As 45 million Americans owe upward of $1.4 trillion dollars in student loans, a new trivia game show offers contestants a more practical—and perhaps somewhat depressing—prize: the chance to have all of their student debt paid off, NBC News reported.
Actor Michael Torpey developed and will also host "Paid Off," premiering Tuesday on TruTv.
"We’re playing in a weird space of dark comedy,” Torpey said. He also said he’s hopeful the show could destigmatize debt.
Some critics have already denounced the show, suggesting the concept is insensitive and makes light of a serious issue. One article on Paste, an online magazine, said the show “treats student loan debt more as the theme of a party than a public crisis that exists for identifiable reasons.”
Lesley Goldman, a TruTV executive pushed back at the criticism.
“The best way to address the issue is with a ridiculous game show,” Goldman said.
