You're going along your Way. Not concerned about the world.
Next thing your phone rings.
It's a stranger.
Who looks like this:
But you have no clue. You can't see him.
You totally forget that months ago you were psychotic enough to say you wanted to be part of a reality show that you knew nothing about.
Stranger Boy tells you that you can either hang up - or you can play a game to win R100 000.
The price:
He owns your ass for the next three hours of your life.
What do you do? ...
(besides feel like Colin Farrell in Phonebooth)
This is the scenario of kykNet's new reality show Die Foon (The Phone), which makes it's first call this Thursday (20 May) at 20h30.
The format is based on the original Dutch series of the same name - best described as a mix of The Amazing Race, Fear Factor, puzzle challenges, decisions, a ticking clock, Cape Town, Jozi and Pretoria.
In essence, it challenges contestants to go through a three-hour physical, mental and emotional process to win the bucks. Each time they make the wrong decision or slip-up in a task the moolah gets reduced.
Through it, they're at the mercy of the Stranger: a Man/Observer who phones to manipulate them with clues and ethical conflicts.
Tashi: So you can't tell us who you are ... what's that been like for you? You're like Big Brother aren't you? (I wanted to prod and poke him.)
The Stranger: Sort of, not really. People do get to see me - it's not like I'm never there. It's been interesting to say the least - it's been fun having fun with e contestants. I have to say not all of them like me. I know what I want, I'm giving them R100 000 so I expect them to work for it.
Tashi: So you go mad with power?
The Stranger: Not with power. Just with precision.
Tashi: What's the most challenging thing you do.
The Stranger: Meeting the contestants afterwards! *laughs* What I did after Episode 2 was, I stopped meeting them.
Tashi: Really? Was it too hectic?
The Stranger: It was, and also to keep the mystery.
Tashi: Do you watch them all the time?
The Stranger: Yes - we have cameras on them all time, if I can't see them we're on coms all the time so I can hear what they're doing.
Tashi: What's the funniest thing about doing it?
The Stranger: I have to say, not the funniest, but I have to say, I get, not angry, but disappointed when people don't share. There are those who do that, but it's their prerogative. You'll see, it's mostly *drops his voice* men who don't share.
You have. Six. New messages
1) Two contestants get calls each episode: all contestants entered to be on a kykNet reality show months ago but didn't know what it was for at the time.
2) 14 cameras, including hidden ones, follow them. Many of their tasks happen at historical monuments and other sight-seeing places to unleash their secrets.
3) The show has been on in 10 countries to date including Greece, Australia and the US. The US version's produced by Justin Timblerlake for MTV.
4) It won a 2008 Rose d’Or award for Best Reality Show.
5) If I got the call I would def say "Yes, I'll do anything it takes," - moolah or no moolah - to see what would happen next.
6) Even though I interviewed him, I genuinely have no idea who Stranger Boy is.
Dial in to hear a phonecall ...