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Fear Factor was an American stunt/dare reality game show. It was originally created by Endemol Netherlands and first aired on June 11, 2001. The original Dutch version was called Now or Neverland. When Endemol USA and NBC adapted it to the American market in 2001, they changed the name to Fear Factor. The show pits contestants against each other to complete a series of stunts better and/or quicker than all the other contestants for a grand prize of US$50,000. From Seasons One to Five, the contestants were generally three men and three women, all playing for themselves, but in Season Six, the show moved to a permanent format of four teams of two people, each with a pre-existing relationship with one another, all playing for a shared prize of the same amount. The show is hosted by actor-comedian Joe Rogan. The theme music is composed and written by Russ Landau. The show was initially a hit for NBC in the summer of 2001, and built strong ratings for the next couple of seasons, but as the years passed, the ratings declined. In 2006, Fear Factor faced tough competition with TV ratings champion , the Fox talent series American Idol on Tuesday nights, and proved once again the ratings still declined. Despite much publicity concerning an improved format and better stunts for Season Six, NBC cancelled the struggling program for the remainder of the season to make room for the sitcom Joey, which was removed from the NBC lineup a few weeks later. The network began airing the remainder of the season on June 13, 2006, with the remaining episodes to be burned throughout the summer. * *
Normal format The normal format involves three men and three women, or four teams of two people with a pre-existing relationship, who must complete three stunts in order to win US$50,000. If a contestant/team does not attempt a stunt, does not complete a stunt, or does not perform it better or quicker than any of the other contestants/teams, they are eliminated from the competition. If only one contestant/team successfully completes the first or the second stunt, they automatically win $25,000, and the other contestants eliminated in the stunt will return for the next stunt to compete for the remaining $25,000. If no one successfully completes the first or the second stunt, then all of the contestants/teams eliminated in the stunt will return to the next stunt to compete for a reduced $25,000. (In season one, if one person completed the stunt, then the completer wins $10,000 and everyone returns on the next stunt for $50,000.) Only once in the history of Fear Factor has the $50,000 top prize gone unclaimed in an episode. This happened on a Best Friends edition on September 27, 2004, when neither of the remaining teams was able to complete the final stunt. In the stunt, one member of each team had to drive a ramp car, while the other member had to drive a sports car. The one driving the sports car had to drive it onto the truck bed of the ramp car. If the sports car fell off of the truck bed at any time, the team was automatically eliminated. Had it been successfully completed, the team who did this the fastest would have won. After the acquisition of Universal Studios of Vivendi Universal by NBC's parent company General Electric in 2004, contestants could get vacations, in order to promote the theme park division of NBC Universal, at Universal Orlando or get trips to Universal Studios in Hollywood. The order of the stunts on a typical episode of Fear Factor is as follows: First stunt The first stunt usually involves some sort of extreme stunt. The two men and the two women - or the three teams - that complete the stunt the best under whichever restrictions (such as the fastest, or furthest distance, or number of flags collected in under a certain time) would move on to the second stunt. The rest would be eliminated. Second stunt The second stunt usually involves the contestants consuming or getting in contact with something revolting. It typically entails consuming an unappetizing animal or plant part, lying in a tub full of an unappealing substance, transferring an undesirable item from one tub to another, or searching for an object in a tank full of a foul substance. Contestants were typically not eliminated after this stunt unless they could not complete it, or refused to. In the case of teams, one team may be eliminated for performing the worst. Third stunt The third stunt usually involves another extreme stunt usually considerably more dangerous than the first. The winning contestant/team in this challenge takes home the money, while the rest go home with nothing. Tournament of Champions The second and third seasons concluded with a Tournament of Champions featuring the winners of each show in that season and a $100,000 grand prize. In Season 2, the thirteen normal winners (not celebrities) were divided into groups of eight men and five women. For the first two stunts, men competed amongst men and women competed amongst women, dividing the group from eight and five to four to two. The final four contestants, two men and two women, competed against each other for the grand prize. In Season 3, the twenty-four winners were divided into two groups of twelve, each containing seven men and five women. In the first semifinal episode, the group was cut from twelve to six to three to two finalists. In the second semifinal episode, the group was cut from twelve to six in the first stunt, then the men competed amongst the men and the women competed amongst the women in the second stunt, and then the final four contestants, two men and two women, were cut to two finalists. Each finalist won a 2004 Mazda RX-8 and a chance at the $100,000. In the finals, the four finalists competed in three stunts. Each stunt eliminated one contestant, and the final stunt determined the winner. Special episode formats Four Stunt Show (Season 3): This was a 90-minute episode where four stunts instead of three were required to win the $50,000. This episode was notable for the stunt involving body piercing. All-Gross Show (Season 3): All three stunts on this show followed the format of the second (gross) stunt as described above. The first stunt on this episode, which involved blood, caused possibly the most intense contestant reaction to a stunt in the history of the show. Las Vegas Show (Seasons 3-5): The three stunts took place at various hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. The show's winner was required to bet at least half his winnings on one hand of Blackjack, with the chance to continue gambling if successful. Second Chance (Season 4): Losing contestants from previous seasons come back for a second chance at winning $50,000. Favorite Winners (Season 5): Winning contestants from previous seasons who lost in the Tournament of Champions come back for a chance at winning another $50,000. Couples (Seasons 3-5): Four couples competed in three stunts, with the winning team dividing the prize and sending one player to the Tournament of Champions. In Season 4, nine couples competed over seven weeks and 17 stunts for $1,000,000. Along the way, they competed for various other prizes, including $10,000, cars, vacations, credit cards, and a chance to steal a desired prize from another team. In Season 5, eight couples competed for the million dollar prize. Twins (Season 4): Four pairs of twins competed in three stunts, with the winning team dividing the prize. Best Friends (Season 5): Four pairs of best friends competed in three stunts, with the winning team dividing the prize. Family (Seasons 4 and 6): Four teams of one parent and one child competed in three stunts for the prize. In the second stunt, the team with the best performance received a bonus prize such as a car or a vacation. $1 Million (Season 4): Twelve contestants competed in six stunts. The one player who survived all six won a $1,000,000 annuity. Models, All-Female (Seasons 4 and 5): Played in the normal format with models or entirely female contestants. The fifth season had one episode with male and female co-ed models. Fear Factor Super Bowl Halftime Show (Season 2): Played in the normal format with Playboy Playmates. Miss USA (Seasons 3-5): Played in the normal format with Miss USA contestants, with the winning contestant keeping $25,000 and giving $25,000 to a charity of their choice. There was no Miss USA edition in the sixth season of Fear Factor, as NBC produced a Miss USA edition of Deal or No Deal instead; the Miss USA contestants were the briefcase models for the entire episode. Celebrities, WWE/F Stars (Seasons 2, 3 and 6): Six famous contestants played for $50,000 to donate to the charity of their choice. The last episode to air on NBC was a celebrity version; it was won by Leif Garrett. Reality Stars (Seasons 5 and 6): Contestants from other reality shows, like The Amazing Race, Survivor, American Idol, The Apprentice, and The Real World, played for a grand prize and other bonus prizes such as cars and vacations. In Season Five, six contestants played for $50,000, and in the sixth season, five teams of two played for $150,000. Military (Season 6): Contestants from the Air Force, the Army, the Marines and the Navy competed. Psycho (Season 6): Contestants "from the street" performed stunts which where centered around the Bates Motel on the set of the original Psycho horror movie from NBC's movie division Universal Pictures. International versions Criticism Fear Factor has received criticism from the general public mainly because of the show's second stunt, which intends to disgust its viewers. More seriously, the American Humane Association has shot out at Endemol for allowing animals and insects to get injured and even killing insects by eating them alive during the videotaping of the show. The association also revealed that professional animal trainers have refused to work on the show because the producers of Fear Factor have demanded stunts which violate the association's guidelines. "American Humane believes that shows like Fear Factor are on a slippery slope of animal mistreatment and provide poor examples of animal treatment and humane ethics. As we work diligently to expand voluntary compliance with animal safety guidelines, organisations like Endemol who blatantly demonstrate complete disregard for animal welfare — or even that of their human contestants — are producing unacceptable programming." — Karen Rosa (Communications Manager of AHA Film and TV Unit) * In January 2005, an episode featuring a stunt involving blended rats aired in its normal prime time slot. Austin Aitken, a part-time paralegal from Cleveland, sued NBC for $2.5 million USD for airing the show, claiming that he felt so disgusted from watching the stunt, his blood pressure rose until he felt dizzy and bumped his head into the doorway. In March 2005, U.S. District Judge Lesley Wells threw out the lawsuit. Quotes "Imagine a world where your greatest fears become reality. Welcome to "Fear Factor". Each show, (six) contestants from around the country battle each other in (three) extreme stunts. These stunts are designed to challenge the contestants both physically and mentally. If a contestant is too afraid to complete a stunt, they're eliminated. If they fail a stunt, they're eliminated. But if they succeed, they move one step closer to the grand prize -- $50,000. Six contestants, three stunts, one winner. (In Season Five: Testing their fears, pushing their limits) "Fear Factor"." -- The opening narration said at the beginning of every episode by the show's announcer, Sandy Thomas, until Season Six when it was removed. "Hello. I'm Joe Rogan, and this is "Fear Factor". (Occasionally:.....and welcome to this special (name) edition of "Fear Factor") The stunts that you are about to see are all designed and supervised by trained professionals. They are extremely dangerous, and should not be attempted by anyone, anywhere, anytime." -- The disclaimer said at the beginning of every episode by Joe Rogan. "You six people have been brought here from all over the country for one reason: To stare fear in the eye as you compete for $50,000. To win the money, you're going to have to complete three extreme stunts -- stunts that will not only test you physically, but mentally as well. If you're too afraid to attempt a stunt, you'll be eliminated. If you try a stunt but fail to complete it, you're gone. But, if you do succeed, you will move on to the next round and you'll be that much closer to the cash. Remember, this is a game, so some strategy comes into play. Feel free to mess with each other's minds and play off each other's fears. Gamesmanship is always welcome here. Remember, these are not your friends, these are your opponents." -- Joe Rogan's opening comments to the contestants, shortened in later seasons until they were removed in Season Six. "Here is your (first, next, or final) stunt." -- Joe's cue for introducing the stunts. He occasionally asks a question similar to that saying if the contestants were ready to see the stunt. "We've randomly selected who gets to go first/today's order, and (contestant's name), you are lucky number one." -- said at the beginning of almost every stunt from Season Two onwards. Season One used dog tags chosen randomly. Stunts with only two contestants competing use a coin flip to determine the order; the winner makes the call (From season three onwards). "Here we go in 3...2...1...GO!" -- Joe's cue for the contestants to begin the stunt. "Congratulations (winner's name), you (Stunt 1), you (Stunt 2), you (Stunt 3). (In Season One: you just won $50,000.) (From Season Two onwards: and you are the "Fear Factor" Champion). Congratulations, and evidently fear is not a factor for you." -- Joe Rogan's closing words to the winning contestant. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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