Ep 1. Episode 1

What Would You Do? is a popular television series which presents ordinary people in extraordinary situations. The show presents scenarios where people are put in uncomfortable or difficult situations, and hidden cameras capture their reactions. The aim of the show is to see how people react and to highlight the best of human nature. In each episode, the show offers a range of social experiments of varying complexity, and explores the ethical and moral dilemmas that arise.

Season 17 of What Would You Do? kicked off with Episode 1, which continued in the show's tradition of questioning how people would handle moral quandaries in extraordinary circumstances. The episode featured two main scenarios, both of which revolved around the issue of race.

The first scenario was set in a restaurant, where an interracial couple sat at a table. However, the woman, who was black, played the role of a rude and belligerent partner who continually berated her white boyfriend. The restaurant was rigged with hidden cameras that captured the reactions of other diners in response to the couple’s argument. The show's producers wanted to know whether the other diners would intervene, and, if so, how they would do so.

As the heated exchange between the couple continued, diners began to react. Some ignored the situation, others appeared awkwardly uncomfortable, and others tried to offer advice and even called out the woman for her bad behavior. While some diners remained silent out of discomfort or uncertainty, others chose to speak up, displaying varying degrees of bravery.

What Would You Do? presented this situation to highlight how difficult it is to intervene in a dispute. The show questioned where the line should be drawn in situations like that of the restaurant couple, and whether silence constitutes tacit approval of bad behavior.

The second scenario depicted an African-American man attempting to hail a cab in a wealthy, predominantly white neighborhood. The man was an actor, and the show's producers intentionally made his clothes look tatty and his appearance disheveled. Hidden cameras were set up to record the reactions of the cab drivers as they drove past the man and whether they stopped their cab to pick him up.

In the scenario, the man would stand on the curb and wave his hand while glaring hopefully at cab after cab as they drove by him. Finally, a cab stopped, which gave the show’s producers hope. However, as it turned out, the gesture was just the driver asking for directions and the man was left standing there.

The second scenario showed how race can still play a significant role in everyday interactions. The show used the scenario to ask whether race prejudice is still prevalent in society today, and whether people are willing to overlook such prejudices when given the opportunity to do so.

Overall, What Would You Do? Season 17, Episode 1, demonstrated that at times people are willing to stand up for the unfortunate and speak out when they need help, while other times more prominent issues, such as prejudice, remain unchanged and prevalent. The show offered a fresh perspective on familiar ethical dilemmas, and put people in scenarios that challenge their responses. As viewers tuned in, they were able to learn more about the complexities of human behavior, and explore their own feelings about social situations that, in the real world, may remain unaddressed.