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?
when is it comeing back like what day and mounth cause i dont know and ill love to watch the show again it was the best show ever i thought it was cool it diden’t gross me out my hubbie said he would do it
They took Law & Order LA off but they can put this junk on???? Are you kidding me – I guess I’ll be reading a lot of books. I Hate Reality SHows!
Joe Rogan? I thought he was in love with Carlos Mencia.
Are you kidding me? Why would that piece of junk come back? Whose watching it? I’m definitely not, but then I can’t stand what passes for Reality TV… I liked shows like World’s Apart… but what passes for contrived Television. Nope… don’t watch, won’t watch. And guess what… ANOTHER reason NOT to watch NBC.
Probably won’t last, they already said their changing it, which means no more old style that was working. As for the new host, they’ll find some new Hunky looking guy that they can use to attract the lady viewers and us un-scweamish gay guys out here. They’ll save more money this also, since Mr. Rogan would expect to paid atleast what he was back then + inflation.
The simple fact is, with the UFC being the biggest sport in, almost the entire world, everyone knows Joe. It would be stupid not to have him back for ratings.
And ABC wants to cancel our soaps for more reality trash. NBC needs to look at the hell ABC is getting for it’s choices and learn.
I would hardly call it “Reality TV” it is a game show, why not call Price is Right Reality TV? Yes there were things that were not pleasant to watch, there were many things that were not entertaining to watch… But turn the channel… The FACT is that it is performing well in reruns from YEARS ago on other nearly no named channels… Of Course NBC is going to bring it back. Best you can hope for is that it does not perform well. However I doubt that. The show frequently had scantily clad jock type people on it, that… Read more »
Fear Factor returns to traumatize a new generation of contestants for life! …yeah, that seems fair. Reality TV, especially early reality TV like Fear Factor, glorified vices. Remember that show that actually encouraged couples to cheat on their significant others? Temptation Island or something like that? Well, Fear Factor’s vice is greed. How much are you willing to put yourself through in pursuit of money? Ugh.
OMG! NBC is really hard-up if reviving that garbage is what they consider “new” programming.
I don’t watch stupid reality shows, period, and this news makes me glad I have many channels and an X-Box 360 as well as this PC!
If they took out the part with the needless suffering of animals and/or insects – then I wouldn’t care if it came back! But if they kept the inhumane treatment of creatures in it, I would likely have to boycott NBC! There are many disgusting things for contestants to do that don’t involve eating live bugs or parts of slaughted animals, or piling snakes or rats on top of each other, causing them severe stress! Either way, I won’t be watching it! But I think NBC should spare themselves the embarrassment of it all!
Are you kidding me? The ratings could get a lot worse than last time!
I’m in the middle. I liked the show, but it wasn’t great. It was decent for awhile then it went downhill. I suggest getting a new host honestly. Joe was OK, but not great.
YES! I love Fear Factor! I used to watch it on NBC! I’m glad it’s coming back for 2011! I’ll watch it!
Yeah, we need it revived ’cause God knows we don’t have enough crap Reality TV.