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Truth be told

NEW CONCEPT Mark Walberg: ‘This show is way ahead of its time’

Mark Lewis Walberg has essayed many roles ranging from a television personality and reality show host to a comedian. He has also hosted many game shows such as “Temptation Island”, “Free 4 All”, “The Big Date”,  220;Russian Roulette”, and “On The Cover” and even a self-titled talk show (Mark Walberg show).

He is hosting the new game show, “The Moment of Truth” on the Fox network, where contestants are asked a series of 21 increasingly personal and embarrassing questions for a huge jackpot.

The show will premiere in India and South East Asia in July.Asked about his experience of hosting the show, Mark says, “It has been a very different experience. Unlike the other shows I have hosted, this show is way ahead of its time. It is an innovative concept that has been well received.” He adds: “After a successful run initially, the contract for the show was extended. So far, we have shot shows featuring nearly 50-60 contestants.”

He adds, “Though many people think that most questions on the show deal with familial and marital discord, it is not the case. We have featured people, who, even after being faced with a series of personal questions want to play on, even at the risk of losing the money they had earned. They keep telling me, it’s not about the money.” Do such shows add fuel to martial discord? Mark disagrees vehemently, “No, on the contrary, such shows help families regroup and rectify the fault lines, before they take a turn for the worse.”Ask him whether the differences in culture would prove a hindrance in the popularity of the show in India, Mark is dismissive. “Like I said, it’s not only about serious issues. It could be embarrassing for the contestants also. Though the family system is different in India, I do not think it would be a problem as such.”

He explains how the show functions: “The contestants undergo the polygraph test comprising many random questions a couple of weeks before the actual show. No lie-detector tests happen on the show itself. So though the contestants have some idea about the questions, they will have no clue about the order of the questions.” He adds, “Though some contestants have come really close to winning the entire money, none have been successful.”

Would he participate in such a show himself? Mark laughs and says, “I still cannot believe why people will divulge their deepest secrets on national television. I don’t think I would have been able to do the same.”

Mark says, “When the concept was first bought to me, I was apprehensive. However, I now enjoy hosting the show.”

NIKHIL VARMA

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