What Would You Do? (2008 TV program)

What Would You Do? (commonly abbreviated as WWYD, and formerly known as Primetime: What Would You Do? through the program's fifth season), is an American situational hidden camera television program that has been broadcast on ABC since February 26, 2008. It is hosted by news correspondent John Quiñones and was created by Chris Whipple.[1]

For information about the recently concluded season, see What Would You Do? (season 16).
What Would You Do?
GenreHidden camera
Created byChris Whipple
Presented byJohn Quiñones
StarringVarious actors
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons16
No. of episodes137 (+10 specials) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • David Sloan (2008–14, 2020-present)
  • Robert Lange (2009)
  • Chris Whipple (2010)
  • Danielle Rossen (2013-17)
  • Ethan Nelson (2018-present)
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time60 minutes
Production companiesABC News Productions
Lincoln Square Productions
DistributorDisney–ABC Domestic Television
Release
Original networkABC
Original releaseFebruary 26, 2008 (2008-02-26) –
present (present)
Chronology
Preceded byPrimetime
Related showsWould You Fall for That?
External links
Website

The program was conceived as a format-based series for ABC's newsmagazine Primetime, however, all on-air references to the parent program were removed from What Would You Do? following the discontinuation of Primetime as a standalone program by the network in 2010, with subject-based formats of the program, such as Primetime: Family Secrets, airing thereafter during the summer months or as a temporary replacement for entertainment programs canceled during the fall-to-spring television season.

In June 2020, the series was renewed for a sixteenth season, which premiered in the United States on July 7, 2020.[2]

Format

The program features actors acting out scenes of conflict or illegal activity in public settings while hidden cameras record the scene, and the focus is on whether or not bystanders intervene, and how. Variations are also usually included, such as changing the genders, the races or the clothing of the actors performing the scene, to see if bystanders react differently. Many of the scenarios take place in dining locations. The situations often pertain to prejudice; race, sex, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical and mental disabilities, obesity and weight, sexual harassment, vandalism, theft, physical appearance, homelessness, financial trouble, parenting, and social status are common themes. Quiñones appears at the end of each scenario to interview bystanders and witnesses about their reactions.

As the experiment goes on, psychology professors, teachers, or club members watch and discuss the video with Quiñones, explaining and making inferences on the bystanders' reactions.

Many of the scenario actors appear in only one or two episodes. Several, however, have become staples of the program, including Yuval David, Diana Henry, Vince August, Jeremy Holm, Michael J. Lyons, and Traci Hovel.

Episodes
Main article: List of What Would You Do? episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedAverage viewership
(in millions)
First airedLast aired
14February 26, 2008 (2008-02-26)March 25, 2008 (2008-03-25)7.77
29January 6, 2009 (2009-01-06)March 24, 2009 (2009-03-24)6.47
34May 7, 2010 (2010-05-07)May 21, 2010 (2010-05-21)4.59
425 (+1)October 22, 2010 (2010-10-22)May 20, 2011 (2011-05-20)4.56
517January 20, 2012 (2012-01-20)May 18, 2012 (2012-05-18)4.88
65September 14, 2012 (2012-09-14)October 19, 2012 (2012-10-19)4.72
77May 31, 2013 (2013-05-31)July 19, 2013 (2013-07-19)3.88
82 (+1)December 3, 2013 (2013-12-03)December 17, 2013 (2013-12-17)2.95
910May 23, 2014 (2014-05-23)August 8, 2014 (2014-08-08)4.23
1011 (+1)May 29, 2015 (2015-05-29)August 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)4.13
112 (+1)January 26, 2016 (2016-01-26)February 9, 2016 (2016-02-09)2.33
126 (+2)June 17, 2016 (2016-06-17)December 15, 2016 (2016-12-15)3.35
139 (+2)June 23, 2017 (2017-06-23)September 22, 2017 (2017-09-22)3.25
1412 (+1)May 17, 2018 (2018-05-17)September 7, 2018 (2018-09-07)2.69
155August 9, 2019 (2019-08-09)September 6, 2019 (2019-09-06)2.49
169 (+1)July 7, 2020 (2020-07-07)September 8, 2020 (2020-09-08)2.28

Syndication

Reruns of older What Would You Do? episodes began airing on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) on February 15, 2011, under the title What Would You Do?: OWN Edition. Reruns of the program began airing on HLN in 2012 as part of the cable news channel's primetime schedule.[3] In the United States, the show has been broadcast on A&E since 2015.

Ratings
What Would You Do? : U.S. viewers per episode (millions)
Audience measurement performed by Nielsen Media Research.[4]

References
  1. Daniel Weiss (February 15, 2008). "What Would You Do? - Columbia Journalism Review". Columbia Journalism Review. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  2. Regina Avalos (July 2, 2020). "What Would You Do?: Season 16; ABC News Series Renewed, Returns in July (Updated)". TV Series Finale. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  3. Michael O'Connell (October 11, 2012). "HLN Acquires Cable Rights to ABC News' 'What Would You Do?'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020.
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