Viewer Sues Over 'Fear Factor' Rat Episode

[Thomas Paul]

CLEVELAND - A viewer is suing NBC for $2.5 million, contending that he threw up because of a "Fear Factor" episode in which contestants ate rats mixed in a blender. Austin Aitken told The Associated Press he watches "Fear Factor" often and had no problem with past installments where the reality show's participants ate worms and insects in pursuit of a $50,000 prize � but eating rats went "too far."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20050107/ap_on_en_tv/tv_fear_factor_lawsuit

If I could sue every time TV made me sick, I would be spending a lot of time in court!

[Jeroen Wenting]

I agree that it may be a bit farfetched but it's high time the ever more disgusting practices portrayed in fearfactor and similar shows are stopped somehow.
Maybe this will lead to the networks starting to realise that people have had enough.

[Steven Bell]

Give me a fricken break!!!

If you don't like the show, change the chanel. If people don't watch they yank the program. Stupid lawsuits like this are so ridiculous and cause so many problems, this guy should be slapped for being an idiot.

[Helen Thomas]

Because people are fast forwarding through TV ads , advertisers are finding creative ways to mess with your mind.

Stands at bus shelters, urinals, trains, taxis, students' foreheads are essential for product placement.

X-Factor funded by Nokia as well as Fashion House
Friends , funny how they all drink Budweiser
In Britain product placement is banned but it's there so subtly.

I'm not sure what the ad advantage of the blended rat drink is, though.

[Marc Peabody]

Originally posted by Helen Thomas:

I'm not sure what the ad advantage of the blended rat drink is, though.

Maybe it's a new protein drink.

[Michael Ernest]

Originally posted by Steven Bell:

If you don't like the show, change the chanel.

Yeah, but from No. 5 to what?

[Eric Pascarello]

People are trying to make money fast and it annoys me. Sad thing is that man is going to get nothing and the lawyers will get all of it, that is even if this makes it to the court which I doubt it will.

All I can say is change the channel, use your V-CHIP, read a good book, or rent a disney movie with a single white woman with 7 little men that sing that great song that rounds it all up.

Eric

[Bacon]

I agree with Steven, if you don't like it, change the channel.

I used to like Fear Factor and that other show where they tried to set new world records. But when the eating gross stuff came on, I watched something else. I simply have no desire to watch people eat revolting things. The last time I watched Fear Factor, there was no eating involved. Perhaps they did get the message that many people do not care for it.
[ January 07, 2005: Message edited by: Ray Marsh ]

[Steven Bell]

Originally posted by Michael Ernest:

Yeah, but from No. 5 to what?

Does your TV not have more than channel 5?


Maybe 2-4, or 6-70.... however high it goes.
If you get digital cable or satalite you can have serveral hundred channels with nothing to watch.

Or here's a crazy idea. If you don't like what's on turn it off. Read a book. Go outside. Nobody is holding a gun to your head forcing you to watch.

[Thomas Paul]

Originally posted by Steven Bell:
Does your TV not have more than channel 5?

Michael was having a joke with your misspelling. "Chanel No. 5". Get it?

[Steven Bell]

I so didn't even catch that.


I am so crippled by spell check it isn't funny. Well, maybe a little funny.

[Helen Thomas]

Originally posted by Michael Ernest:

Yeah, but from No. 5 to what?

No 19 works for moi. It's spring time. Failing that Nina Ricci, L'Air du Temps is similarly amusing.

[Bacon]

Originally posted by Steven Bell:
...here's a crazy idea. If you don't like what's on turn it off. Read a book. Go outside...

Do people actually do that kind of stuff? I remember seeing something about that on the History channel.

[Madhav Lakkapragada]

Fear factor was always a creepy thing for me. I couldn't stand it from the beginning. Actually I don't watch all those reality stuff at all. And this New years I wanted to reduce the time I spend in watching TV. I now restrict myself to the Sienfeld re-runs and PBS (Nova programs). But, that's just me.

I agree that this law suit is just plain stupid. Change the channel, switch it off and move on.

- m

[Marc Peabody]

Originally posted by Eric Pascarello:
... or rent a disney movie with a single white woman with 7 little men that sing that great song that rounds it all up.

"Hi ho"? If that's the punchline to a subtle joke, I like it.

[Eric Pascarello]

Marc - I did not want to come out and say it