL!!

 

[java]

Yep my neighbor was on- and he was random.

 

[Caradana]

I'm in 2, maybe 3 cabs a day and I don't believe I've ever seen the cash cab A friend tells me that the number on the roof starts with "8_" (all cabs have 4 "digit and letter" license IDs illuminated on the roof of each cab) ...