Cha$e

This basic format makes Cha$e seem like a game of tag with financial incentives, but there's a little more to the concept. The Hunters aren't just standard-issue athletes paid to take on -- or take out -- average-Joe contestants. They also play the part of silent, relentless, robotic pursuers determined to find their prey. They dress like the Men in Black, eyes hidden behind sleek sunglasses, but they keep on coming like the Terminator, and the camera often shows their perspective, complete with an automated scan of the street as they seek out the Runners. Further playing on the video game theme, the Runners get a few useful defensive tools -- such as a deflector, which can make a Hunter turn around and walk in the opposite direction, or invisibility glasses, which supposedly make them undetectable to the Hunters (which makes for somewhat absurd sequences when the pursuers, keeping up the pretense, walk right past their quarry, inches away and clearly visible to all).

Its unusual concept gives Cha$e a twist that's lacking in other game shows based on physical competition, such as American Gladiators, and it actually looks kind of fun for the participants. But it's also a bit unnerving to see what's presented as a group of contestants willing to risk their lives for the chance to win a cash prize. It may be just a game, but this game is designed to mimic a modern-day blood sport, an idea that might not sit will with viewers who don't think life should be toyed with.