Described by Nine as a ground-breaking social experiment, it is based on the US series of the same name. The Briefcase sees two families each week, struggling financially and showcases their hardship before giving them $100,000 in cash. Will they use it to change their lives or to help strangers in need? They can keep the cash or give it away to others in need.
The CBS version has been described as “poverty porn” and “the worst reality TV series ever”.
Didn’t 9 get the memo about it being axed in the US?
What’s the bet this format just ends to being a glorified version of Stevie’s “knock of cash” in primetime (with him hosting) which secretly is just a cross promotion / ploy to get people to watch Today.
God they’ve commissioned some real stinkers this year.
I think that Nine will be hoping (desperately) or some controversy surrounding the show. An article in an obliging Fairfax publication leading to an ACA story with a cross promo on Today, perhaps an on-line petition and an outraged politician is what is needed.
Twelve deserving Australian families are about to face this life-changing decision. When given a chance to help themselves, will they instead help a stranger in need?
Each week on The Briefcase we meet two families who, through no fault of their own, are facing crippling financial troubles. They have agreed to tell their stories about how they struggle to make ends meet. But each family is in for the surprise of their lives when a briefcase containing $100,000 in cash lands on their doorstep.
With the briefcase comes a huge decision. Will they keep all the money? Share it? Or give it all away to the other family, who they’ve never met?
Neither family is aware that they’ve both received a briefcase containing $100,000 – and that they’re both facing the same moral dilemma.
Over the next three days they learn more about each other until they reach their final decision about what to do with their money.
They finally meet the other family for the first time – and are surprised to find out they are not the only ones who received a briefcase.
At the emotional conclusion of each episode, both families reveal their momentous decision: Is it really better to give than to receive?
No need to watch this show. This scenario happened just a few weeks ago with Duncan Storrer on Q&A and the crowd funding campaign that saw $60,000 land on his lap. He gave a large chunk to charity. Done.
Ok… i might be cynical but what kind of person would not use 100k to help themselves. Its not really a lot of money. I couldnt see many giving it away to strangers.
But the families are struggling financially? Maybe i am selfish but if i was give 100k i would be spending on myself. If i was given 1 mill i would def give some away. But 100k isnt that much money.
That’s the life-changing decision twelve deserving Australian families are about to face when The Briefcase premieres Monday, June 20 at 7.30pm on Channel Nine.
Each week on The Briefcase we meet two families who, through no fault of their own, are facing crippling financial troubles. They have agreed to tell their stories about how they struggle to make ends meet. But how will they react when a briefcase containing $100,000 in cash lands on their doorstep?
With the briefcase comes a huge decision. Will they keep all the money? Share it? Or give it all away to the other family, who they’ve never met?
Over the episode they learn more about each other until a final decision is reached about what to do with the money.
In episode one, we meet Jim and Jenny Carter and their two teenage daughters. The family lost their historic homestead in the 2014 Grampians bushfires in Victoria, along with 75 per cent of their stock and 99 per cent of their fencing, wiping out their livelihood in one go. The old homestead was insured but the farm wasn’t. So until the Carter family have the funds to rebuild their home, all four of them live between the shearers’ quarters and a caravan on the property.
Also featured in the premiere episode is Mandy McCracken, who in 2014 contracted a bacterial condition resulting in toxic shock and septicaemia. The only way to save her life was to amputate both her arms and legs. Mandy’s husband Rod gave up his job as a primary school teacher to become Mandy’s fulltime carer and help raise their three young daughters.
When given a chance to help themselves, will they instead help a stranger in need? Is it better to give than to receive?
I’m not quite sure who Michael Lallo is, but he seems to have given this horrid show a truckload of free publicity. Let’s hope that Michael’s puff piece doesn’t result in this show gaining an audience.
