Prepare to be grossed-out again. NBC and Endemol USA have made a deal to revive Fear Factor, the reality competition TV series that ran for six seasons on the peacock network.
According to EW, the revival comes as the result of the reruns performing well for Chiller, a sister channel of NBC. The head of alternative programming, Paul Telegdy, watched the episodes himself and was impressed at how well they held up. He said, “No one has come close to doing what they’ve done on that show… You go back and they’ve stood the test of time. It always had this incredible spectacle to it.”
He then talked with Endemol USA president and CEO David Goldberg. They initially planned to bring Fear Factor back for a couple specials but then decided to go bigger and to revive it as a regular series. Telegdy noted, “The stunt and camera technologies have evolved since then, we’re going to be able to make it even bigger… We’re going to make it more visually arresting.”
According to Reality Blurred and the show’s website, casting is already underway. Right now, they’re looking for Los Angeles-based teams of two such as “married couples, siblings, parent/child, best friends, coworkers, teammates, roommates, [and] ex’s.” Winners will take home up to $50,000.
It’s unclear if host Joe Rogan will be returning. Two years after Fear Factor’s cancellation, he said that, “I enjoyed the money, but I didn’t enjoy doing the show. It was boring, and after a while, it was mindless. It’s not something I would look forward to, but it was a great paycheck.”
What do you think? Are you looking forward to the return of Fear Factor? Who should host the new version — Joe Rogan or someone else?
correct me if I am wrong but didn’t a contestant die while doing a stunt o the show?
I would love it. Fear Factor was like no other show, and it was exciting. I would watch it for sure…bring on the shock fest!