John Nowak/truTV Screenshot : Facebook

TruTV—the network that brings you such quality content as Impractical Jokers, At Home with Amy Sedaris, The Chris Gethard Show and a bunch of another comedy-based programming you’ve assured your friends you’ll check out someday—will soon gift the world Paid Off, a game show that’s just a bit too real.


Three contestants (anyone with significant student loan debt, primarily folks in their 20s and 30s) compete against one another to answer college-y trivia questions, Jeopardy-style. Depending on how many correct answers the winner gives, Paid Off promises to pay up to 100% of their loans, according to the Tampa Bay Times. It’s the American Dream realized, baby!

It’s dark as hell, but certainly reflective of the world we live in: 44 million Americans are affected by student loan debt, the average student carries about $37,000 in loans and the U.S. student loan debt, in one lump sum, exceeds $1.3 trillion. But an education is priceless, right?


Host Michael Torpey told the Washington Post:

“One of the mantras is ‘an absurd show to match an absurd crisis. A game show feels really apt because this is the state of things right now. I know what we are doing is a little ridiculous, but in a way the show matched my family’s story. The only way we could pay off student loans was because I booked an underpants ad? That’s insane.”

And there you have it.

Paid Off premieres Tuesday, July 10. Watch a teaser below, and get ready to cringe while you sign up.