The Moment of Truth

'Moment of Truth' Host: Tired of Being Accused as a Home Wrecker

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Ever since The Moment of Truth premiered on January 23, the show has become one of the most talked about programs in world of reality TV, attracting spectators with its unusual premise that puts participants to the lie detector test to reveal whether or not they are telling the truth for a chance to win half a million dollars. Now, host Mark Walberg is fed up with all the labels and bad reputation the show is getting for destroying the lives of contestants who are willing to publicly divulge secrets for a shot at cash.

"Quite honestly, the wrecking-your-family, evildoing rap the show gets, I think it's crap," Walberg said in a conference call promoting The Moment of Truth's May 27 return. "No family gets wrecked unless they're wrecking it anyway. And of all the people that have been on the show, only one couple that I know of that was married has decided to separate. And they were already on the rocks well before they got to us, by their own admission."

FOX Fall Premiere Dates: 'Fringe,' 'Prison Break' 'Bones' and 'Moment of Truth' Get 2-Hour Debuts

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:10:48 GMT

FOX is the most creative network around. You might hate some of the shows it produces (cough The Moment of Truth cough), but you have to give FOX props for the way it creates its schedule. If there is a new series the network is proud of, FOX promotes the hell out of it, and often premiere it after a veteran, highly rated series for good measure. Thanks to American Idol, FOX constructs two very distinct Fall and Winter/Spring seasons, dodging the inclination to air most of its big shows year-round. FOX has embraced the idea of airing its serial dramas with little or no breaks. Today, FOX released the schedule for their Fall premieres. There are a handful of two-hour premieres planned, including one for the most highly-anticipated new series of the Fall, the J.J. Abrams produced Fringe.

Will 'The Moment of Truth' Signal the Demise of 'Survivor'?'

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:12:29 GMT

The Moment of Truth kicked off its second season Tuesday, helping FOX win the night in the ratings. If you bear with me for a second, I'll tell you why this is good news for Survivor. The Moment of Truth, which debuted to monster numbers in its first season earlier this year, is expected to be one of the higher rated series of the summer. Also, FOX, at their recent upfronts for the 2008-2009 season, placed The Moment of Truth on their Fall schedule on Thursdays at 8pm. When pressed about The Moment of Truth's fall scheduling, in regards to Survivor, which will be a time slot competitor, FOX entertainment chairman Peter Liguori said:"Look, it's eroding. It's an older show. Its eventually going to give up and we're trying to accelerate that." With FOX taking direct aim at CBS's long-running reality series, the question was this: Would The Moment of Truth retain its Winter/Spring audience, or would it regress without its incomparable American Idol lead-in? Thankfully for Survivor, it looks like it's the former.

The Moment of Truth: Season 2 Premieres Tonight, Apocalypse Coming Soon

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 27 May 2008 11:04:38 GMT

The Moment of Truth returns to FOX tonight for the premiere of its second season. The controversial reality show has drawn the ire of critics and reasonable humans since its first season debuted at mid-season for FOX, but this was not a deterrent for audiences. The Moment of Truth, which has contestants hooked up to a lie detector as they answer a series of increasingly personal questions for an escalating amount of prize money, was the highest rated new series of the 2007-2008 television season. This likely had more to do with its initial pairing with TV juggernaut American Idol than the quality of the series itself, but it is impressive (depressing?) nonetheless. The second season premieres at 8pm tonight.

FOX Upfronts: Fall Schedule Revealed - 'Fringe' on Tuesdays

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:30:05 GMT

FOX is the final network to have its upfronts this week. As far as upfront weeks go, it hasn't been the most exciting. In this Internet age we live in, secrets are almost impossible to keep – we all knew which shows were being canceled and which weren't. We knew which new series were going to be picked up. The one thing that networks can keep secret, however, are their final schedules. FOX released two schedules today, one for Fall and one for the Spring. Below, you will find the Fall schedule, followed by a look at the new series and some commentary.

The Moment of Truth: Season Ender Airs Tonight

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Last week, viewers witnessed the first half of the two-part season finale of The Moment of Truth. The episode featured 23-year-old fight promoter Paul Schon from San Diego, California as he answered a bunch of increasingly personal questions truthfully in front of his girlfriend Maria, his mother Karen, his sister Jackie, his father Enrique, and his good friend Federico in attempt to win a large sum of money. “Have you ever been paid for sex?” and “Have you ever had sex with someone and kept her underwear as a trophy?” were just some of the intriguing questions that were thrown at him, to which he both answered yes candidly. In the end, he ended up walking away a hundred grand richer. Subsequently, the show featured 27-year-old interior designer Angela Ciemny, who continues her journey to get to the top of the money ladder in tonight's episode of The Moment of Truth.

Controversial 'Moment of Truth' Episode Posts Low Numbers

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:30:00 GMT

Last week, we reported on how her 15 minutes of fame has apparently cost The Moment of Truth contestant, Lauren Cleri, her marriage. In its most notorious episode to date, The Moment of Truth's show a couple of weeks back showcased New Yorker Cleri, admitting on national television that she had cheated on her husband, Frank. To add insult to injury, not only did she announce to all and sundry that she loved another besides Frank, she went on to lose their community-property prize money by saying she believed herself a good person, when the all-knowing dreaded polygraph thought otherwise.

As home-wrecking as that revelation was on The Moment of Truth, the broadcast was surprisingly the lowest-rating in the history of the FOX reality show.

'The Moment of Truth' Wrecks Marriage?

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

On last Monday's broadcast of FOX's The Moment of Truth, viewers watched as Lauren Cleri admitted to not only having cheated on her husband Frank Cleri, but also to feeling she should have married another guy. Unfortunately, she ended up going home empty-handed. Now, things have taken a turn for the worse, as she claims her marriage is seemingly over.

"We're kind of up in the air right now,” Lauren told the New York Post from the couple's apartment in Piermont. “I want to [get back together], but I don't think he does.

Additional Episodes of FOX's 'Truth' to Air in the Summer

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:00:00 GMT

Early this month, FOX announced it was ordering 13 additional episodes of the new and controversial game show, The Moment of Truth. The pick-up is not surprising, given the show's outstanding performance so far.

Fans of The Moment of Truth, however, will have to wait until the summer to catch the additional installments, as the network said yesterday that the show will take a short break after its April 2 broadcast, which will serve as a spring finale.

The Moment of Truth: Contestant Wish List

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:31:26 GMT

The Moment of Truth has become one of the most explosive and controversial reality shows in recent history, and for good reason. The contestants on Moment of Truth take lie detector tests and regularly admit to embarrassing and damning behavior or beliefs in front of their loved ones and a national television audience. FOX has come under fire from some for the sheer audacity they've shown by just giving The Moment of Truth a slot in prime time. But, I suppose you can't argue with the millions of viewers each episode has received. Given this success (which was to be expected, especially since American Idol is its lead-in), I thought it'd be fun to play a little game. Let's pretend that The Moment of Truth becomes a national phenomenon, even more so than it is now. Let's say that a high-profile contestant goes on (a criminal, a murderer, an embarrassed politician) and they sway the public in their favor by taking the lie detector and absolving themselves of whatever affront they'd been presumed to have committed. And, let's pretend that this event triggers a wave of public figures to also appear on The Moment of Truth in search of similar redemption. Wouldn't that be something?

The Facts Behind 'Moment of Truth'

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

After three episodes, FOX's The Moment of Truth continues to be one of the most talked about programs in world of reality TV. The highly-rated series that premiered with 23 million viewers has consistently attracted spectators with its unusual premise that puts participants to the lie detector test to reveal whether or not they are telling the truth for a chance to win half a million dollars. For others who remain skeptic about this new show, here are some facts that will either make you love or hate The Moment of Truth even more.

Warning: May contain spoilers.

The Moment of Truth: The Contestants - Who They Are and Why We Shouldn't Care, But Do

editor@buddytv.com — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:21:34 GMT

The Moment of Truth has come along at a time in our society when truth isn't at a premium. Everyone lies, everyone knows everyone lies, and we're generally OK with this. Reality TV has long been heralded as a symbol of an ever-increasing Orwellian grasp on our culture, and The Moment of Truth is probably the most blatant example of this...so far. That the show was borne out of the on going writers' strike is moot: The Moment of Truth is here, and we are left to grapple with its meaning. Personally, I watched the pilot episode, thought it was both appalling in nature and incredibly boring. I haven't watched an episode since, nor do I plan on it. What interests me most about The Moment of Truth, however, are the contestants. These people who are willing to give up their dignity and expose themselves and their secrets to the world in order to receive a large check from Rupert Murdoch. Besides the obvious motivation of money, what would possess someone to be contestant on The Moment of Truth? And, why do we seem to care? The more I think about it, the more it becomes clear - these people are both incomprehensible and average, and maybe it all means that The Moment of Truth is far less diabolical or controversial than I first thought.

The Moment of Truth: Trying to Enlist a Killer?

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 07:00:00 GMT

As reported previously, people behind FOX's new game show, The Moment of Truth, are looking into ways to improve the program's sluggish pacing. While producers are addressing the long pauses between questions in editing, they are also thinking of new gimmicks that will live up to the hype of the show that has surprisingly become a ratings success.

A reliable source tells TMZ that representatives for suspected wife killer Drew Peterson have contacted the producers of Moment of Truth, asking to hookup their client to a lie detector test on national television.

FOX Orders 13 More Episodes of 'The Moment of Truth'

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:00:22 GMT

The Moment of Truth has been picked up for 13 additional episodes by FOX. The controversial reality game show, which awards individuals money based on how many personal questions they can answer while strapped up to a polygraph machine, has become a surprise hit for FOX. The show is the highest rated new series of the season, almost completely in part to the nice little lead-in of American Idol. To be fair, though, The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer would have been the highest rated new show if it premiered after American Idol. Regardless, The Moment of Truth's second week numbers were solid and, reassured, FOX decided to order the additional 13 episodes.

FOX In Defense of 'Moment of Truth'

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Although more than 23 million viewers stuck around after American Idol to witness the premiere episode of The Moment of Truth last Wednesday, the positive numbers doesn't stand for the approval and contentment of some spectators who now regard the show as a huge let down.

Last week's episode featured contestants who are strapped to a polygraph to determine if they are telling the truth or not, with every truthful answer earning the contestant the chance to win a big cash prize. The first round featured a personal trainer named Ty, who was forced to leave the game show when the polygraph revealed he was lying about never having touched a female client inappropriately.
The second contestant of the night was a guy named George, who admitted to a question about having sexual fantasies during Mass and being addicted to gambling.

'Moment of Truth' Premiere a Ratings Success for 'FOX'

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT

The Moment of Truth was a ratings success for FOX Wednesday night, with the show's debut episode delivering the highest retention among adults 18-49 of any series leading out of American Idol.

The Moment of Truth, hosted by Mark L. Wahlberg, earned an average of 23.2 million and a 10.2/24 ratings share in the key adult demographic, according to Nielsen Media Research's preliminary estimates. It was able to retain 87 percent of Idol's viewership, and even gained over the musical competition in the adults 18-34 and teen demos.

The Moment of Truth: Series Review

editor@buddytv.com — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:52:30 GMT

The Moment of Truth makes you want to dramatically shake your fist up at the sky and demand an end to the writers' strike. The idea is interesting enough: contestants are asked difficult and telling personal questions while hooked up to a polygraph machine. They have to answer these questions on national television to win money. 21 questions, sliding scale of winnings (up to $500,000), if you answer a question wrong (i.e. lie) you leave with no money, and you can quit at any time. OK, sounds good in theory, in a 'there's nothing else on TV these days and I like watching people squirm' kind of way.

Each contestant has a stable of friends and family in attendance to bare witness to the embarrassing facts/atrocities they are forced to admit to. It's kind of like The Jerry Springer Show, except without the fighting and yelling and revelations that make that show enjoyable. Because, you see, the contestants don't admit to anything, they don't really reveal personal secrets – it is only revealed where they may or may not have a secret.

The Moment of Truth Premieres Tonight, Host Says Show is a "Personal Journey"

editor@buddytv.com — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 12:25:17 GMT

Premiering tonight is FOX's The Moment of Truth, a new game show that promises to expose the shocking secrets of various brave men and women. Despite the nature of the show, however, host Mark L. Wahlberg believes it's more than just a venue for a very public humiliation.

“Where this show really lives for me is that it becomes a personal journey,” Wahlberg said in a recent conference call. “Very quickly you start to learn, not just the information on the questions, but all sorts of information about this person, their family, their friends, their life.”

'Moment of Truth' "Not Out to Destroy" Contestants

editor@buddytv.com — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 05:00:00 GMT

If you have no problem with revealing your deepest darkest secrets for a big wad of cash on national television, then FOX's new game series The Moment of Truth is the show for you.

In a nutshell, The Moment of Truth is a show where contestants are strapped to a polygraph to determine if they are telling the truth or not, with every truthful answer earning the contestant the chance to win a big cash prize. It's based on a Colombian game show that was promptly cancelled after a woman admitted to putting out a hit on her husband.

The Moment of Truth

editor@buddytv.com — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:12:31 GMT

The Moment of Truth is an upcoming game show on FOX that gives contestants the chance to win $500,000 by simply answering 21 questions pertaining to their personal lives. The catch? Each contestant will be strapped to a polygraph test to determine whether their answers are truthful or not.

To make things harder for the contestants, the questions get more and more personal as the game progresses. They must also play in the presence of spouses, co-workers, family and friends, all of whom will be sitting in the audience. The contestant goes home with the half-million dollar cash prize only if he or she passes the lie detector test in each level of the game.