Summary

• Fear Factor was Joe Rogan's big break, despite him initially thinking the show wouldn't last long.
• The show is heavily edited, with producers manipulating clips to create storylines.
• Fear Factor prioritizes safety, with all stunts being quality and safety checked by professionals.

Fear Factor was a stunt game show originally hosted by Joe Rogan and later Ludacris, and there are some surprising facts about the competition. Contestants were tasked with completing three extreme challenges designed to test them physically and mentally, all in an attempt to capture the grand prize of $50,000. It made audiences gasp, cringe, laugh, and, most importantly, glued them to their TV sets during the early 2000s.

However, there was a lot more to this show than meets the eye. Fear Factor had quite a few interesting aspects that many viewers never realized, particularly related to its production and origin. The reality TV competition genre encompasses numerous shows, including the controversial Single’s Inferno and the much-loved show Survivor. While there are some disgusting Fear Factor challenges, there are also plenty of fun facts about the show that might pique viewers' interest. Here are a few little-known facts about one of TV's biggest hits of the 2000s, Fear Factor.

Fear Factor Was Joe Rogan's Big Break

Before landing the hosting gig on Fear Factor, Joe Rogan was mainly known for his influence on mixed martial arts and his stint on the show NewsRadio. He was also making a name for himself as a stand-up comedian, which is ironically part of why he took the job.

Rogan did not expect Fear Factor to survive very long and thought it would soon get canceled (via Moyens). However, he accepted the hosting position anyway because he thought it would give him some good material for his stand-up routine. It's safe to say he was wrong about the show not having legs, though he got plenty of comedy fodder. He's since moved on to hosting his own podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience.

The Show Is Heavily Edited

It’s a known fact that reality TV shows are not what they seem on the surface. Some of the fakest reality TV shows often have contestants complaining that they’re not portrayed accurately. This is usually done through clever editing and stitching to vastly different clips for producers to create the storyline they want. However, contestants must be okay with how the producers edit the show, even if producers move around clips to make them look bad (via Diply).

Fear Factor Prioritizes Safety

There are a lot of incredibly unhinged challenges on Fear Factor. What makes the show terrifying is that it supposedly threatens each competitor's well-being, putting their mind and physical body under strain.

However, an article by The Things notes that all the stunts were quality and safety checked by professionals. That means every stunt is perfectly safe, whether bathing in cow’s blood or eating sheep's eyes. With so many terrifying challenges and episodes, Fear Factor is one of the most rewatchable reality TV series of all time.

Contestants Have To Sign Comprehensive Contracts

Just like some of the best reality competition shows, Fear Factor must also have an extensive contract that both protects the contestants and frees the production crew from being liable for any unfortunate incidents that might happen during filming. According to The Things, the producers of Fear Factor were serious about protecting contestants; that’s why they had them undergo numerous screening tests to ensure they could handle the show’s challenges.

Fear Factor Is Dangerous For Everyone

Fear Factor was dangerous for viewers as well as the actual contestants. At one point, the show faced a seven-figure lawsuit stemming from the fact that a disgusting challenge had a juice that included a blended rat (via Law.com). It made the viewer sick and disoriented, which led to him injuring himself. Despite the Ohio man's plight, the judge soon dismissed the case, stating that the First Amendment protected the show. Viewers with weak stomachs should think twice before watching Fear Factor.

Dutch Origins

The concept of Fear Factor was not developed in the United States. The show's origins can be traced to the Netherlands, to a show called Now or Neverland, which featured a similar stunt-based concept (via The Things). Endemol USA, a Dutch media company, developed it. After its success in the European market, it was rebranded and renamed. The show tapped Joe Rogan as its leading man, and finally, Fear Factor was born.

Fear Factor Was Meant To Compete With Survivor

Fear Factor originally aired on NBC, although it was later revived on MTV. It was quite a novel concept for the network, but it was not aired because fans were specifically clamoring for a stunt-based game show. NBC producers were looking for something catchy and entertaining enough to compete with CBC's hit show, Survivor. They made the right decision, as Fear Factor became a talking point at water coolers across the United States, standing toe-to-toe with CBS's already-established brand.

Fear Factor Couldn't Compete With American Idol

The first couple of seasons of Fear Factor went swimmingly. Ratings were steady and excellent, and the show had firmly asserted itself as more than a flash in the pan. Then, American Idol started to pick up speed, which spelled doom for Joe Rogan and company. Producers tried to prop the show up by introducing more extreme stunts and a few innovative concepts, but it did not work out. The show hemorrhaged viewers, as Idol dominated Tuesday nights. Ultimately, after six seasons, Fear Factor was canceled in 2006 but revived twice.

The USDA tested Fear Factor Challenges

Contestants were often tasked with consuming something vile on Fear Factor, usually during the second of three stunts. These disgusting things included silkworms, pig livers, sheep eyes, and buffalo testicles. On the surface, these tasks seemed genuinely dangerous for the contestants. However, the USDA first tested all the disgusting things they had to consume. They were all safe for consumption. Couple that with the extensive health screenings contestants were subjected to before the show, and they were actually in very little danger.

There Was A Fear Factor Video Game

Fear Factor experienced a meteoric rise in popularity when it first aired, so much so its success trickled into the gaming world. At the time, the Game Boy Advance was one of the most popular handheld gaming consoles. Thus, a Fear Factor video game was created. However, it didn't sell well and received scathingly negative reviews.

There Was An Unaired Episode Of Fear Factor

After watching Fear Factor, one might be forgiven for concluding that nothing is too gross for a stunt. If contestants can eat buffalo testicles, they can eat anything, right? This was not the case.

The episode "Hee Haw! Hee Haw!" never reached television sets, and for good reason. The stunt in question that was deemed too revolting, even by this show's standards, involved contestants drinking donkey urine and donkey semen, the amount of which depended on a horseshoe toss. Unsurprisingly, this crossed a line with Fear Factor producers. At least the USDA determined that the urine and semen were safe for consumption!

Source: Moyens, Diply, The Things, Law.com