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sticks out its tongue
Whoa! Gross out! Will viewers tune in? Likely.
By Elizabeth White
One year and one entertainment president later, NBC is at last entering the reality show fray with its daredevil game show "Fear Factor," which debuts on Monday.
You’d think that after all this time NBC would slip quietly into the genre, like a guest joining a party already in full swing.
You'd think its eventual entry would be fine-tuned to have that certain polish NBC likes to give to its shows.
You'd be wrong. About "Fear Factor" there's no soft-stepping and absolutely zero polish.
Leading up to its debut, the show has been almost universally panned by critics as a new gross-out low, and this in a genre that has already seen contestants eating rats and bugs.
Rats and bugs will undoubtedly play a part in "Fear Factor" as well, which challenges six contestants per episode to perform creepy, scary, and physically rigorous stunts. The one who completes the most tasks walks away with $50,000 and many bruises.
That NBC would opt for a show with such a high gross-out factor comes as something of a surprise, considering its generally cautious approach to the genre.
The network passed on "Chains of Love" and only recently tentatively tested the waters with "Weakest Link." Former entertainment president Garth Ancier was rumored to have been ousted in part because he didn’t move quickly enough to embrace the reality craze.
Folks at NBC say that they wanted a show that would motivate viewers, to either enjoy the show or turn off the TV, and felt that the summer was the best time to try an experimental style of programming.
Media buyers say that it’s about time that NBC had some reality programs, even if "Fear Factor" appears to be more compatible with Fox than in its position on the same network as "The West Wing."
"With this one program, I think there is an advantage to calling attention to themselves, because this is their first, and it’s common knowledge that they passed on a couple before," says Angela Miller, vice president and associate director of national broadcast at GSD&M.
"They wanted to state that they have the quality shows that they’re known for. But because they took their time, so many other networks passed them by."
The harsh critical reception may also have less effect on a reality program than on other genres. Critics were skeptical of "Survivor," based on its premise alone, and "Fear Factor" is one of the few reality programs that has even offered critics review tapes.
Perhaps most importantly, the demographic that these shows target, the younger half of adults 18-49, doesn’t seem to pay much attention to reviews anyway.
"When you talk about reviews, the older end of the demo pays attention, and the younger end does not. It won’t hurt that younger age cell," says Miller.
"If CBS was able to attract that many young adults in the summer, the other networks sit up and take notice. Movie studios are interested in finding that audience."
And even if the young people do care, a little controversy never hurt the ratings, as Fox’s "Temptation Island" can testify.
"There will definitely be a lot of tune-in, and the first episode will do really well, especially if it’s promoted during the NBA," says Shari Anne Brill, director of programming services at Carat.
"NBC is looking at what’s succeeded and taking those elements and mixing it up. I don’t know how people watch it, but people watch 'Jackass.' People slow down for car accidents. If it’s entertaining, people will watch it."
"Quality shows on NBC refers to the broadcast season. After that, all bets are off," quips Brill.
As for the timing of NBC’s first reality foray, media folks say there’s no time like the summertime. NBC, for its part, says that there are no plans yet to air "Fear Factor" during any season other than summer.
"Strategically, it’s a sound move, and publicity is good. It’ll draw in viewers to the show," says Brad Adgate, senior vice president and corporate research director at Horizon Media. "It’s certainly better than running repeats of entertainment shows. Audiences have shown that they will watch this."
June 8, 2001 © 2001 Media Life
-Elizabeth White is a staff writer for Media Life.
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