New reality show: The Briefcase

[Bob Juch]

The creator of “The Biggest Loser,” Dave Broome, is bringing a new reality series to CBS, Variety has learned.

“The Briefcase” follows American families experiencing financial hardships, as they are given a briefcase containing $101,000 — but there’s a catch: each family is presented with the decision to keep all the money for themselves or give it away to another family in need.

“I wanted to do something that really put values first and foremost,” Broome, creator and exec producer of “The Briefcase,” tells Variety. “The show is not about the money. It’s about everything but the money.”

Each week, two different families are given the opportunity to reflect on what really matters most in their lives, over 72 hours when they learn details of the other players’ challenging circumstances. However, what they don’t know is that both families — often very different from one another, such as a highly religious right-wing couple versus a same-sex married couple in need of funds for In Vitro Fertilization — received an identical briefcase with the same instructions, therefore impacting each other.

“Families are caused to learn about themselves and learn about their spouses,” Broome explains, adding that each is forced to open their eyes to understand opposite views of another household. He asks, “Is there a way for these two opposite families to see common ground?”

At the end of each episode, the “amazingly shocking and emotional reveal” occurs because of a common thread, says Broome. “We’re in the middle class in America. This is what people are dealing with every single day — rising debts, shrinking paychecks. Reality television works best when the masses can relate to it.”

[BackInTex]

Two episodes...tops.

[TheConfessor]

Two episodes...tops.

Sounds like a bet. I'll take the over.

[BackInTex]

Two episodes...tops.

Sounds like a bet. I'll take the over.

Sure, I'll take that bet. I'll watch two episodes...tops. If I watch more, you win.

$1,000?

[silverscreenselect]

Prediction: On the first show, both families give each other the briefcase and then become great friends. Much hugging and crying at the end.

On the second show, one family that's comparably well off will keep the briefcase while the other who are in real bad shape give up the briefcase. The first family realizes what jerks they've been and change their minds. The two couples become great friends. Much hugging and crying at the end.

Succeeding shows will alternate between scenarios 1 and 2.

[MarleysGh0st]

Two episodes...tops.

Well, they've certainly taped all they episodes they've planned to, before giving away the big secret.







I thought the catch was that they had to press a button to keep the money, and then someone would die.

Someone they didn't even know.