If you’ve had HBO at one time or another, you’ve probably enjoyed their little reality show called “Taxicab Confessions”. The show is such a great watch. Most reality shows today do their best to get the reality stars intoxicated and candid so it comes across as ‘great TV’ to watch. With Taxicab Confessions, specific cabs roll around different cities and roll tape. If it’s good and the waiver is signed at the end, instant ‘great TV’ moment!
A little example of the one I’m watching right now, the female driver picks up this punk rocker lookin’ dude with this punk rocker lookin’ chic. They are on their way to hook up for the first time. The catch to their story is the girl was out with her gay guy friend who is in love with the punk rocker dude. The punk rocker dude was with his gay girl friend who is in love with the punk rocker girl. I guess they play gay with their friends, but they’re really interested in each other and are on the way to knock it out. During the cab ride his hands are all over her ‘areas’ and then she pulls out something of his and does a little shining. Just shocking while in a cab and the cabbie is adjusting her mirror to watch!
The best part of the show is at the end where they roll the clips of the cabbie explaining how they have been filmed. You can see them literally try to rewind everything they had just said or done. My example couple mentioned above just simply told the cabbie chic they wanted to F*$K her!!
An interesting sidebar is that earlier this year we went to SXSW Interactive trade show in Austin. One night we were out on 5th street at a party and once we were ready to head back to the hotel, we flag down a cab and all 4 of us pile in the back seat because the cabbie mysteriously had all of his clothes in the front passenger seat. He was driving around in this white tank wife beater, black meshed driving gloves where the fingertips were cut out and weird jean shorts. He also had this really greasy, slicked back hair and wore these huge black rimmed glasses on.
The cabbie was CRAZY! He was speeding all over the place throwing us about, almost getting into accidents, when all the sudden I look up after thinking of Taxicab Confessions and what do I see on the roof of the car? Pen sized video cameras!!! One on each side. Then two in the front for the front seat passengers. I instantly call the guy out on it and he says, “They’re there to see if I kill you.” :| A silence fell upon the car as he sped around the corner. He eventually discounted his comment as a joke and then he went flying through our hotel parking lot and coming to a screeching halt.
The girls with us get out and run away while I was fascinated with the guy and wanted to keep hanging out with him. Probably due to a few drinks and the thought I might be on HBO! We traded a few fun comments, then as on cue, cranked up his radio with Night Ranger’s “Sister Christian”:
You’re motoring
What’s your price for flight,
And finding Mister Right?
You’ll be all right tonightBabe, you know you’re growing up so fast
And momma’s worrying that you won’t last to say
Let’s play…
and he drove off into the dark Austin night. I still have no idea if they were filming for the festival, but we never signed a waiver or was told we were being taped. Either me bringing it up killed the deal, we were not interested enough or they really were just there to see if he killed us.
So the moral of the story is, if you get in a cab and are inhibited in any way, look for cameras the size of pens on the roof. Especially if you’re in a big city like NYC, Vegas or Los Angeles.
WTF!