# Fox's new show "Unanimous" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foxs-new-show-unanimous/347774 "2006-03-10T01:33:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foxs-new-show-unanimous/347774/1 "2006-03-10T01:33:25Z")
I’m a bit too buzzed to explain the rules right now, but there’s now way this show will work with the way it’s been explained on the commercials. “Give me the $1.5 million”. “No.” Rinse and repeat until no one can get any money. Unless they let someone off the bat say “Give it to me and I’ll split it evenly amongst everyone,” which would make for a terribly dull show. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foxs-new-show-unanimous/347774/2 "2006-03-10T04:38:29Z")
Variety has [an article](http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117938226?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2562) on it, which gives some more info: > [@](#): > > After a certain point, the $1.5 million pot begins to get reduced, providing further incentive for the players to agree on a winner. There will be an elimination process for players, too – but with a twist. > > Each week, someone will lose their ability to compete for the cash. The eliminated players will remain in the bunker, however, and stay on the jury. They also mention it’s only a half hour series. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foxs-new-show-unanimous/347774/3 "2006-03-10T04:59:44Z")
“Prisoner’s Dilemma” would have been a catchier title. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foxs-new-show-unanimous/347774/4 "2006-03-10T13:13:24Z")
> [@BabaBooey](#): > > I’m a bit too buzzed to explain the rules right now, but there’s now way this show will work with the way it’s been explained on the commercials. “Give me the $1.5 million”. “No.” Rinse and repeat until no one can get any money. Unless they let someone off the bat say “Give it to me and I’ll split it evenly amongst everyone,” which would make for a terribly dull show. There’s gotta be a rule against splitting amongst the people. Otherwise, what’s the point. Still, \*“Give me the $1.5 million”, “No” Rinse and repeat \* IS the show. That’s the drama. Either they do that well – and the people bicker and fight and lie and connive and ally – or they don’t. You boil any show down to an aphorism, and it sounds stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foxs-new-show-unanimous/347774/5 "2006-03-10T13:34:00Z")
It looked very stressful on the commercials. I’m looking for weekly meltdowns, backstabbing, and widespread mayhem. And concerted efforts to bring out the worst in people. Isn’t that just what we need? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foxs-new-show-unanimous/347774/6 "2006-03-10T13:52:26Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > It looked very stressful on the commercials. I’m looking for weekly meltdowns, backstabbing, and widespread mayhem. And concerted efforts to bring out the worst in people. Isn’t that just what we need? :rolleyes: Well, it’s what passes for entertainment these days. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foxs-new-show-unanimous/347774/7 "2006-03-10T15:40:50Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > Well, it’s what passes for entertainment these days. Not for me. I saw one 30 second commercial for it and that was enough for me to stay far away. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foxs-new-show-unanimous/347774/8 "2006-03-10T15:54:28Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Not for me. Well, me neither. I don’t watch much reality TV, really, but the thing is, no one knows. Maybe on this show people will demonstrate honesty, compassion and cooperation and we’ll get to see how that plays out. I doubt it, but the show has to stop somehow. This just seems like a silly show to rip on after 6 years of back-stabbing, lying, and cheating on Survivor, Amazing Race, Fear Factor, Big Brother, Joe Millionaire, Apprentice, etc. The _CONCEPT_ – which seems to have drawn the focus of the OP – is just the latest thing they’ve devised to get people to act poorly in front of cameras. Personally, the _CONCEPT_ seems kind of interesting to me. It’s an interesting problem to think about, because the only thing that’s keeping you from saying, “fine, you take the money” is what? Your sense that someone else shouldn’t get something for nothing even if it doesn’t affect you? The possibility that you’ll be able to get less later on? Your own greed? The PROBLEM that I see is that the money would have to drop to certain level before someone says “fuck it, you take it”. But, that presupposes that there is a “cost” to being on the show, when most people view “being on TV” as a benefit. It might be more interesting if instead of dropping the money, they didn’t feed the people, or kept turning the heat up, or didn’t let them sleep – some increasingly dire thing. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foxs-new-show-unanimous/347774/9 "2006-03-10T19:42:39Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > It might be more interesting if instead of dropping the money, they didn’t feed the people, or kept turning the heat up, or didn’t let them sleep – some increasingly dire thing. I would _so_ watch that. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/foxs-new-show-unanimous/347774/10 "2006-03-10T20:14:53Z")
> [@Trunk](#): > > The PROBLEM that I see is that the money would have to drop to certain level before someone says “fuck it, you take it”. But, that presupposes that there is a “cost” to being on the show, when most people view “being on TV” as a benefit. It might be more interesting if instead of dropping the money, they didn’t feed the people, or kept turning the heat up, or didn’t let them sleep – some increasingly dire thing. I was kind of thinking they would turn up the heat…or turn it down and film in winter. I mean, let’s make this thing like 12 Angry Men…for money.