10 Disturbing Game Shows That Made Contestants Do TERRIBLE Things

10 Disturbing Game Shows That Made Contestants Do Terrible Things

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be looking at the most bizarre game show concepts that put contestants through an absurd series of challenges, all in the name of entertainment.

“American Gladiators” (1989-96; 2008)

The gladiators in ancient Rome risked their lives in brutal combat against each other, and sometimes even wild animals, just to keep spectators entertained. In the late ‘80s, American TV producers decided to cash in on that thrill with an equally intense, but far less fatal, competition. “American Gladiators” featured everyday contestants battling both each other and the show’s own “gladiators,” in grueling tests of strength, agility and endurance. Contestants got tackled, battered and knocked off towering platforms, all while wearing very little protective gear. The show was finally cancelled in 1996, but made a brief comeback in 2008. Was it entertaining? Absolutely. But let’s just say contestant safety wasn’t exactly top of mind for producers.

“Dadagiri[a]” (2008-11)

The Indian game show “Dadagiri” was every high school student’s worst nightmare come to life. Its premise was similar to most game shows: contestants competed in physical and mental challenges for a cash prize of Rs. 50,000. But there was a cruel twist. The show also threw in a team of professional tyrants to hurl insults, intimidate and psychologically manipulate contestants. Getting eliminated wasn’t any easier. Those who lost were forced to consume a series of disgusting items before leaving. The conditions were so intense that in one infamous episode, a male contestant retaliated after being slapped by a female tormentor. Sure, Rs. 50,000 was a tempting prize, but was it worth reliving the trauma of high school? Probably not.

“The Interception” (1997-98)

In the late 1990s, carjacking was on the rise in Russia, so some TV producers had the genius idea to create a high-stakes game show to deter the crime. Thus, “The Interception” was born. Contestants were given the keys to a car equipped with a live tracking device. If they could evade the police for 35 minutes, they would win the car. Unlike many so-called reality series, this one wasn’t staged. The officers were real-life cops chasing the contestants through the streets of Moscow. The show was not only dangerous, but it also made the police look embarrassingly bad after getting outrun by ordinary civilians. Worst of all, it failed to curb carjacking. As a result, “The Interception” was cancelled after just 14 episodes.

“Ultraman Dash” (2010-)

These days, many pastry chefs blur the lines between reality and cuisine with their hyper-realistic cakes. But long before “Is It Cake?” hit the airwaves, Japanese TV had already been playing with this concept on “Candy or Not Candy,” part of “Ultraman Dash.” However, rather than bakers, the contestants were celebrities, tasked with figuring out what was a pastry and what was real. And what better way to test that than actually taking a bite into the item. The celebrities would have to identify the edible object from a distance, which would then be brought closer for them to take a bite out of. Unsurprisingly, they weren’t always right, and often ended up chomping down on actual shoes, paintings, door knobs, and other unexpected everyday items.

“Three's a Crowd” (1979-80)

In the 1960s and ‘70s, Chuck Barris[b] was a household name, known for creating and hosting hit shows like “The Dating Game” and “The Newlywed Game.” But his TV empire came crumbling due to one controversial misstep: “Three’s a Crowd.” On this show, a man is quizzed on personal questions, and his answers are compared with those of his wife and secretary. Needless to say, this was a recipe for marital disaster, especially as most of the questions had a sexual undertone. In fact, according to some crew members, the show led to some marriages getting dissolved during commercial breaks. The backlash from “Three’s a Crowd” not only led to its speedy cancellation, but also those of “The Dating Game” and “The Newlywed Game.”

“Susunu! Denpa Shōnen[c]” (1998-2002)

Back in 1998, before reality TV became what it is today, Japanese comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu, better known as Nasubi, was selected for the game show “Susunu! Denpa Shōnen.” Little did he know, his life was about to change drastically. Over the next 15 months, he was confined to a small apartment, completely naked, and tasked with winning one million yen through sweepstakes. Unbeknownst to Nasubi, his suffering was being filmed and broadcast to the entire nation, drawing in record numbers every week. Perhaps the most harrowing part was that food was in short supply, so Nasubi had to survive on dog kibble, which made him lose a lot of weight. By the end, Nasubi was physically and mentally broken, and struggled to reintegrate into society.

“The Chamber” (2002)

The idea for this Fox game show came about when a network executive watched “Fear Factor” and felt it didn’t go far enough in showcasing contestants’ pain and suffering. In response, he created “The Chamber,” a series that arguably overcompensated for that perceived shortcoming. Contestants were made to answer trivia questions while strapped inside a literal torture chamber, hence, the title. To make matters worse, they were subjected to either extreme hot or cold temperatures, alongside unbearable effects like simulated earthquakes and powerful winds. If that sounds like torture to you, you’re certainly not alone. “The Chamber” faced immediate backlash upon its premiere and was locked away in a chamber of its own after just three episodes.

“Man vs. Beast” (2003-04)

You might be hoping we’re not about to tell you this was a game show where humans competed against animals. But unfortunately, that’s exactly what it was. From the same geniuses at Fox that brought you “The Chamber,” “Man vs. Beast” was a series of TV specials featuring humans facing off against animals in bizarre physical challenges. Events included a 100-meter race between a sprinter and a giraffe, a tug-of-war between a Sumo wrestler and an orangutan, and of course, a hot dog eating contest between a competitive eater and a bear. It was just as ridiculous as it sounds. Despite heavy criticism from animal rights activists after the first installment aired in 2003, Fox still went ahead with a second part the following year.

“Repo Games” (2011-12)

Reality TV has successfully transformed courtroom cases into hit shows, so it was only a matter of time before producers pushed the concept further. In 2011, “Repo Games” premiered on Spike, featuring real-life repo men giving debtors a chance to win back their repossessed cars by correctly answering trivia questions. If they succeeded, their car, and outstanding loans, would be paid off. But if they failed, well, they would wave goodbye to their vehicle. Equal parts exploitative and sadistic, “Repo Games” somehow aired 40 episodes before getting cancelled. These days, it’s mostly remembered for the incident where one furious neighbor, who was apparently unhappy about the show filming nearby, shot at their production van and was arrested for attempted murder.

“Hurl!” (2008)

Competitive eating contests are bizarre enough, but this show cranked the insanity up several notches. On the short-lived series “Hurl!” contestants weren’t just required to eat at record speeds, they also had to keep the food down for as long as possible. But that was easier said than done, considering they were then subjected to intense activities, most of which involved relentless spinning designed to make them vomit. To win, they had to endure up to six rounds of extreme eating and even more extreme motion sickness. Perhaps the most nauseating part of it was that the grand prize for all of that effort was just $1,000. Frankly, that’s worrying enough to make anyone lose their hurriedly eaten lunch.

Which of these outlandish TV shows did you watch when it aired? And which of them do you think you would succeed at? Let us know in the comments below.
[a]daw-daw-gear-REE https://youtu.be/vxh0kSx2MJ8?si=gEudFAsdEzLNrBjj&t=1 OR https://translate.google.ca/?sl=hi&tl=en&text=dadagiri&op=translate

fifty thousand indian rupees

[b]Barris rhymes with harris https://youtu.be/khAqZeBx9OI?si=vaSDLlnXr_2YH7PL&t=16
[c]soo-SOO-noo DEN-pah SHOH-nen https://forvo.com/search/Susunu%21%20Denpa%20Sh%C5%8Dnen/
tomo-AW-kee HAWMMAWT-soo https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ja&tl=en&text=%E6%B5%9C%E6%B4%A5%20%E6%99%BA%E6%98%8E&op=translate
NAWSOO-bee https://forvo.com/search/%E3%81%AA%E3%81%99%E3%81%B3/