Watch Cash Cab Chicago

Cash Cab Chicago was a spin-off of the popular Cash Cab series, which premiered on the Discovery Channel in 2005. The show was produced by Lion Television and originally aired on TLC in 2011. The premise of Cash Cab is to pick up unsuspecting passengers off the street and ask them general knowledge questions for cash prizes. The Chicago version of the show was hosted by Beth Melewski, a comedian and actress from the Windy City.

Each episode of Cash Cab Chicago began with Melewski driving a cab through the bustling streets of Chicago. When she found a prospective contestant, Melewski would activate the lights and "cash cab" sign on the roof of the cab to let them know they were entering the game. Once inside, the contestants were given a brief rundown of the rules of the game and what was at stake. They were then seated in the backseat of the cab and hooked up to a monitor that displayed the questions and potential answers.

The game consisted of three levels of increasing difficulty, with cash prizes for each correct answer. The first level of questions was worth $50, the second $100, and the third $200. Contestants were given a total of three strikes, meaning they could get three questions wrong before being kicked out of the cab. They could also leave the cab at any time and take the cash they had already won. If they successfully answered every question in all three levels, they would win a bonus prize of $500.

The questions were designed to be challenging but not impossible, covering a wide range of subjects such as history, art, science, and pop culture. Some of the questions required contestants to make educated guesses while others required more specialized knowledge. Melewski was known for her quick wit and comedic banter with the contestants, often providing hints or clues to help them along.

The show was filmed entirely in Chicago, and the contestants were often asked questions related to the city's history or landmarks. Melewski would sometimes provide interesting facts and anecdotes about the city as well. For example, in one episode, a contestant was asked to name the famous architect who designed numerous buildings in Chicago, including the John Hancock Center and the Willis Tower. Melewski provided the additional hint that his initials were "MF."

One unique aspect of Cash Cab Chicago was that it often included special celebrity guests as contestants. These guests were usually famous Chicagoans or people with a connection to the city. In one episode, Olympic speed skater Apolo Ohno was a passenger in the cab and managed to correctly answer several questions. In another episode, the popular Chicago band Plain White T's was featured, with the band members competing as a team.

Overall, Cash Cab Chicago was a fun and entertaining show that provided an interesting twist on the traditional game show format. Instead of being filmed in a studio, the show was filmed on location in Chicago, giving it a unique flavor and allowing viewers to learn more about the city. Melewski was a lively and engaging host, and the questions were challenging enough to keep viewers engaged without being too difficult. Fans of the original Cash Cab series would likely enjoy this spin-off as well.