Be Sure to Catch "The Briefcase" on CBS Wednesday, May 27

There are tons of reality shows out there. Most of them are about people competing for money. In these shows, everyone is out for themselves and never stops to think about their opponent. The Briefcase is different. This show teaches people that it's better to give than to receive--at least that's the ultimate goal.

I got to get a sneak peek at the first episode of The Briefcase. The show revolves around two families. Each one as been given a briefcase filled with $101,000. Both families have faced difficult times and hardships, so the money seems like a blessing. But then the twist comes in. They're told they can keep the money or share it with another family who is also in need. Will they decide to spread the wealth or keep it all for themselves?

The first family we meet is the Bergin family.  They have three teenage daughters to support. When Mr. Bergin lost his job,  he started a business as an ice cream man, but after being involved in a head on collision, he isn't able to work as much as he did, and his wife only works part-time. Plus, they only have two trucks left, and both are in poor condition. They don't even have health insurance for their family.

The second family we meet is the Bronsons. Dave Bronson is a war hero who lost in leg in an explosion overseas. Because of his injuries , Dave has been unable to work. Mrs. Bronson is a nurse and is currently eight months pregnant. She's not sure if she'll even be able to afford to go on maternity leave. They are also working on a building a house that is wheel chair accessible because there is a huge possibility Dave will eventually be wheelchair bound.

The two families agreed to be in a documentary about money, but they don't know exactly what they're getting into. The reactions when they open the briefcases and see all that cash are fantastic--the excitement and the tears are all so sincere. Then the ball is dropped. Their told there is another family who might need the money even more than them, and they're given the option of keeping it all for themselves or giving part or all of it to another family. They have only 72 hours to make this life altering decision.  To help them make their choice, each family is given a cell phone that will receive texts giving information about the other family. The big twist is, they will be giving it to each other! They just don't know it.






Throughout the show, both couples go through a roller-coaster of emotions. They both go back and forth about whether or not to keep the money. Texts messages about the families don't help to make the decision easier. In many ways, there situations are identical.  Each person gets a chance to deposit the money they want to keep. I don't want to give away the amounts, but I can tell you, it caused some serious friction between the couples every time.

The next step is for the two families see how the other family lives. They visit each others homes, and are able to look around to help them make their decisions. This is a game changer for both couples.  Seeing the Bergins broken down ice cream trucks--seeing Dave's purple heart--it really gets everyone thinking, but they still know they need to take care of their own families too. The final step is for the families to meet face to face. At this point, the decision has been made and they can't change their minds. How much did they keep? How much did they give away? You'll have to watch to find out.

In his episode, I fell in love with Dave. Maybe its just because I have a soft spot for our military, but this amazing man who already lost his leg serving our country thought only of the other family throughout the show, never once wavering.   That man is a hero is more than ways than one! 

After watching the first episode of The Briefcase, I am definitely hooked. Money is not the most important thing in the world, and this show helps to prove that fact. By the end of show, my eyes were definitely teary. Normally, I'm not a big fan of reality shows, but this one actually has some meaning, and I plan on watching it every week!  The series premieres Wednesday, May 27 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, so be sure to check it out!