Justin Timberlake Producing The Phone for MTV
Monday May 12, 2008
Justin Timberlake is on board with MTV to produce a new "reality game show" called The Phone. Based on a Dutch game show, the premise is that two cell phones will be hidden at different ends of a major city. The people who answer these phones are the potential contestants, and will hear their instructions via the phones. They'll have five seconds to decide whether or not to play the game, which will require them to complete a mission together in order to win a cash prize.The show is being touted as a "real life Bourne Identity." It does sound like a fresh idea that has a lot of potential for good gaming; it's just different enough that it could be quite exciting to watch. The concept of unsuspecting contestants works well for Discovery's Cash Cab after all.
My main concern is that the network might overproduce the show and make it too cheesy, with the usual MTV sound effects and canned laughter. If The Phone takes off, it will be because of the lack of bright neon lights and studio effects - the raw feel of real people on the streets of a major U.S. city participating in a game show with no idea of what to expect is the draw here, and I hope the final package reflects this.
Photo by Bryan Bedder, courtesy Getty Images
Comments
I just read that they were holding castings for people to be in the show. I don’t think that it is as spontaneous as they want you to think. And i agree, that is the most intriguing part of the show.
what do you have to do to become a contestant
I guess if you want to be on the show you would have to surrender your soul to Justin Timberlake and forever worship him…
then again you might have some luck with e-mailing MTV networks…
I dunno
How about giving 50 grand to someone who is willing to help or hire a homeless vet, or build housing for Katrina victims? Not as interesting as dodging explosions, but…
do the teams that get ellimated really die??????
i want to be a contasnt
What concerns me about the show is the fact that something happens to the losing team. For example, on the 3rd and 2nd show the 2 contestants who lost the 2nd mission fell deep down in the water while still in the plane and when the girl and boy were crushed by this car crusher thing. I mean is this real or what. Why would you want to even hurt them on this show they signed up for it, and what now they die for it. I dont think so. They should just get eliminated or so and at least get sent on a nice decent plane to go home to.