Standup comedians arrange their material in a specific sequence: they save their best joke for last (the closer), followed by their second-best as an opening gambit, then their third-strongest as the penultimate joke, and so on. In my standup performances, one of my early jokes was about a family winning $1,200 on ‘Family Feud’, only to have to divide it amongst five members. The punchline was: “Why didn’t they just go to work that day?
Greg Gutfeld is a comedian who’s more successful in his field than I ever was. He hosts a popular talk show on Fox News that airs at a time close to late-night – Gutfeld! has moved into primetime – and he also has a new game show on their streaming service, Fox Nation. The concept of the game show is intriguing, but the prize money leaves something to be desired. Just as my old comedian mentor used to say, it might have been wiser for the contestants to stick with their day jobs.
In a unique setup, Greg Gutfeld’s “What Did I Miss?” isolated five individuals in upstate New York, disconnecting them entirely from the outside world – no phones, internet, TV, or social media. One participant chose to leave prematurely. After 90 days (from January 20th to April 13th of this year), the remaining four participants were taken to Gutfeld’s Fox News studio to engage in a lengthy game of Truth or Dare, focusing on Donald Trump’s first three months back in the White House. Given Trump’s unpredictability and the conservative viewership of Fox News and its Nation, it’s quite engaging how this concept subtly reflects self-awareness. The show itself may not be particularly captivating to watch – but remember the financial resources involved.
In the game show titled “What Did I Miss?“, here’s how it works: five competitors participate for a period of 90 days without any communication. The person who wins at the end takes home $25,000. We made sure to include no zeros in the grand prize amount.
During a mid-competition visit, Gutfeld exclaimed in disbelief, “This game show must be the most cost-effective in recent times! Contestants spend 90 days in isolation for just $25,000. They could have earned that much on OnlyFans in the same timeframe!
During the 1970s, a time not typically considered recent history, the top prize on the CBS primetime game show “Pyramid” was worth up to $25,000. In the 1980s, the daytime version of the game followed suit, and both the nighttime syndicated version and later versions increased their top prizes; first to $50,000, then again to $100,000.
Currently, the Fox Broadcast Network, which is affiliated with Fox News and Fox Nation, features game shows offering large cash prizes such as $250,000 (“The Floor”) and $1 million (“Beat Shazam”).
At present, the Fox Broadcast Network (associated with Fox News and Fox Nation) showcases game programs that award substantial cash sums like $250,000 (“The Floor”) and $1 million (“Beat Shazam”).
According to a representative from Fox News Media, the contestants received payment each day for their commitment of time, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter for this article.
Gutfeld ventures to the secluded farmhouse, which is usually off-limits for the cast, in search of additional funds. He manages to get a little more money, as Lauren Peterson, President of Fox Nation, increases the award money to $30,000.
“I tried,” Gutfeld says. ”I got them an extra 5k — it’ll pay for the Uber back home.”
It’s widely acknowledged, with the exception perhaps of Fox News, that we seem to be moving towards an economic downturn, or a recession.
After completing a 90-day lockdown at the studio, Gutfeld told the contestants some positive updates.
The host remarks, “I believe you’re well aware that I hold a significant position here, and I do my best to honor my commitments. Not only have we increased your award from what seemed paltry 25 thousand dollars to a more satisfactory 30 thousand dollars, but I took it a step further. Following several forceful emails…and a few heated phone conversations, I was able to secure a prize fund tonight worth $50,000.
The reaction from the contestant podiums was a collective, “well, that’s something,” basically.
Later on, Gutfeld jokes that it’s “peanuts” for him, and then one competitor proposes he “append another zero.” However, it should be noted that Gutfeld earns millions of dollars annually as one of Fox News Media’s highest-paid personalities.
Regrettably, the contestant who proposed boosting the prize to $500,000 was eliminated immediately. It’s said that you don’t bite the hand that feeds you (provides your ramen noodles). However, the higher-ups at Fox offered a consolation: one last question for a $1,000 reward. So there’s some small comfort in that.
In simpler terms, if you work full-time for 90 days at New York’s minimum wage ($15.50 per hour in most places, $16.50 in New York City), you’d earn around $8,000. However, this doesn’t account for the additional 128 hours a week that people who work nine-to-five jobs don’t get paid for. These hours are often spent outside of work, but they can feel isolating. While the potential prize money of $50,000 might make it worthwhile for the contestant who eventually wins, it may not be as appealing to others, especially those with children, since many participants do have kids.
Feeling utterly disheartened, the initial contestant, upon leaving, shares that it seemed as if they’d wasted 90 days without any reward whatsoever. In essence, they remarked that for a mere $1000, they could have enjoyed a pizza slice and a Diet Coke in New York.
We told you the show was self-aware.
Today, May 12, marks the premiere of “What Did I Miss?”, hosted by Greg Gutfeld, on Fox Nation. The following episodes, numbers two and three, will be aired on May 13 and May 14 respectively.
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2025-05-12 17:56