'Take the Money and Run' Review: Fake and Fun Crime in Miami

Take the Money and Run is back for a second week of crime-committing fun. We've already seen crime foiled on this hide-the-briefcase show, so is it now time to see crime pay off? I kind of hope so. First of all, a disclaimer for those people who feel that airing a reality show that encourages law-abiding citizens to think like criminal masterminds: There are no crimes actually committed on Take the Money and Run. Instead, two people are handed a briefcase "worth $100,000" (no one ever says the money is inside), and they hide it. That's all. No bank robberies. 

No violence. Just a weird hide-and-seek game. And it's really kind of a fun game. The criminals in week 2 are a lovely (for the most part) married couple named Jimmy and Zuleyda Pumariega. They have kids (It's for the kids!"). They have a house. 

They have sad stories about sick relatives. Basically, they have to win. It helps that, in the second episode of Take the Money and Run, the cops aren't particularly endearing. Yes, they have monetary needs too (who doesn't?), but they're not as cute and cuddly as the Pumariegass. 

You know, unless you define bad Joe Pesci-knock off cops as cute and cuddly. I'm sure Detectives Joe Shillaci and Al Vila are lovely people with fine detecting skills. But I don't want them to win this one. Check out the video below to see how the criminals do at hiding their suitcase full of money: Some observations two episodes into the Take the Money and Run season: Traffic lights are an annoyance when committing crime. 

"Keep it simple" seems to be more of a goal than "Throw off the cops" for the contestants. Somewhere in the secret rules they tell the contestants but not the audiences must be the clause that says both partners need to stay together. That, or they only pick people so joined at the hip that they never think to split up and hide the loot. There's always, always a boss. 

Will the Pumariegass get away with it? There's no way I'd spoil such things, but keep an eye out for the following highlights: People really don't like to keep quiet when being interrogated. The Dade County jail is much nicer than last week's dungeon. Interrogators puff well. They don't actually have the right to remain silent on this show. 

Which probably isn't totally true, but whatever. They get toothpaste in prison. "When you have 60 minutes to hide $100,000, there's no time for small talk." Take the Money and Run remains fun in the second week -- especially with "criminals" who have some ability to be deceptive. I do kind of wonder how the detectives are "earning" their chance at the money, since most of the clues come from the interrogations. Also, there really needs to be further clarification of the rules. Can the criminals just keep silent? 

What rights do the criminals have in prison? Can they separate? Does the briefcase need to stay manacled to one criminal until it's hidden? Hopefully these frustrations will ease before the fun of the chase recedes. Until then, however, Take the Money and Run keeps up its wish-fulfilling good time.