truTV's "Paid Off with Michael Torpey" Returns with More Stories, Bigger Prizes and All-New Live Call-In Game

TV's Only Game Show to Tackle the Student Debt Crisis Returns May 13 with $1 Million in Prize Money, Plus New Interactive Call-In Segment to Award Cash to At-Home Viewers

truTV today announced the return of Paid Off with Michael Torpey, the original comedic game show in which contestants compete to win money to pay off their student debt. The series, which sparked intense conversation around the national student debt crisis when it premiered in 2018, will return for 16 all-new episodes starting Monday, May 13 at 10:00pm ET/PT. truTV will premiere four new episodes that first week - each night at 10:00pm ET/PT through Thursday - before moving into its regular timeslot on Tuesday, May 21 at 10:00pm ET/PT.

With these new episodes, the series co-creator (with Cowboy Bear Ninja) and host Michael Torpey once again endeavors to raise awareness of a massive issue, while simultaneously providing life-changing opportunities one contestant at a time. Contestants win bigger sums of money throughout the run, with more than $1 million in prize money being awarded throughout the season. Also, for the first time, Paid Off with Michael Torpey viewers will be able to get in on the action as truTV introduces a Live Lightning Round call-in element into the premiere telecast of each new episode. At the end of each new episode, viewers will be prompted to call in for a chance to win up to $3,000 each in cash to put towards their student debt by answering three trivia questions with Torpey broadcasting live from a studio in New York City.

"I am so excited for people to see this hilarious new season. These episodes are bigger, more absurd, and more emotional than before. Unfortunately, so is our nation's student debt crisis," said Torpey. "I'm incredibly grateful to our contestants for sharing their stories and helping us destigmatize student debt. And I'm thrilled to introduce another way to help even more people with our new live segment, where people at home can play to win cash to put towards their debt."

In addition to the new Live Lightning Round, this latest batch of episodes of Paid Off with Michael Torpey will include five themed-episodes that highlight the different ways student debt impacts people's lives. These include: "It Started with a Tweet" for fans with student loan debt who asked to be on the show via social media; "Do Gooders" which features contestants working in the non-profit arena; "Too Broke To Wed" which highlights contestants whose debt is preventing them from marriage; "Back in the Nest" for those who were forced to move home because of their crushing student debt payments; and "Made in America" for first-generation Americans who are saddled with this debt.

Paid Off with Michael Torpey is produced by Cowboy Bear Ninja with Torpey, Michael Melamedoff, Adrian Selkowitz, Ethan Berlin, and Leigh Hampton serving as Executive Producers. Fans can follow along with the series on social media at #PaidOff.

About truTV

truTV is the home for original, creator-driven comedy series with a distinct point of view. With millions of engaged fans across its linear, digital and social channels, the cable network features a growing roster of critically acclaimed premium scripted, non-scripted and hybrid series, such as Adam Ruins Everything, At Home with Amy Sedaris, I'm Sorry, Impractical Jokers, Jon Glaser Loves Gear, The Carbonaro Effect, Tacoma FD, Those Who Can't and more. As a division of WarnerMedia, truTV is also a partner in airing the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship each year.

WarnerMedia is a leading media and entertainment company that creates and distributes premium and popular content from a diverse array of talented storytellers and journalists to global audiences through its consumer brands including: HBO, Warner Bros., TNT, TBS, CNN, DC Entertainment, New Line, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others.