UrbanWire

Picture this: You're walking along one day, when some guy comes up and asks you a question out of the blue. You're momentarily stunned by this sudden gesture, but you regain your composure and give him the (correct) answer. The next thing you know? He gives you 20 bucks, and walks away. You didn't know what hit you.

Well, you were just hit by Oblivious, the game show you didn't even know you were on.

Originally created in the UK in 2001, Oblivious US was picked up by independent US cable channel TNN (now known as Spike TV) in August 2002 to relatively good reviews for its fresh take on the game-show genre. Hosted by talented improvisation comic Regan Burns, the show is currently into its second season in the US.

The basis for Oblivious is rather offbeat. Each week, Regan slips into various quirky personas and tricks unsuspecting bystanders into answering 5 general knowledge questions deftly woven into their conversations. Unbeknownst to the contestants, who are caught on hidden camera, each correct answer will win them US$20 (S$34).

The coolest show segment is when one player from each episode gets to take Regan's place and trick another oblivious soul. It's interesting to see ordinary people having to quickly adopt Regan's natural, easy banter and do what he had done to them moments before. (Regan would be in a back room prompting them, of course.) The best part is that each question the player's contestant answers correctly will win them US$100!

Aside from its innovative concept, the show scores points through host Regan, who is very adept with his routine. His background in improvisational comedy helps him to think quickly on his feet and slip into different characters almost immediately. While being natural, he (thankfully) doesn't come off as obnoxious at all.

All that aside, the $100 question is this: What exactly is the catch to Oblivious? The answer is that there's absolutely none. The money is given to contestants with no strings attached.

This, I suspect, could be the show's way of rewarding contestants for simply being their unaware selves. After all, this is what makes for great TV. The fact that there is no humiliation, losers or attempts to make life hellish and ugly for participants, is a practically novel idea among the many game programmes now, and what makes Oblivious the coolest game show anyone would want to be on, including yours truly.