The Briefcase was a reality television show that aired on CBS in 2015. The show was produced by David Broome and Chris Fries, while Faye Stapleton served as the showrunner. The premise of The Briefcase involved two families who were struggling financially, each receiving a briefcase containing $101,000. The families were given the choice of keeping the money for themselves or sharing it with the other family, who was also in dire financial straits. The show aimed to explore how different families reacted to the moral dilemma of whether to share their money or keep it for themselves.
Each episode of The Briefcase featured a different pair of families, who were filmed over a period of 72 hours as they struggled with the decision of what to do with the money. The families were given the opportunity to learn more about each other's lives and financial struggles, as well as to consult with financial advisors to help them make a decision.
The show was met with some controversy, as critics accused it of exploiting the poverty of the families involved. In response, CBS insisted that the show was intended to promote empathy and understanding between families facing financial difficulties.
Despite the controversy, The Briefcase was briefly popular with audiences, with its premiere episode drawing in over 6 million viewers. However, ratings quickly declined and the show was cancelled after just one season.
Critics were divided on the show's efficacy. Some praised it for its efforts to tackle a difficult subject matter in a sensitive way, while others felt that it was exploitative and relied too heavily on emotional manipulation.
Overall, The Briefcase was a short-lived reality show that aimed to explore the moral and financial dilemmas faced by families in poverty. While it sparked some important conversations about empathy and understanding, it ultimately failed to find mass appeal among audiences.
The Briefcase is a series that ran for 2 seasons (7 episodes) between May 27, 2015 and on CBS
