The alphabet network recently debuted a new alternative TV series called Take the Money and Run. Interestingly, it has the same title as a 1969 Woody Allen comedy film. That movie was a hit with critics and viewers. Has the ABC show received a similar reception?
On Take the Money and Run, two participants are given a briefcase filled with $100,000 and one hour to hide it. At the end of that time, the contestants are taken into custody and questioned by a team of investigators. They work with a pair of detectives who are given GPS recordings of the route that the contestants took, as well as their phone records. If the detectives can locate the suitcase within 48 hours, they get to split the money. If not, the contestants keep the prize.
The reality series debuted on August 2nd with a 1.9 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 5.28 million viewers. It was third in its timeslot, ranking well behind America’s Got Talent on NBC and FOX’s Hell’s Kitchen.
The second installment kept most of its premiere audience, falling just 5% in the demo. Week three saw the demo rating fall 22% to a 1.4 with 3.63 million viewers. The fourth episode popped back up 14% and last night’s fell back down again. The first season has averaged a 1.6 rating and 4.34 million viewers.
Take the Money and Run’s freshman run concludes next week and it doesn’t seem likely that ABC will renew it for a second season. ABC has been running eight different “alternative” series this summer and this one ranks sixth, beating only Expedition: Impossible and Friday night’s Karaoke Battle USA. Still, it is relatively inexpensive to produce so you never know. After all, this reality show is easily beating Rookie Blue and Combat Hospital.
What do you think? Is Take the Money and Run worth watching? Should it be renewed for a second season or just cancelled?
Image courtesy ABC.
i love the show’ so does my Wife” problem is most of these Comments” are Terrible” its a great show i hope it comes back” and i bet you all these Neagtive messages are due’ to small minds” and hiphop” Hiphop is Evil Stupid and un talented’ as well as pop music” 80% of these white folks like rap’ but are scared of’ black people’ witch is funny’ or computer geeks” what does this mean with the show’ alot’ short minded Fools’ who like rap crap’ who like romatic comedy’s with there all millions’ of them’ this show is fresh”… Read more »
LOVE IT
Keep it
Worst show I’ve ever seen the whole concept is ridiculous. I would not say a thing for 48 hours but no you have to answer the questions. You can lie but you can’t stay silent. It’s just stupid. Expedition Impossible was 10 times better.
Keep it!! I’ve watched every episode and look forward to the next one.
i really like the show an wud love to be on it.
I think it should be cancelled. Its definitely a good concept in theory but the show is boring! Plus, I can’t understand why these contestants believe anything the interrorgators say to them. To me, it seems easy and a no brainer to be able to hide the money and keeq quiet about it. But these contestants break down so easily. For $1000,000 dollars, I wouldn’t care if they take away my meals, toothpaste and writing journal or filp my bed. You mean to tell me these people can hang and be inconvenienced for two days without breaking down???
Cancel the show because it is stupid. The show is so boring that I TIVO it and fast forward to the end to see if the detectives found it or not. The show in between is boring and no interesting.
This show seems to be more like an experiment to prove no crime goes unpunished than an exciting reality show. I do admit that it has its perks, but it could be cancelled and I wouldn’t mind.
I really thought it sounded interesting but its a little slow most episodes and really were routing for the regular guys not the police with huge pensions coming they’re way but the cops keep winning. With 4 against 2 and dozens of years experience on the cops end and no experience at stealing money on the contestents end it all ads up to unfair and boring.
Cancel the show. It has no build-up as the season progresses since no competition has any meaning or effect on the next episodes. It is purely a stand-on-its on single night show. Give me a season winner, not a one night stand.
What K said. It was an interesting idea on paper that just isn’t that interesting to watch.
I watched the first episode and while the concept sounded interesting, the result was just dull. The inclusion of these two ‘expert’ interrogators really makes it far less of a direct competition between the detectives and the hiders.
If Homer Simpson can claim “The Blue Man” group is a total rip off of the “Smurfs”, then I can claim “Take The Money And Run” is a total rip off of “The Running Man”
I would have watched this show, but since the cancelled OLTL and AMC. I passed on it. I will do the same with all the shows an ABC this fall.