Fear Factor

Not to be confused with the metal band Fear Factory.

Fear Factor is 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. [1] [2]

Show format

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.

The order of the stunts on a typical episode of Fear Factor is as follows:

First stunt

The first stunt usually involves a body of water and/or a helicopter for dangling purposes. 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 heights and/or a car. It typically entails driving a car onto a ramp, traversing a beam, or collecting flags from a platform, at some height. Many times the show did various other stunts instead, even ones taking place in a body of water, such as a breath-holding contest very early in the show's run. The winning contestant/team in this challenge took home the money, while the rest went home with nothing.

Other formats

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 4 and 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, WWF Stars (Seasons 2 and 3):Six famous contestants played for $50,000 to donate to the charity of their choice.

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.

International versions

The Netherlands was home to the original version of Fear Factor, Now or Neverland, which premiered in 1998 on the Veronica channel.

In the U.S., "Fear Factor" premiered in 2001 on NBC. Old episodes are shown on UPN.

In the UK as well as broadcasting Fear Factor USA, Sky One decided to broadcast their own version Fear Factor UK. The nature of the stunts were similar to the US version, but the contestants were divided into two teams of three, who banked prize money according to their success or failure in the first two stunts. The winner of the third stunt took away the money they had banked (which could be up to Â£15000) plus a Â£5000 bonus (Â£20,000 = approximately US$35,000). The UK host was Ed Sanders, now on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

In Australia, the Nine Network broadcasted a version of the show. It was similar to the American version, except that the contestants would initially compete for a place in a final instead of prize money. In the finals, they and other winning contestants would compete for a final $50,000 AUD prize (A$50,000 = approximately US$37,000). The host was Marc Yellin. Only two episodes were aired before the show was withdrawn from schedules.

In Poland, Polsat broadcasted Fear Factor - Nieustraszeni. Three hundred people from all around Poland participated in the first stunt, ninety qualified for the second stunt, and five qualified for the final stunt. One contestant won the $50,000 PLN prize (50,000 zlotys = approximately US$16,000). The host was Roman Polko, a Polish army commander. Only one episode was aired before the show was withdrawn from schedules.

Malaysia's ntv7, which also currently airs the US version of Fear Factor, recently announced the creation of Fear Factor Malaysia. Out of over a thousand applicants, 78 successful candidates from all over Malaysia were picked to participate in it. Production for the 13-episode show is currently underway, with the launch at Sunway Lagoon Resort on August 27, 2005. The host of the show is Shamser Sidhu. The grand prize is 50,000 MYR (ringgits), about US$13,000.

In Indonesia, the local version, "Fear Factor Indonesia," airs on RCTI. The host of the show is Agatsya Kandau, a popular film actor. The grand prize is 50 juta (50,000,000) rupiahs, about US$5,600, not much by international standards.

In India, Sony Entertainment Television airs "Fear Factor India". The host of the show is Mukul Dev. The grand prize is Rs1,000,000, about US$22,000.

In Mexico, the format is the same, except that stunts one and three are swapped, so they do the height/car stunt first, then the gross one, and the water/helicopter stunt last. The grand prize is 150,000 Mexican pesos, about US$15,000. It airs on Televisa and is hosted by Julio Bracho.

In Germany, Fear Factor was hosted by Sonja Zietlow and aired on RTL, but was withdrawn from schedules.

In France, Fear Factor was shown on TF1, but was withdrawn from schedules.

In Greece, Fear Factor is broadcasted on Makedonia TV. As of June of 2006 rumored to be the new host for the show is actor Kostas Sommer.[3]

In Belgium, the show airs on VTM and is hosted by Walter Grootaers.

In Croatia, the show airs on RTL and is hosted by Antonija BlaÄ‡e.

In Bulgaria, the show will be aired on Nova Television (the first season is expected in December after the end of Big Brother 3).

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 filming 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 â€" or even that of their human contestants â€" are producing unacceptable programming." — Karen Rosa (Communications Manager of AHA Film and TV Unit) [4]

Lawsuit

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 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 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.