# Ca$h Cab conundrum
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** reality-or-game-show
**Created:** [April 26, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541 "2025-04-26T18:58:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/1 "2025-04-26T18:58:57Z")
So.
I really need to know.
Is the cash given out on the show real?
I’ve read it wasn’t.
But I watch faithfully every episode.
(They’re all in re-run)
I swear, the cash looks real.
The contestants act like it’s real.
I say it’s real.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/2 "2025-04-26T19:05:01Z")
You’re specifically asking about the paper money given to the contestants?
If so, that is not real, they send a check to the winners as it must be taxed is the explanation I have seen.
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* * *
The contestants themselves are partially pre-screened and partially randomly picked up off the street.
The cab was real.
Hopefully that helps.
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* * *
I’m pretty sure the show’s title is Ca$h Cab, should I fix your title?
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/3 "2025-04-26T19:10:51Z")
Sure. That will be good. I couldnt decide where to put the $.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/4 "2025-04-26T19:11:33Z")
Done.
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/5 "2025-04-26T19:12:40Z")
I want that money to be real.
I believed it was for a long time.
So disappointing.
I should just _let it go_, maybe?
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### Author:  [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/6 "2025-04-26T19:14:05Z")
They do get paid, but not in cash.
> **[‘Cash Cab’ can be a lucrative ride](https://www.today.com/popculture/cash-cab-can-be-lucrative-ride-wbna12055144)**
>
> New show features a quizzing cabbie who trades right answers for cash
Brian
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/7 "2025-04-26T19:14:32Z")
They get the money, but just not on air in USD paper bills.
😕 What’s the difference?
[Let it go](https://youtu.be/moSFlvxnbgk?t=65).
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/8 "2025-04-26T19:15:07Z")
I can’t think of a reason not to use real cash. The whole transaction is recorded. I don’t know what amounts are involved but theft of some variety and the lower cost of fake money are the main reasons 'stage money ’ is used in movies and TV shows. Unless the amounts are quite high that’s probably not a problem. I’m sure they file any tax forms that are required.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/9 "2025-04-26T19:18:19Z")
Pertinent line for this thread:
> Though contestants are shown leaving with cash in hand, that’s just for the cameras; they later receive a check in the mail.
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/10 "2025-04-26T19:20:55Z")
Money talks, BS walks.
Real money would just be so much more funner.
Then I have to worry they haven’t carefully put it away and don’t get mugged. They are in NYC, after all.
Then I get to think they went in that bar I see out of the cab window and bought rounds for the house, with _real_ cash. Not a promise “the check’s in the mail”
And be concerned they wasted their money. Should’ve paid that exorbitant rent that’s charged in NYC.
See my dilemma?
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/11 "2025-04-26T19:22:59Z")
I think the highest amount I’ve seen won, was $3200.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/12 "2025-04-26T19:29:51Z")
Check you on the NYC rents, they’re crazy high for generally small apartments.
[The robbery rate in NYC is one of the lowest for big cities and 62nd overall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_cities_by_crime_rate#Crime_rates). This isn’t the 70s or 80s.
Significantly safer than Newark or Jersey City as examples.
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/13 "2025-04-26T19:32:26Z")
Ok. On the crime stats.
But folks walking around with hundreds fanned out in their hand on a busy sidewalk. Too easy. Where ever you are.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/14 "2025-04-26T19:33:33Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> But folks walking around with hundreds fanned out in their hand on a busy sidewalk. Too easy. Where ever you are.
No argument, that would be epically stupid almost anywhere.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/15 "2025-04-26T19:35:52Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#):
>
> Ok. On the crime stats.
>
> But folks walking around with hundreds fanned out in their hand on a busy sidewalk. Too easy. Where ever you are.
But they don’t just walk away. There is paperwork and boring legal stuff to be done. It’s just not shown on TV.
Ben Bailey did have to get a real NYC taxi license and it is a real NYC taxi.
ETA there is a chase car with producers and security. From what I remember the security is an armed off duty police officer
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### Author:  [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/16 "2025-04-26T19:39:07Z")
See…I construct whole lives from these people I’m in the cab with for a while. It’s a pasttime of mine. Hey it keeps me off the streets.
(I do this with commercial actors and un-famous interviewees on shows, Why? Because I have _no_ life and am bored.)
This is vitally upsetting to me 😄
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### Author:  [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/17 "2025-04-26T23:06:16Z")
There was one gentleman who completely cleaned up — $6600. It was thrilling. Bailey is either a good actor (he has a stand up comedy special) or he was on tenterhooks rooting for the guy.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/18 "2025-04-26T23:09:08Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#):
>
> There was one gentleman who completely cleaned up — $6600. It was thrilling. Bailey is either a good actor (he has a stand up comedy special) or he was on tenterhooks rooting for the guy.
I’ve seen him live and met him afterwards. Very nice. Very tall.
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### Author:  [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/19 "2025-04-26T23:10:39Z")
It’s one of those shows that shouldn’t be as good as it is.
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### Author:  [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2025, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ca-h-cab-conundrum/1017541/20 "2025-04-26T23:11:31Z")
Agreed.
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