ESTEVAN — Fans of Canada's Cash Cab television series who live in the Estevan area will soon have the chance to interact with the show's star.
Adam Growe, the comedian and radio personality who hosted Cash Cab for all eight of its seasons, and now appears on the Cash Cab Music program, will be at Estevan’s Orpheum Theatre on April 17. The show will start at 9 p.m.
In an interview with SaskToday, Growe said he hasn’t been to Estevan before and is looking forward to meeting the people of the community. He is also eager to perform in the 112-year-old Orpheum.
“It’s one of the iconic locations for arts and culture, gathering and community building in Estevan and surrounding area,” said Growe.
When owners Alan and Jocelyn Dougherty reached out to him about a performance, Growe said he jumped at the chance.
“They’re a lovely family operation,” Growe said. “I love movies. I love arts and culture. I love bringing people together, especially for comedy and for shows. My quiz show is a really unique, hilarious and engaging opportunity to bring people from Estevan and the surrounding area together for a night of fun.”
Many of his appearances are for corporate engagements, conferences or awards nights, he said. Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, he has been doing more public shows in different parts of the country, including places he hadn’t visited previously.
“To come to a community like Estevan is just really interesting, and it was the right time for me to be really warm to the idea and to the vibe and the energy that the Orpheum brought,” he said.
He recalled that when he was in broadcasting school, he was told he would have to pay his dues and he might wind up in a small city like Estevan.
“I just love that I’m coming to Estevan at this point in my career, and we’re all excited. Not that I wouldn’t have been excited for my first job in radio. I absolutely would have loved it,” he said.
The Adam Growe Quiz Show will have trivia questions for cash prizes, just like the Cash Cab series, and he’ll also have fun with people, like he did in the series. Stand-up comedy will also be part of the show.
“I bring up volunteers from the audience who want to be contestants in my quiz show, and I play multiple quiz games throughout the show. It’s not like playing Trivial Pursuit on stage. It’s not a pub trivia night. It’s very much a comedy show with lots of fun.”
As part of the game, contestants might have to do some fun things to prove they know the answer, like dance, create a pose or cite a movie quote.
People can use a web app on their phone to vote on the category of trivia for the contestants, he said, and he has trivia questions people can play on their phone before the show for the chance to win prizes.
After the show, he has more opportunities for rapid-fire trivia questions.
Cash Cab was on the air from 2008 to 2015, and since then, episodes have remained on the air through syndication. Earlier this year, it started streaming on Crave.
“People kept on seeing the show, so when I was getting booked for private corporate events or comedy clubs or theatre events, there was still a recognition factor that people felt as if they were still making the show," he said.
Two years ago, Cash Cab Music debuted with music questions. Instead of the video bonus finale, a double-or-nothing karaoke segment was introduced. This season marks a return to general knowledge for the series, but karaoke still finishes contestants'
“People love singing for money,” Growe said.
Sometimes he receives surprising answers to questions. He finds it equally enjoyable when the contestants in the cab seemingly don’t know the answer but pull out a random, accurate guess.
Even when the show first debuted in Canada and nobody knew what it was, Growe said most who entered the cab remained because he assured passengers they were safe and they could win money.
“Of the small portion of people that were reluctant, I was able to convince most of them to play, and they were grateful. But there was a handful that weren’t prepared to do it.”
As the series went along, Growe said people were more likely to know what was happening when the cab's lighting triggered.
“The dynamic of the show is very much a group effort, and that’s the vibe people love about it,” he said.
He believes people love Cash Cab because regardless of where they live in the country, they see themselves in the contestants – personalities just like their own, their co-workers or people they grew up with.
“That’s the kind of Canadian sentiment and vibe that is captured in a game show … but it’s also a really good reflection of the joy, of fun, that is Canada. So I always like to mention that, because as much fun as it looks, that’s how much fun we’re all having when we make the show.
Tickets are still available. They can be purchased at Henders Drugs and the Orpheum Theatre, or through the theatre’s website. A cash bar will also be part of the event.
