Is Bear Grylls Refactoring Fear Factor?

Bear Grylls has a new show, but few details are available. We know that he will avoid injuries as a spectator. I will explain how you can participate in the NBC Bear Grylls Adventure.

This show was created for Bear Grylls. A previous version, Get Out Alive with Bear Grylls, was described as:

extreme adventure reality-competition series headlined by world-renowned adventurer Bear Grylls

The current version, The NBC Bear Grylls Adventure was developed by a company with a cute name: ElectUs. (I added caps).

ElectUS is led by Ben Silverman. Mr. Silverman also produced The Office, Ugly Betty and The Biggest Loser for NBC.

I have never watched Mr. Silverman’s previous shows. I am familiar with The Biggest Loser because it appeared in an advertisement for StreetStrider, the first elliptical tricycle. I enjoy riding a bicycle. I would really like to try a StreetStrider. Unfortunately, there are no StreetStrider showrooms near me, in Lexington, Kentucky.

Starving for Dollars

Mr. Silverman is smart. Losing weight is not exciting. Nevertheless, Americans have enjoyed watching The Biggest Loser, where obese contestants have starved and dehydrated themselves for prizes, since 2004. On TV, contestant Kai Hibbard lost 118 pounds in twelve weeks. However, she said:

I have people that come up to me and talk to me and ask me why they can’t lose 12 pound in a week when I did. When I didn’t. It didn’t happen. It’s TV. I helped perpetuate a myth that’s dangerous.

Bear Grylls has been caught faking stuff. I hope his new show is legitimate.

Incidentally, Kai Hibbard regained 31 pounds in two weeks after the show.

Eating Bugs for Dollars

I do not why Bear Grylls is scowling, with a wrinkled forehead, in this show’s publicity photos. I expect the contestants on the new Bear Grylls show to make worse faces eating non-kosher insects.

Although this was not mentioned in the press release, the new Bear Grylls show sounds like Fear Factor. If you have forgotten Fear Factor, The New York Times described it as a:

Reality series in which contestants compete by performing extreme physical, mental and gastronomic challenges under the supervision of Hollywood stunt coordinators.

Fear Factor contestants were couples. Just like the new Bear Grylls show. They competed eating insects and other silly stuff. I watched Fear Factor many times. I stopped watching Fear Factor, after host Joe Rogan, who never scowled, forced a nearly blind, 75-year-old G. Gordon Liddy, who was winning, to drive around an obstacle course. Mr. Liddy crashed almost immediately, so someone else could win.

Now or Neverland

Fear Factor was created by Endemol. It began on Dutch TV as Now or Neverland. The New York Times listed “Nerves of Steel” as an alternate title, but I was unable to find any information about that.

Drinking Donkey Semen For Dollars

I found a Fear Factor video of two women drinking donkey semen and urine which was not shown on American TV.

They might have been unemployed. They definitely needed cash.

Why Copy Fear Factor?

Fear Factor was syndicated after its fifth season. It earned hundreds of millions of dollars.

Fear Factor was revived for two episodes in 2012. One stunt was:

being submerged in a tub full of leeches before having to consume 10 leeches

Fear Factor stunts are completed under the supervision of professional Hollywood stunt coordinators. Bear Grylls is the ideal person to supervise these stunts.

Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi

Fear Factor is popular in India. The Indian host is Ashkay Kumar, a Bollywood action star. Indian stunts are milder than American stunts. Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi won an Indian Telly Award for “Best Reality Show” during its second season.

The winning season, Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi – Level 2, was described as:

Thirteen women— minor celebrities— are paired with people in need of money. The idea is for the pairs to complete two difficult tasks, involving both creepy crawlies and physical challenges, with the weakest performers being eliminated at the end of the day’s tasks.

Bear Grylls is the logical host

Bear Grylls knows more about “creepy crawlies and physical challenges” than almost anyone on Earth.

How To Meet Bear Grylls On His New Show

Contestants should submit a video for the best chance of being selected. I doubt that we will see many contestants over 40, none over 70. G. Gordon Liddy would not be selected.

If you want the best chance of being selected:

• Fill out an application
• Create a compelling video with your partner
• Attend an audition with your partner. Dates below.

Date	City	Location / Map
Dec 8	Atlanta	Georgian Terrace Hotel
Dec 8	Detroit	Gardner-White
Dec 9	Dallas	Gilley's Dallas
Dec 15	Fayetteville	Fayetteville Athletic Club
Dec 15	Los Angeles	Boys & Girls Club of Venice
Jan 12	New York	Flatotel
Jan 12	Phoenix	Superstition Springs Center

NOTE: All times are 10 AM — 4 PM local time.