Talk:Fear Factor

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[edit] Japan Fear Factor

Japan also started a Fear Factor and it is known for using just girls to perform crazy, usually naked, stunts like getting tied to a table naked and then surrounded by piglets (which burrow themselves into every crevice looking for milk). Japanese gameshows are always extreme and considering the creativity in some of the stunts, this show is worth noting.

  • This is pretty much the norm in Japan, with shows like Endurance and the like dating back years before FF aired in the US. Similar stunts (but without full nudity) were done ten years ago in Spain on El gran juego de la oca, as well. --Goldrushcavi 21:07, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Not reality show

Fear Factor is not a reality show, it is a game show. From the game show article (to which reality game show redirects, btw):

Reality game shows have become popular in recent years. In a reality show the competition usually lasts several days or even weeks and a competitor's progress through the game is based on some form of popularity contest, usually a kind of disapproval voting by their fellow competitors or members of the public.

There is no such voting in Fear Factor, and often the winner is in fact quite unpopular. There is certainly no peer voting. The contestants win based on how well they execute stunts; much the same way a Jeopardy! contestant wins by performance in knowledge. Joe Rogan himself said it was not a reality show during an appearance on The Tonight Show sometime in 2004. --Vik Reykja 05:41, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

  • Though Joe himself said it wasn't a reality show, it's been recognised more as a reality game show (but not reality show) than Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune type shows. Take a look at google and see what I mean. I follow the first part of the definition from the reality show article, which says:
In the third type, the so-called "reality game shows", participants are filmed intensively in an enclosed environment while competing to win a prize - thus they are game shows and discussed more thoroughly in that article.

--Andylkl 06:14, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)

Yes, but it's the way in which they compete that makes the difference. Fear Factor contestants compete physically and mentally, not popularly. Would you call the Olympic Games a reality gaming event, or just a gaming event? (that is a serious question)
As for your Google thing, common misconceptions are called fallacies not fact. Wikipedia should not indulge in that. --Vik Reykja 06:28, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)
It would be false saying that they don't compete in popularity. The NBC Fear Factor website includes profiles of the contestants and a kind of a tracker, similar to Survivor or The Amazing Race kind of shows. Popularity is not the main reason why it shouldn't be regarded as a reality game show. It's a reality show because it showcases the profiles of the contestants, and it's a game show because they compete in front of the cameras. As for your question, the Olympics is neither a reality gaming event, nor it is a gaming event. It's a sports event. Because of the fictional nature of most television shows, the "reality" part indicates it's supposed to be real even thought the stunts are on camera and it has a direct effect on the lives of the contestants on camera and in real life. --Andylkl 06:43, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)
Jeopardy does the exact same thing [1]. What "direct effect" do you think Fear Factor has on its contestants than Wheel of Fortune has on its? I'll conceed that my Olympics analogy is flawed. --Vik Reykja 07:04, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)
It's the stunts, for one thing. Wheel of Fortune does not need its contestants hanging upside down from a helicopter, eating fish eyes or walking across a wire. It's the danger and increased chance that a contestant with almost no experience might suffer an accident, an injury or even die from performing the stunts that makes it different from normal game shows, or stunts peformed by professional stuntmen for that matter. --Andylkl 07:19, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)
I never said it wasn't different from normal game shows; of course it is. But it is not a reality show, or a reality game show, any more than Hollywood Squares is. You're only talking about the stunts because you're comparing it to Survivor which is a reality show. --Vik Reykja 07:46, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)
No, I am not comparing it with Survivor (the show's becoming lame anyways), you said that. I made a comparison on why this is not a normal game show and pointed out similarities between Fear Factor, normal game shows and other reality game shows. So, after being said that, could you care to explain as to why it is not a reality game show even though there are elements of reality shows and game shows in it? --Andylkl 08:08, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)

[Indentation reset] I told you when I started this talk page. From the game show article: a competitor's progress through the game is based on some form of popularity contest, usually a kind of disapproval voting by their fellow competitors or members of the public. Success in Fear Factor depends solely on your performance in the stunts. Fear Factor does not involve itself witht the contestants' lives apart from the Who/Where that all TV shows have. I can't think of a single element of reality television in Fear Factor. Also, take a look at reality television's talk page (I don't watch it so don't expect to see me there) --Vik Reykja 08:33, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

  • But I also did say that popularity is not the reason why it shouldn't be regarded as a reality game show. The definition that you've given just mentions one of the features in a typical reality show. Popularity is not the only criteria of a reality show. By the way the game show article contradicts itself by listing Fear Factor along with the other reality shows. --Andylkl 08:48, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)
I have given reasons why FF is not a reality show. You have not given any reason why it is one. --Vik Reykja 09:12, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Correction, you have only given one reason why FF is not a reality show - the popularity part, which I do not believe is valid. My basis for it being a reality game show (and not a reality show outright) is listed in the discussion we had earlier. This show is reality because it has normal people with little or no experience, competing in real situations which are seemingly dangerous or out of the ordinary, and most importantly, non-ficticious to the viewers. --Andylkl 09:29, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)
Two if you count that the host said it was not a reality show. As for the rest of that argument, I guess you think The Gong Show is a reality game show? --Vik Reykja 17:45, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Well, what he says contradicts to what most people believe, but is it a fact? And ack, I wouldn't even remotely think that The Gong Show was one. --Andylkl 18:07, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)
Why not? According to your argument: The Gong Show is reality because it has normal people with little or no experience, competing in real situations which are out of the ordinary, and most importantly, non-fictitious to the viewers The only thing I left out was dangerous. Is being dangerous now your requirement for reality? --Vik Reykja 18:17, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)
The article itself says that it is a variety show/game show spoof. Enough said. --Andylkl 18:22, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)
The Fear Factor article says that it is a game show. Enough said. --Vik Reykja 18:31, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)
  • And also, in address to the reality game show / game show dispute, I've added a mention about the former to the article just because it is regarded as a reality game show by many people. --Andylkl 08:58, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)
From your recent edit, Vik Reykja, I won't edit against it. If you're going to insist that it is not a reality game show, I'm afraid I have to bring this up to Wikipedia:Requests for comment. Cheers. --Andylkl 18:07, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)
In response to the Request For Comment, I am an editor on www.ukgameshows.com. [2] We categorise Fear Factor as a "stunt/dare show" rather than a "reality" show. The important distinction is that Fear Factor, though a little more extreme than most gameshows, is nevertheless still based on a traditional format with distinct rounds, whereas a reality show should be based on the contestants being kept together for an extended length of time. While it may take a few hours to film a stunt, it clearly isn't the same type of show as, for example, Big Brother, Survivor or The Mole, where what happens between the set tasks is an integral part of the game. -- Jennifer Turner Q4 19:22, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Yes, "stunt/dare show" sounds much much better. Thanks for your comments! --Andylkl 19:32, Mar 13, 2005 (UTC)
I think a key element of a show being called "reality" is that there has to be some crossover into reality. Either the goal of the show is to find talent with audience participation (American Idol-type) or a major portion of the plot comes from the natural (as opposed to forced) interactions between competitors (Survivor-type). Fear Factor creates the plot beforehand... really the only thing that matters is the stunts. It's a standard gameshow. I just don't see where the crossover into reality comes in. – flamurai (t) 08:31, Mar 15, 2005 (UTC)
^ By your def'N, then The Amazing Race would not be a reality show, since all the challenges and locations are preprared beforehand. You defN for Survivor would be troubling, since its challenges are planned before hand as well. The fact is Fear Factor IS a reality show, as I mentioned with my previou points below.


It's pretty simple: the voice-overs by contestants in the duration of a show. Reality game shows tend to create a sense of background and character development in the course of the program. Contrast that with something like Jeopardy or The Price Is Right, where the host and contestants share a brief exchange, but you never really get to know the contestant as well as you do on a reality game show. --Madchester 21:45, 2005 Mar 18 (UTC)
It's so gross to eat rats and crap like that. I would never do it. Even for a million dollars. I don't know if anyone would want to do that. It's probably faked.

Ilikefood 14:36, 21 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Dispute resolution

It's been one week and it seems the RFC responses agree, so I've changed the article. --Vik Reykja 23:57, 20 Mar 2005 (UTC)

It's obvious clear that Fear Factor is a reality show that incorproates stunt/dare elements. If you visit Fans Or Reality TV, Reality TV World, or [3] it's obvious that they're classified as reality shows.

You should do some research before coming to an unfounded conclusion. Cheers. --24.100.186.118 01:57, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I reverted it back for clarity. Don't know why one person thinks its right when ppl are obviously not of the same agreement. --LeoTheLion 06:34, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
What in the above discussion and following RFC responses makes you think "ppl are obviously not of the same agreement"? I guess we'll have to escalate this assinine issue yet again. --Vik Reykja 06:53, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
"realiity stunt/dare" is a very fair compromise. Plzs both camps. And if you take a look round a lot of reality show msgboards or sites, you'll see that they list Fear Factor as a reality show. Plz be more open minded when considering other ppl's opinions. The glass isn't just half empty.--LeoTheLion 06:56, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Why do you insist that WP be factually incorrect? This isn't a popularity contest with the rest of the web. We have come to a consensus on this talk page and if you disagree with it, you should escalate it again. Until then, please do not go against that consensus. --Vik Reykja 07:03, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Exactly, this here isn't a popularity contest. If you browse on some popular reality TV sites and some of the comments above, you'd realize that the popular opimion here may not be the best answer. Plz be considerate of newer users and new opinions. As you are the one here with more experience on WP you should be more condoning towards such actions, and perhaps do some research yourself, instead of jumping on the opinion bandwagon. --LeoTheLion 07:09, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
I'm not quite sure what you mean by that. The popular opinion here is certainly the best answer for here. Wanting WP to be accurate has nothing at all to do with being considerate of new users. --Vik Reykja 07:13, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Wow, this thing is still going on. I think the guy's saying that you're not giving him/her any sense of leniency. Anyway, I think that the reality stunt/dare descriptor is the most accurate. Whether Joe Rogan agrees or not, he's ultimately hosting a reality show, plain and simple. And I took a look at some of the sites, and I have to agree that the concensus outside of Wiki is that it IS a reality show.
And like I said before, FF is one part stunts, one part selling the characters. Like on MXC you have ridiculous stunts as well, but there's no characteriztions of the contestants at all. They're just carbon copies of one another. FF does its best to portray each contestants' personalities, back story and motives within it's one hour timeframe. The show format and length doesn't aid this goal as well as shows like Survivor or Tha Amazing Race, but nevertheless it shares the general chacreristics of a reality show.


Not my 2 cents, but the actual categorization of the show as being reality based on numerous credited reality show sites. --Madchester 07:28, 2005 Mar 25 (UTC)


Not to be a smartass, but on the FF article itself, there's an external link to this article. "‘Fear Factor’ sued for rat-eating episode". Check the heading at the top of the page... it's filed under Reality TV. In the article's first sentence, it calls FF a gross out stunt show. So reality stunt/dare show is definitely not too far off.

And from the Miami Herald article that has also be linked, I quote:

"Aitken, a 49-year-old part-time paralegal from Cleveland, previously told The Associated Press that he watched "Fear Factor" often and had no problem with past installments where the reality show's participants ate worms and insects in pursuit of a $50,000 prize - but eating rats went "too far.""

Overall, I think ppl need to just to check their facts more carefully. It's already in front of their eyes!

--Madchester 07:35, 2005 Mar 25 (UTC)


See it is a reality show afterall. All the media ouytlets says so, there's no denying it. either WP has done enough research to prove that it's not a reality show, or it is simply going against the actual public belief for some personal agenda. --LeoTheLion 16:08, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)


We have a definition of reality show and FF does not fit it. What is so complicated about that? --Vik Reykja 16:53, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)


Please revert it back to reality stunt/dare show. Wikipedia is being really hypocritical if it has to use its own definition of a reality show, when the news sources it provides obviously categorizes it as a reality show. --Madchester 17:09, 2005 Mar 25 (UTC)

No. A consensus has been reached and we should respect it. I realize that you are disputing that consensus, which is okay, but until a new consensus is obtained, the article should show the results of the previous one. Why don't you define for us what a reality show is for you. --Vik Reykja 17:12, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Hold on, this isn't supposed to be on peer review yet. I'm not sure where did you get the idea that a concensus has been reached in the first place. Please see Wikipedia:Resolving disputes. --Andylkl (talk) 17:24, Mar 25, 2005 (UTC)

I'm sorry, but Wikipedia should be a reflection of public concensus as a whole, not the concensus of editors within the Wiki community. The fact is most media outlets, news agencies and reality television fansites/messageboards classify the show as a reality show. I'm dumbfounded as to why Wikipedia is the one going against the grain. I'm not going againast consensus right now, I'm thinking about the bigger picture of public opinion outside of Wikipedia. And I think that the site is taking a silly stand against conventional wisdom right now. It makes th site look uncredible to regular joe and other ppl outside the Wikipedia community, when they're reading an article that contradicts its own references (as provided by some past user about that lawsuit).

If the editors here feel they need to make a point that FF is not a reality show, then they take should take their personal opinions elsewhere, the site should be NPOV, non? I don't get why the people here are so stubbornly clinging to their own beliefs, when it doesn't necessarily provide the best reflection of the actual facts to the general public.

If you feel so uneasy about the show not being a reality show, then make an additional section questioning what type of format the show falls under. I.e., in the UK, it may be classified a s a stunt/dare show, while in the US it is a hybrid of reality and stunt/dare elements.

Think of creative solutions. Don't just simply chain yourself to your own beliefs, without thinking about the greater good.--Madchester 17:21, 2005 Mar 25 (UTC)

I asked you for a definition. You can't give me one. I am not clinging to beliefs, I'm clinging to facts. I don't know what the UK version is as I have never seen it; but the US version is no hybrid whatsoever. I'm leaving this article before my wikistress explodes. Go ahead and put as much disinformation in it as you want. --Vik Reykja 17:36, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Fear Factor is obviously a plain game show. An example of a reality game show would be The Amazing Race, or Oblivious, where the contestants do not know that they are taking part in the game. Fear Factor is no different from The Price is Right or Jeopardy, except that the games are different. -- BRIAN0918  18:00, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I'm now willing to side with stunt/dare show without the mention of game show. --Andylkl (talk) 18:25, Mar 25, 2005 (UTC)

If anyone's looked actually bothered to read the links provided in the actual Wikipedia Fear Factor article, they clearly indicate that FF is a reality show. I don't understand how it's so difficult to comprehend. All media outlets refer to FF as a reality show. Let's not be delusional here. I'm with the reality dare/stunt side.--24.100.187.253 19:14, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)

So we should ignore our own definition of what a reality game show is because the media labels it a reality show? It's only called that because it came around at the same time as all the other reality shows. If we're going to call Fear Factor a reality show, then we must also call Double Dare and MXC (Takeshi's Castle) reality game shows. How is Fear Factor any different from these??? -- BRIAN0918  19:43, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)
Reality shows tend to include editing that creates a sense of story and characterization. Even in the span of 40 minutes, you can actually root for or against people on FF since they actually edit the contestants to fit different character archetypes. They give contestants their own voiceovers so that they can share their personal details and backgrounds. That's what sets it apart from regular stunt shows.
Brain0918, in my opinion, Wikipedia's own definition of a reality game show is somewhat flawed and needs to be corrected and further clarified. It's not a good evidence to back up your case. I also agree with the statement above. --Andylkl (talk) 04:27, Mar 26, 2005 (UTC)

Game shows focus on the game itself. Reality shows focus on the characters, the game/challenges/voting/makeover is just a catalyst for showing a person's growth within the length of an episode or season.--Madchester 19:57, 2005 Mar 25 (UTC)

i'm for the reality stunt-dare desi too. --ShurTape 23:17, 25 Mar 2005 (UTC)


Has this been resolved yet? I'm still under the impression its a reality game show with stunt dare elements. --LeoTheLion 03:20, 22 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I was browsing through the RfC pages when I came across this, and I thought I'd weigh in on the issue (since there's still a {{disputed}} tag on it). Many game shows focus to some extent on the characters. They just do it a lot more now because of the popularity of the reality show genre. I think that reality shows either show the characters interacting with each other outside of the competition tasks, perhaps while living together (such as The Apprentice), or show the characters for most of their waking, and sometimes sleeping, moments (such as Survivor, I would imagine, not having seen more then five or ten minutes of that particular show). By "most", I mean within the confines of editing of the show (since each show typically lasts only an hour with commercials). Based on my opinions, I would suggest that Fear Factor is a game show, since the it clearly doesn't show the characters interacting with each other outside of the competition, nor does it show the characters for the most of their waking moments. The competitors walk in, do their tasks, then walk out, and we never see them outside of their tasks, apart from the interviews. --Deathphoenix 05:46, 28 Apr 2005 (UTC)

I can't believe the disputed tag is still on this page, as the solution to this dilemma is blindingly obvious: "Although commonly referred to as a reality show, Fear Factor is more appropriately categorized as a game show." This can be placed in the lead and elaborated on in the article, iff necessary. Johnleemk | Talk 15:46, 4 May 2005 (UTC)

I wrote something to that effect earlier in the article but it got lost in the revisions after Vikreykja's edit. --Andylkl (talk) 12:34, May 5, 2005 (UTC)
  • I'LL TELL YOU WHAT KIND OF SHOW IT IS, FOR REAL...IT IS THE WORST SHOW, PERIOD!! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Lesanichelle (talk • contribs) 06:17, December 18, 2005 (UTC).
  • Should the Trivia/ Extra section of this article be transfered to Wikiquote? --BrenDJ 02:34, 28 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Cancellation Date

The cancellation paragraph in the beginning is vague. It only gives a month, and not the year that it was cancelled. Other Wiki's on TV shows list beginning and ending air dates for shows. Just tossing that up, hoping somebody with some knowledge on the show has the correct dates. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 207.114.232.98 (talk • contribs) 06:27, May 30, 2006 (UTC).

I don't think there was a specific date. The show sort of faded away, with no hard cutoff. There was never any kind of "official last episode", or "Finale" Gigs (talk) 04:32, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Possible Additions?

In the "Criticisms" section, should we put in something about the declining quality of Fear Factor? I mean, it must be a general consensus that its quality is declining, because its popularity began to go down after Season 3, and now it's being taken off the air. If someone can find reasons why people don't like it anymore -- it's boring, the stunts are bad, the people are annoying, etc. -- can you please add them and cite the source?

  • That would not fit NPOV rules... if there is a source, it needs to be placed in a paragraph in the form of "some fans like it because" and "some fans don't like it because"... giving both sides and citing sources from each. -Goldrushcavi 21:05, 22 July 2006 (UTC)
Yeah, that's what I meant. Sorry if I put it that way, but of course I meant it to be NPOV. I was thinking more along the lines of, "Ratings have dropped in recent years due in part to....."though. -- Ellie

Also, maybe we should do an Amazing Race thingy for the Tournaments of Champions -- what the stunts were and who got eliminated where. I can TiVo the Season 3 Tournament of Champions when it comes on Channel 9 in, like, two weeks, and get stuff from there.

Also, there was a Comeback episode for winners who didn't win the Tournament in Season 5 or 6, I don't remember which. There was also a "$1,000,000 Heist" episode in Season 6 (after which I stopped watching Fear Factor). Can somebody add those please?

Also, did they really have a "Twins" episode where each twin played for themselves after the first stunt?

In fact, did they ever have a "Twins" episode before Season 4? I don't remember one, and I saw every episode in the first three seasons.

Just suggestions.:) ~Ellie

Hi. I sort of renovated the article, since it wasn't really up to standard -- I made the tone more formal, took out extraneous information, and added things as necessary. Someone else also made more corrections and additions -- thanks, whoever did that. Anyway, I hope you guys all like the article. BTW: NEVER put contractions in a Wikipedia article. This one had, like, a million. Bye. ~Ellie

Yo, should we mention that Fear Factor may be faked in the article? I know of one show where a stunt is fake, at least. In one episode, they claimed that people were swimming with piranha, and the fish were, in fact, pacu that were uninterested in eating the meat they threw into the tank (pacus are vegetarians; my mom owned a pair of them and they used to eat canned peas, in fact!). One woman on the show also claimed that one of the fish bit her. I don't think so, lady. ^ _ ^. Fiction Alchemist 14:32, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] American Humane Association

What animal's have gotten hurt or killed besides worms and cockroaches? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.169.60.41 (talk • contribs)

Fishes or eels that the contestants have to swim with? Snakes, scorpions, and mice that they have to handle? --Andylkl [ talk! | c ] 05:56, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
Remember the episode when they had to eat the.....equipment.....of certain animals? Remember the episode when they had to toss dead rats into a bucket using only their mouths? And how do you think they get the congealed blood used in many stunts? There has been a plethora of animals that have been unwillingly sacrificed all in the name of ratings. ~Ellie

Speaking of eating animal parts...I have to ask myself, are they sanitary? I mean, one episode involved eating animal guts from the "Road Kill Cafe." Now the plate was full of who knows what and maggots. I find it hard to believe that that's FDA approved. I'm sure the show is not liable for anything, but what's the point of winning $50,000 if you have to spend it to get a tapeworm or whatnot removed? Eridani 1110 9 Oct 2006 (EST)

Admittedly there are a lot of various animal "parts" on the show but that doesn't mean that animals have been slaughtered for the show. Your local butcher, for example, could give you an assortment of hearts, livers, kidneys... As for the, er, more delicate items, they are parts that would otherwise be incinerated after the animal has been slaughtered for meat, leather and other by-products. (Anishta77 18:24, 6 March 2007 (UTC))

I found an article about the 'sanitary factors' and added it to the 'external links' section.

[edit] Sorry.

Sorry, everyone. I think it was me who accidentally screwed up the talk page (back in the day before I was a registered user! :) ). Now I know what I did wrong, however, so that won't be a problem anymore. Just so you all know. :0 *embarrassed* Ellie041505 13:17, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

Don't worry about it, it's okay. :) --Andylkl [ talk! | c ] 14:22, 28 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Erroneous information

The information about the "Home Invasion" is wrong. It was not "included in a lot of episodes in each season." They only did the "Home Invasion" in the last season. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 143.166.255.42 (talk) 01:36, 22 March 2007 (UTC).


[edit] Live Attraction

Why has there not been a page created for the live attraction in universal studios? (JW)

[edit] eel incident/lawsuit

I can't locate references offhand for this. If someone could help me out and find one. I remember a contestant had to transfer electric eels from one tank to another. She claimed (after the fact) that her skin was burned by the shocks and she was traumatized and I believe there was some sort of lawsuit filed over that. I'm sure it was settled out of court. Gigs (talk) 04:49, 30 May 2008 (UTC)