From the revolutionary mind of television's legendary mad genius, a story of money, sex, greed, revenge, murder -- and reality TVThe year is 2012, and as the Most Famous Television Producer in the World is walking down a wintry New York City block, he's accosted by a homeless-looking cripple who, like everyone else, insists he has the formula for the greatest TV show of all time. As it turns out, he does: Contestants will compete for one hundred million dollars. If they win, they're rich. If they lose, they face immediate on-camera execution.
As the Producer begins scheming to steal the idea and revive his fading career,The Big Questionintroduces the extraordinary characters who will ultimately become the show's contestants -- a brilliantly rendered, Dickensian cast that includes the seventy-something Vera Bundle, with a taste for scotch and encyclopedias; Arthur Durch, a convicted sex offender-turned-relationship therapist; Retta Mae Wagons, a sixteen-year-old prostitute with an IQ of 170 and an ex-con-turned-Muslim fundamentalist boyfriend who doesn't appreciate her; Billy Constable, the Kentucky rube who gets off a bus in New York and promptly finds himself in trouble with the Mob; and Father Brady, the devout Catholic priest with a mortifying secret to hide at any cost. As the first episode is broadcast live in front of millions, the audience, the cast, and the crew behind the scenes do the unthinkable: they sit and watch, rapt and glassy-eyed, as the final contestant left on stage meets an unimaginable fate.
To sayThe Big Questionis a novel of greed and immorality would be putting it lightly. But to read this book without laughing out loud at every page would be impossible. This is more than just a funny book, though. With uncanny precision and razor-sharp wit, the inimitable Chuck Barris reveals the inconceivable lengths to which people will go for those priceless fifteen minutes, the fascination we have with the little black box in our homes -- and the horrifying deeds done in the name of entertainment."From one of the original and most prolific creators of reality television comes the latest, and extremely progressive, idea for a TV show, a game where the pay-off is the ultimate -- death! This is an amazing and believable story. Another innovative creation from Barris."
-- Dick Clark"You'll fall in love with Chuck's characters. What a great read!"
-- Dick EbersolIt happened on a bleak Friday afternoon in late November in the year 2011. That's when the hand shot out and grabbed him.
The assault took place during one of those cold spells that occur with regularity between Thanksgiving and Christmas. A blustery wind whipped around street corners and made life miserable. It was the kind of cold New Yorkers say goes right through you. The streets were filled with bundled-up shoppers in overcoats and scarves, executives wearing dark blue cashmere topcoats, tourists shivering in mackinaws, earmuffs, and Yankee baseball caps just purchased from street vendors.
The fingers that took hold of him were so strong he could feel the pressure through his fur-lined raincoat, sport coat, turtleneck sweater, and the two undershirts beneath. The man had been lost in thought walking along the east side of Madison Avenue when the attack took place. He experienced a thick feeling of terror grip his chest like an iron vise. He was sure he would soon be fighting for his life against a demented lunatic right there in the middle of the pavement. He could see tomorrow morning's Post headline:
CRAZE-O MURDERS FAMOUS TVPRODUCER ON UPPER EAST SIDE
The hand spun him around. As the producer came face-to-face with his assailant, he couldn't believe his eyes. The hand with the powerful grip belonged to a pathetic old cripple!
The producer was relieved.
He wouldn't have to physically defend himself against a crazed maniac after all. Quite the contrary. His assailant was powerless and
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