MANILA, Philippines?Viewers in search of something new in reality TV programs should catch ?Identity? Mondays, 8:30 p.m., on Q11. Its host is rather nondescript and blah, but its format is interesting and even instructive, because it rewards contestants who can guess the identities of 12 strangers.

Contestants who get 12 out of 12 win the top prize of $500,000 ? not bad for ?pure? guesswork!

However, it?s more deduction and ?gut feel? that are at work here. It?s easy to pick out the sumo wrestler in the bunch when he?s Asian, fat and dressed only in a loincloth ? but how can you spot the ?shark attack victim? if he/she keeps the telltale scar hidden from view?

In last Aug. 4?s telecast of the show, the 12 strangers whose identities were in question and contention included a rabbi, a jockey, a celebrity hair-braider, a professional volleyball player, a Scientologist and a nuclear physicist.

The contestant was a private investigator, so he was eminently suited to the task of determining the identities of the crazy mix of strangers that the show?s staffers had gathered to confound him.

Very intelligently, he used the process of elimination to simplify his daunting task, starting with the most obvious prospect ? the rabbi, who had the regulation beard, dark suit and somber visage.

The jockey was also easy to spot, because he was the shortest male in the group. After that, however, things got decidedly dodgier, as the strangers? appearance didn?t betray any hints at their occupation or unique life experiences.

Correct deductions

To his credit, the contestant was still able to make correct deductions that eventually upped his cash prize to an impressive $75,000. In the process, he made one mistake, but was still allowed to continue playing.

That ?one mistake allowed? rule makes the show different from other quiz or game programs, and that?s all to the good.

It?s also quite sporting of the show to give contestants several ?lifelines,? including friend-advisers, a panel of experts presumably knowledgeable about what distinguishes people from one another, and a ?tridentity? lifeline, which limits the possible choices for one occupation to three of the 12 strangers.

However, it?s still a daunting task to deduce the identities of all 12 people on view. So, it?ll probably take an ESP or divination whiz to win the top prize.

?Identity? is an instructive show to watch because it helps viewers hone their own deductive abilities. They try to second-guess what the contestants will answer, using their own ?gut feel.? In so doing, they increase their awareness of what makes people different from each other, at least on point of looks and physiognomy.

That may not be as mind-expanding as ?Jeopardy,? but it?s still better than other game shows that reward silliness for silliness? sake.

Young Screen Entrepreneur for 2008

Ben Carandang, co-founder of Tuldok Animation studios, has been named by British Council Philippines as this year?s International Screen Entrepreneur. Ben will be sent on a 12-day all-expenses paid trip to the UK to meet industry pros and tour leading organizations in the film and TV industries.