This show brings together a bunch of over-confident and sometimes arrogant people to compete in three stunts, mostly involving height, water and eating something gross, to win $50,000. Personally, I always enjoyed watching the second stunt, which is the gross stunt. Who wouldn't be intrigued seeing a person try to consume live bugs or spoiled animal parts? Just never watch this show during or after a meal (like I did a few times). The other stunts the involves water and height and other features like racing on a trapeze were entertaining at times, but can get mediocre. This show would occasionally bring on celebrities like Daniel Baldwin, Kevin Anderson and soap opera actresses. They are worth-watching, doing something out-of-their-league for a change, and it is notable that they're playing for charity. This is one of those shows that I have to bring myself to see because I do not want to miss any episodes and do want to catch in all the action; never know what crazy stuff an episode is going to dish out. Great entertainment at times, especially the gross stunts, but could take a toll on a contestant's self-esteem and a person can get ridiculed live on TV. Most of the macho jerks and dumb-blonds who think muscles and smart-mouths can win the competition end up losing, which is, I think, ironically funny! If you catch reruns of this show, watch on an empty stomach.Grade B-

American pop culture, whether you love it or hate it, is here to stay and "Fear Factor" is no exception. As host Joe Rogan puts it "The stunts are extremely dangerous and should not be attempted by anyone, anywhere, anytime", that's a statement that has true meaning to what this show is all about. I must say that although most of the episodes are not all that, there are some that are truly gross and will make you or your hot date freak out almost immediately. The cast consists of 3 males and 3 females, but I prefer to see the female side of things on this show. Likewise, seeing beautiful, scantly-clad babes competing for $50,000 is enough to draw a male audience. All in all, this show is living proof that pop culture is once again here to stay in the good 'ol U.S of A!!!

Yes this show does degrade people and I am probably contributing to the problem of it. A lot of the stunts make me mad though because they are cruel. It seems like everyone has gone back to grade school where the kids used to eat sand. Drinking an ostrich egg or biting into cow parts definitely is very nasty. Being dragged around is probably a lot more painful then getting a lethal injection. I would opt for the latter. Are there not easier ways to make $50,000? Go on The Price Is Right and play Plinko or go on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. What makes me even angrier is that Joe Rogan probably gets paid 10 times the amount of money to watch the people degrade themselves. I'm trying to wean myself off it because it's not a positive contribution to our society. There used to be a time where shows considered people's safety and what was bad for their bodies. No more. The jerks involved with this show are people concerned only about furthering themselves while bringing other people down. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that people like Joe Rogan could crack jokes at the expense of people putting their health and lives at risk. Everyone involved in this show should perform community service.

Fear Factor is like a car wreck - everyone wants to watch it, but hope they never have to be in it. My 'beef' is with the episode that had 3 women and 3 men bobbing for rings in the tank of cow's blood. Was it entirely necessary to show the women showering with the blood running down their breasts, thighs, legs and feet? Compared to the men's showers, it was like two different episodes. Is that totally necessary? When the male contestants showered, one never sees the midsection or blood washing down through their pelvic region. Are the producers afraid that showing men with blood in the shower would indicate that they were menstruating? Puh-leez! This wasn't the first show (and probably not the last) to portray the female body in a negative image, and the unequality in filming the genders is offensive. This episode left me wondering if the portrayal of women in America will ever be on an even par with the macho image that the baggy-shorted males. Remember, half of the population (and the contestants) are female, so show the same angle for both, or don't bother to show it at all.