RonAmok!

I was recently introduced to a television show that has earned three thumbs up on my Tivo. The show is called Cash Cab and can be found on the Discovery Channel.

I love this show, and it took me a little while to understand why. If you haven’t seen it, the program takes place in a New York City cab. Once some unsuspecting person enters the cab and tells the cabbie where they are going, the host, Ben Bailey rattles them with a techno display of lights and sound, informing them that they are on a TV game show. The goal is for the contestant is to arrive at their final destination while answering trivia questions and winning cash along the way. The catch? If you miss three questions, Ben pulls over and you are kicked out of the cab unceremoniously:-)

Last night, as I was getting my daily dose of the Cash Cab, it hit me that this show is a perfect metaphor for New Media.

1. It’s inexpensive to produce (the cash prizes have never exceeded $3000)
2. It is very interactive
3. It involves collaboration…whether it be contestants traveling together, or when they ask for a “shout-out” — my favorite is the “street shout-out” where contestants ask random New Yorkers for help with a question!

We’re all new to this New Media thing. It doesn’t take much money to get into this space. Once in it, we need to collaborate with our customers, our employees, and dare I say it, perhaps even our competitors! And lastly, we need help — not only from the people who we know, but also those that we don’t. By working together and getting a little bit of luck, we’ll all arrive at our final destination, without being thrown to the curb.

Tags: Cash Cab Ben Bailey Discovery Channel New Media RoAmok

P.S. A friend of mine swears that I look like Ben Bailey. I don’t see it. Do you?