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CBS Signs Carlson for Game Show Pilot

Apr 12, 2007  •  Post A Comment

CBS has tapped conservative MSNBC pundit and famed bow-tie aficionado Tucker Carlson to host its game show pilot “Do You Trust Me?”

In the project, strangers wager how much they trust each other as they develop a relationship via gameplay. The concept is loosely based on the classic game-theory experiment “prisoner’s dilemma,” where players weigh cooperation vs. betrayal for differing levels of reward and punishment.

The project, executive produced by Phil Gurin (“Weakest Link”), is shooting this month.

Mr. Carlson has some experience with prime-time reality programming, having appeared on last fall’s edition of “Dancing With the Stars.” He hosts the political talk show “Tucker” on MSNBC and was previously a co-host on CNN’s “Crossfire.”

Though Mr. Carlson might seem a unique choice for a game show, “Trust” host duties include interviewing guests and extracting key information about their motivations and gameplay, bringing Mr. Carlson’s experience as talk show host into play.

And he would not be the first conservative pundit to make the leap. Columnist and former Nixon speechwriter Ben Stein was the centerpiece of Comedy Central’s 1997 game show “Win Ben Stein’s Money.”

(Editor: Horowitz)