Let me just start this post by saying the last time I ever watched an actual show on MTV I was probably 18 years old. So clearly I am not the demographic MTV (the most UNmusical musical channel there is) is looking for.

But somehow I lucked across this new ‘game show’ called “The Phone” produced by Justin Timberlake of all things!

Have you ever seen the movie “The Game” with Michael Douglas where he thinks all of these horrible things have happened to him only to find out it was some sick birthday gift from his brother? Well, this game show is sort of like that. And terribly addictive. And family friendly. Kudos to MTV for keeping it clean.

The premise of the show is this…4 strangers are given a directive to appear in a certain place at a certain time. A phone rings. And rings. And rings. Each contestant must find his ringing phone and answer it. On the other end is the ‘host’ who tells you that the game is beginning and do you want to play?

Once each contestant says ‘yes,’ the insanity begins. It’s all done with hidden cameras and appears to be happening in the real world…they’ve had a car blow up, a gun battle, and a man get hit by a car all right in front of the contestants’ eyes as if it’s happening for real.

I’m still trying to figure out how they do it exactly.

They break up into teams of two and are given a series of tasks that are related to the overall mystery they are supposed to solve. Halfway through one team is eliminated and then the final two contestants must work together to figure it all out.

Yeah, it can be a little corny at times. But the special effects and the ‘real’ feel of it, plus the reactions of the contestants while all this is going on is really quite fun.

Episode 4 is on tomorrow night at 10. You might want to try it out.