I tried watching MOMENT OF TRUTH this week, but it really tried my patience. Maybe I wanted the guy in the hot seat, George, to sweat more.But whether admitting that he’d stolen money and let someone else take the blame or confessing to having made a pass at one of his girlfriend’s pals, he came off as smug and somewhat obnoxious. Meanwhile, I can only hope with all my heart that FOX – having recently been approached by representatives for Drew Peterson in the hope of landing him on MOMENT OF TRUTH – will keep in mind how the public reacted to news that they planned to air an interview with O.J. Simpson. There’s a reason that lie detector test results aren’t admissible in court and have become a staple on reality television shows and DR. PHIL episodes.

I’m gonna go ahead and declare last night’s finale of CROWNED the most cheesetacular episode of reality TV so far this season… and I mean that in the best way possible! We had a bathing suit-clad contestant collapsing (well, okay, squatting) on stage, villainess Laura (boo! hiss!) screwing up her song during the talent portion and an “ambush desashing”! Plus, Carson taught us all a new word sassitude (which the QUEER EYE guy kindly explained to the heterosexually impaired — or just plain dumb — is a combination of “sass” and “attitude”). And here I thought the show couldn’t possibly top last week’s episode, in which Patty upchucked into a box.

How, exactly, LAW & ORDER avoids being sued I’ll never know. On the one hand, they air ads screaming that their tales — such as last night’s obvious take on the Larry Craig scandal — are ripped from the headlines, while on the other they make sure to indicate that the stories are not based on real people or events. But there it was, for all the world to see… from the wide stance which became the butt of every late-night comedian’s jokes to the hand under the stall. Interestingly, L&O basically used the sequence as a throw-away plot point. Meanwhile, I can’t help wondering if it was an accident that the pantsuit-clad female politco in the episode looked a whole lot like Hillary… while the man in charge of her fundraising (who eventually confessed to murder) shared more than a passing resemblance to Barak Obama. Hmmm…

Question: Were you one of the 23 million American’s who helped turn Wednesday’s series premiere of THE MOMENT OF TRUTH into FOX’s biggest premiere of the year?

If so, thanks for contributing another nail into the coffin that’s quickly becoming quality scripted dramas and comedies.

Of course, this TV Addict’s going to let you all off the hook this week. Because truth be told, even I, an ardent reality-TV-hater couldn’t help but sample the first thirty-minutes of Fox’s [to paraphrase TV Guide's Matt Roush] “new bottom-of-the-reality-barrel time-waster.”

That said, I won’t be making the same mistake twice. Will you?

The same can’t be said for CASHMERE MAFIA. Critics be damned, I’m loving this show. It’s light, fluffy and the perfect antidote to the grossness of THE MOMENT OF TRUTH. Did anyone else catch Bonnie Summerville’s ‘Nolita’ shout-out to hers and Darren Star’s previous brilliant but cancelled series KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL? And those tired of Caitlin’s is-she-or-isn’t-she lipstick lesbian story, take note. In a recent interview with the TV Addict (to be posted soon) Summerville revealed that the question of her ‘team’ will be dealt with in two weeks. As will Juliet’s status with husband of the year* Davis (*note sarcasm). How much fun was watching Juliet literally kick Davis to the curb? Of course my favorite moment of the night goes to Zoe. Who’s quickly turned into the show’s most entertaining and likable character. Not only did she totally pull off a fantastic birthday for her son, she managed to save an enormous business deal in the midst of all the paintball chaos. Pretty much, the coolest mom ever. I wonder how long until her marriage starts crumbling?

Agree, Disagree, Post away!

In anticipation of tonight’s premiere of FOX’s newest reality TV show THE MOMENT OF TRUTH, the TV Addict recently had the opportunity to sit down with show creator and executive producer Howard Schultz. But before we get to the interview, this TV Addict must pause and reveal partake in his own moment of truth.

While I generally loathe reality television and blame most of the world’s evils on it, I will be giving this show a try (at least for ten minutes that is.) Not only is there absolutely nothing new/interesting on TV tonight (with the exception of CASHMERE MAFIA), THE MOMENT OF TRUTH is a train-wreck waiting to happen. The Columbian version already was cancelled after a woman confessed to hire someone to murder her husband (for a measly $25,000).

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, on to the interview.

What’s the premise of the show?
Howard Schultz: The basic premise of THE MOMENT OF TRUTH is that it’s a game in which a contestant is potentially asked twenty-one questions. Naturally, each question gets increasingly more personal and private in nature to win a half a million dollars. The game is divided into six levels. There are six questions on the first level, than five, four, then three, two and one, adding up to twenty-one. Contestants can quit at anytime and take the money they’ve won thus far. But if they continue on and tell one lie, they lose everything.

I imagine the questions get a lot more personal as the show goes on?
Absolutely

How accurate is the lie detector?
Most experts would say that it’s anywhere between 94-98% accurate, and I’m fine with that. I don’t really want it to be 100% accurate. We’re not here to destroy people’s lives. If a guy wants to go home and tell his wife, “I did not cheat on you, I swear, the polygraph is wrong.” Well, God bless him, let him do it.

Have you ever sat in the chair yourself?
No, but I would. I’m not scared of it. If anything, I’ve probably developed a healthy respect for the upper levels of questions because I realize there are certain questions where it’s hard to know what the truth is. I’m a very honest person, I really am. Yet there are questions that I’m not sure as to what the answer is.

Is THE MOMENT OF TRUTH your original concept, or one you’ve imported from the Netherlands?
I created it. The show’s already aired in Columbia and England and is currently shooting in Germany. We’ve already sold the concept to thirty-four markets. It’s doing very very well.

People don’t realize the amount of work and energy that goes into creating something like this. It’s taken me over five years to make this show work. I knew the truth element was an interesting element, but the big mystery was what form could I put around it to make the show work.

I’ve got a really great Sweeps Stunt for you. Major League Baseball Players.
I’d love to have Roger Clemens, Senator Larry Craig, Barry Bonds, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton. We’re reaching out to those people now. I’ll give half a million dollars to charity to get Roger Clemens on the show. But he has to come and answer the other questions to, like have you ever cheated on your wife!

I have a feeling Mr. Clemens is only concerned with one question.
Probably, but it’s okay. We have a standing invitation out to all of them.

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH premieres tonight on FOX at 9PM (7PM on CTV in Canada)