Parents' Guide to

Take the Money and Run

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Crime/game show hybrid has mixed messages, iffy language.

TV ABC Reality TV 2011
Take the Money and Run Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

In TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN, couples are challenged to hide a briefcase full of cash from a team of veteran investigators. Each duo is handed a briefcase containing $100,000 and given one hour to hide it somewhere in their city. Once the hour is up, the pair is picked up by police officers, separated, and taken into custody. During tough interrogation sessions conducted by Marly Hanon-Stone and Paul Bishop, the pair must reveal as few clues as possible. Based on the details provided to the interrogators, local police detectives follow leads in an attempt to locate the cash. If the pair manages to outsmart the detectives for 48 hours, they get to keep the money. But if the money is found, the investigators get to take it home.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (4):

The show is a cat and mouse game that combines the tension of an investigative drama with the suspense of a game show. It also offers a chance to see the kinds of analytical thought and investigative skill that go into questioning suspects in order to solve a case.

The show offers some entertaining moments, but the endless interrogation sessions take away from some of the excitement the series is trying to generate. Meanwhile, rooting for the contestants feels a little strange, since they're made out to look like criminals who are trying to outwit investigators even though they haven't done anything wrong. Folks may find it fun to watch, but it definitely sends some mixed messages.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the different tactics that investigators use when trying to solve a mystery or a crime. Do you think this show is realistic in the way it depicts criminal investigations?

  • Many reality shows feature stunts and/or competitions that are designed to be fun and entertaining. But when do they go too far? Are there things that shouldn't be part of reality show entertainment due to ethical or common sense reasons?

TV Details

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