Game Show NewsNet

Episode 4.14 (That's What Friends Are For) - November 29

This week, we are getting friendly, as we look at best friends, Fear Factor style. Let's see if a one hour show can make the following people bitter enemies...

Treymayne Bowens (Green Bay, WI - Chef) and Ryan Peterson (Appleton, WI - Pharmaceutical Sales) met at Ryan's wedding three years ago and have been best friends ever since. They are like, in Treymayne's words, 'Vanilla and Chocolate - like Ebony and Ivory'. They don't seem like the smartest apples in the orchard.

Brandy McKinnon (Sunny Isles, FL - Dental Assistant) and Anonymous Lucy (Addison, TX - Medical Manager) look like blonde foo-foo girls, but they say that they will not be taken lightly. Lucy was Brandy's patient. We did mention that they are blonde, right?

Mike Fuller (Cleveland, OH - Bartender) and Joey Artino (Cleveland Ohio) say that they look dumb - but they are really smart. He then has to figure out by counting that they have known each other for 15 years. There could be another theme here this week besides best friends. Dumb Factor, anyone?

Finally, there's Amber Hobbs (Nashville, TN - Waitress) and Tabitha Cooper (Nashville, TN - Waitress) and they think alike. They say that dynamite comes in small packages. Only one of them is a blonde - therefore, they will be my pick to win the show - just out of process of elimination.

Joe says what's on my mind, adding that there is an 'interesting bunch of people' for this week's show. We will see how interesting they are in the water as Joe unveils the first challenge...

Each member of the team will pick up a strobe light, go through one tube, and place it through the water. After completing the water course, they have to pass the strobe to their partner, who must then complete the course. No one will be eliminated, but the team that does this the quickest will win a pair of 2005 Dodge Durangos. Nice.

Ryan and Treymayne go first - and they warm up with a good luck hug. All of the other teams think they will crash and burn. All of the other teams are...surprisingly right, as Ryan swallows some water while gasping up for air and quits. Ryan apologizes to Trey, who tries to pick him up. They share some huggy time together as Treymayne says that they will do better on the next stunt. AwwwwBarf.

Brandy and Lucy are next. They take there sweet time, but they get it done, as Tremayne stares daggers at Ryan. Lucy is testing the water - and complaining that it's cold. This really pisses Joe off. 'This is Fear Factor. What the Hell did you think you were getting into?' Lucy quits, and Joe is disgusted. Joe verbally bitch-slaps Lucy while hoping that one team can get the stunt done. 'They posted up one strobe in 1:16. Please do not let that win the trucks, or I will vomit.'

Mike and Joe are next, and they think that they will get the stunt done, adding that the other women will quit the stunt. They don't quit, and complete the stunt in 8:39. Amber and Tabitha are last, and they are the only people who can take the trucks from Mike and Joe. They don't quit...but they don't attach one of the he strobes, and by having to redo the strobe, they run out of time. Mike and Joe win the trucks, while Amber and Tabitha are satisfied that they at least could complete the stunt.

Lucy and Joe pledge not to quit this time around. Will they quit over leeches? We'll see as one of the people have to transfer leeches by mouth from one partner to the other - blindfolded. The team that can get the most leeches across determines the order for the final stunt. The team that transfers the least amount of leeches will be drained out of the competition.

Mike and Joe go first, and after a good luck dance, they predict that they can transfer over 100 leeches. They don't, but they use smart strategy in terms of the leech transfer when one of them guides a finger to the teammates mouth. That teamwork results in 58 leeches, and that should be plenty...

...especially when we see the teams that are coming up behind them. Amber and Tabitha, the one worthy team in the last stunt, are next. Amber literally climbs into the tank to get the leeches, and it works to their advantage as they pick up 63 leeches. Joe and Mike may have some worthy competitors - if they make it at all, because Ryan and Tremayne are set to beat them all. Joe says that they have to redeem themselves from yesterday, and boy, are they ever. They are getting huge mouthfuls, and they may hit the 100 mark that Joey and Mike wanted to hit. Boy, did they ever - 212 leeches.

If Lucy and Brandy beat 58 leeches, then the team that won the truck will be making a premature and unexpected exit. Lucy swears that she isn't going to quit...then promptly quits after sticking her head in the tank of leeches. Mike and Joe celebrate, and a stunned Brandy is wondering if she has any other friends who she would want to pick for the loser's special. Brandy is infuriated. Let's listen to Joe. "Oh...my...God. I'm not even talking to you guys...Brandy, could you have picked a worse teammate?...You are easily the worst contestant we've ever had on the show. Ever. You win. You win. You get the award for the worst contestant. I feel bad for you, Brandy, but Lucy, I have nothing to say to you. Brandy, good luck in finding some new friends. Congratulations for being our worst contestant ever.' Brandy looks like she wants to dump Lucy in the leech tank.

We have no leeches in the final stunt - but we have 2 barrels. Each teammate has to walk on the barrels - the team that lasts the longest will win the 50 G's.

Ryan and Tremayne decide the order - and they want the ladies to go first. Tabitha slips off almost immediately, so it's all up to Amber. Amber keeps pace with the wheel, however, and she stays up for a long time. She stays on for 2:01, and that's going to be a decent time.

Can the men beat it? Mike and Joe are weirded out with the amount of huggy time that Tremayne and Ryan have - and they have their own pep talk. The talk doesn't work, as they only stay on for 1:04. 'We Suck. Remember the time that we suck at running? We really suck.'

Either the women will take the money, or the men who like to hug will bounce back from a disappointing start. They get another hug - then tell each other that they love the other person (wha?) and then they start. Ryan falls very quickly - and the $50,000 is now in Trey's feet. Can the guy who says that he is afraid of heights pull it through? No, as he falls in 50 seconds. It's now the women who get to share some huggy time with Joe, who is relieved that the money didn't go to a team that quit one of the stunts. Joe can appreciate the huggy time, as he gets to share it with the ladies, who get to share 50 grand. AwwwwBarf.