The NBCU owned Bravo network has announced that comedian Ben Bailey will make his big return as Cash Cab‘s host in an upcoming revival of the series. The game show will be returning after a two year hiatus and an original air date from 2005 to 2012 on Discovery network.
In the original Cash Cab, New Yorkers and tourists would compete for the chance to test miscellaneous knowledge on a variety of topics —esoteric and contemporary ones— in order to win cash money. The updated Bravo iteration is set to feature an upgraded cash cab along with the inclusion of more culturally relatable questions geared towards pop culture.
Each episode follows the series’ original concept, as contestants participate in three games, that start as soon as they enter the Cash Cab. If the passenger can answer a good amount of questions right, they can win large sums of money after reaching their destination. Contestants are also required to split the money with other players, while three wrong answers can land them on the street after being kicked out.
Contestants were never aware of the game until they hailed the Cash Cab and Bailey jokingly informed them of the show and its rules. The series was also originally filmed in the New York City area, with other episodes during season six, taking place in Las Vegas.
During 2007, the Discovery Channel began airing a spin-off edition of the program titled, Cash Cab: After Dark, in which contestants were picked up at the end of the day around sunset and after hours. The cash value of the late night questions were double the amount of the regular show’s versions, but were also traditionally more difficult to answer in nature.
Cash Cab is produced by Lion Television in partnership with Tony Tackaberry, Allison Corn, PJ Morrison and Stan Hsue serving as the series’ executive producers as well. Bailey additionally acts as the series’ executive producer aside from host.