To be truthful, I really have to admit that I secretly enjoyed this show. I mean this was a really cool show the short time it lasted. The only problem is that the risks were psychotic and the rewards were a bit skimpy. This was a cool idea just taken too far.
From what I've read 6 episodes were taped but only 3 were aired. I was lucky enough to see two of the three.
In my opinion, this was sort of like an adult psychotic version of the late 1980s FUN HOUSE show.
The basic plot of the show consisted of two parts. The first part would have two contestants face off in best of 3 question contest. The contestants from what I understand would always be a male vs. female. Each time one answered a question correctly, they would score two point. The first to score two points would then enter the chamber of doom.
The contestant was strapped tightly to this chair and then asked if they just wanted $500 instead of entering the hazardous chamber (which no one ever took).
The chamber consisted of seven levels, each lasting a minute long and becoming more hazardous by each second. Contestants were asked pretty basic questions (usually T/F, multiple choice, fill in the blank, one word answer). Each correct answer was worth $1000. The contestant would only lose in three ways: (1) if they answered two questions incorrectly in a row (2) If they were in the danger zone on their vitals for 20 consecutive seconds or (3) If they couldn't take it anymore and demanded the host to "STOP THE CHAMBER".
If they lost, they'd only keep half of their winnings.
If they managed to survive all seven levels they'd keep all their earnings (which did happen once). If they answered 25 questions correctly, they'd get the grand prize (which never happened, and I'm not sure if they also had to go through all seven levels if necessary).
Of the three episodes that were aired only two chamber of dooms were used; a hot and cold chamber.
From what I understand, the chamber was always chosen at random from a computer. Thus, the contestant couldn't choose it.
I'll start with the hot chamber. This chamber started at a temperature of I think 110F. It would gradually increase to I think 165F (providing how far the contestant got). But that's just the least. There were flame cannons, wind cannons (which blasted up to 60mph), and at a certain point the chair would start to rotate (having the contestant upside down).
The cold chamber was probably just as worse. This chamber started at a temperature of 30F and would gradually decrease to I think -15F. Like with the hot chamber that was only the least. This chamber had stimulated avalanches and water jets. I think it also had the wind cannons too which would blast up to 60mph. I know that the chair didn't rotate in this chamber.
Supposedly there were three other chambers. From what I read there's mention of electric shock chamber, water torture chamber, insect chamber, and I think even hurricane and/or wind chamber. Its not known what hazards were used in these chambers nor even if they were used in the three episodes that were never aired.
From what I saw in the first show, I remember this one lady get pretty far in the hot chamber until the seat started rotating and fire started blasting her back to the point where she was cursing mild obscenities. I think eventually she red lined too long and they stopped the chamber.
In the last show, final segment one guy managed to survive all 7 levels but yet failed to answer 25 questions. He won $20,000 and then supposedly sued the show for $100k because he was hospitalized hours afterward for his medical bills.
Also the earnings could have been more generous like so. -If losing and before entering level 4, the earnings would be 50% -After entering level 4 but losing: Take Home = Earnings * (Level made it) / (7); thus if the contestant made it to level 7, they would take home what they see at least. -If win but didn't answer 25 questions correctly Take Home = Earnings + $50,000. -If answer 25 questions correctly $100,000 take home Of course, this would be before taxes came out, and maybe the last one would only count if they made it to level 7 (but given the circumstances that no one ever answered 25 questions, I don't see how if anyone else would have only made it to level 6 or before and answered all the questions correctly).
The fact that as long as a contestant didn't answer two questions incorrectly back to back, they could get as many incorrect answers with no penalty was very generous.
This show was indeed pretty cool IMO, with all the statistics showing (CAUTION/SAFE/DANGER zone), (Temperature), (Quake Scale), (Wind cannons at 'x' MPH), and whole bunch of other stats. Plus the lights and mist made it look even cooler.
I remember that the FOX website had a special section for this show where you could play an online version of the game, but still kinda cool (I just remember the question box rocking and rotating upside down). I would actually be willing to purchase this show IF it ever came out on DVD, just to see those other three episodes there were never aired.
So overall from this extensive review I have just given (and I think I'm only like the 2nd person to review this), this was a great idea for a show but it was just taken way to far and turned into something very brutal. Otherwise, it could have been a SMASH HIT.
From what I've read 6 episodes were taped but only 3 were aired. I was lucky enough to see two of the three.
In my opinion, this was sort of like an adult psychotic version of the late 1980s FUN HOUSE show.
The basic plot of the show consisted of two parts. The first part would have two contestants face off in best of 3 question contest. The contestants from what I understand would always be a male vs. female. Each time one answered a question correctly, they would score two point. The first to score two points would then enter the chamber of doom.
The contestant was strapped tightly to this chair and then asked if they just wanted $500 instead of entering the hazardous chamber (which no one ever took).
The chamber consisted of seven levels, each lasting a minute long and becoming more hazardous by each second. Contestants were asked pretty basic questions (usually T/F, multiple choice, fill in the blank, one word answer). Each correct answer was worth $1000. The contestant would only lose in three ways: (1) if they answered two questions incorrectly in a row (2) If they were in the danger zone on their vitals for 20 consecutive seconds or (3) If they couldn't take it anymore and demanded the host to "STOP THE CHAMBER".
If they lost, they'd only keep half of their winnings.
If they managed to survive all seven levels they'd keep all their earnings (which did happen once). If they answered 25 questions correctly, they'd get the grand prize (which never happened, and I'm not sure if they also had to go through all seven levels if necessary).
Of the three episodes that were aired only two chamber of dooms were used; a hot and cold chamber.
From what I understand, the chamber was always chosen at random from a computer. Thus, the contestant couldn't choose it.
I'll start with the hot chamber. This chamber started at a temperature of I think 110F. It would gradually increase to I think 165F (providing how far the contestant got). But that's just the least. There were flame cannons, wind cannons (which blasted up to 60mph), and at a certain point the chair would start to rotate (having the contestant upside down).
The cold chamber was probably just as worse. This chamber started at a temperature of 30F and would gradually decrease to I think -15F. Like with the hot chamber that was only the least. This chamber had stimulated avalanches and water jets. I think it also had the wind cannons too which would blast up to 60mph. I know that the chair didn't rotate in this chamber.
Supposedly there were three other chambers. From what I read there's mention of electric shock chamber, water torture chamber, insect chamber, and I think even hurricane and/or wind chamber. Its not known what hazards were used in these chambers nor even if they were used in the three episodes that were never aired.
From what I saw in the first show, I remember this one lady get pretty far in the hot chamber until the seat started rotating and fire started blasting her back to the point where she was cursing mild obscenities. I think eventually she red lined too long and they stopped the chamber.
In the last show, final segment one guy managed to survive all 7 levels but yet failed to answer 25 questions. He won $20,000 and then supposedly sued the show for $100k because he was hospitalized hours afterward for his medical bills.
Also the earnings could have been more generous like so. -If losing and before entering level 4, the earnings would be 50% -After entering level 4 but losing: Take Home = Earnings * (Level made it) / (7); thus if the contestant made it to level 7, they would take home what they see at least. -If win but didn't answer 25 questions correctly Take Home = Earnings + $50,000. -If answer 25 questions correctly $100,000 take home Of course, this would be before taxes came out, and maybe the last one would only count if they made it to level 7 (but given the circumstances that no one ever answered 25 questions, I don't see how if anyone else would have only made it to level 6 or before and answered all the questions correctly).
The fact that as long as a contestant didn't answer two questions incorrectly back to back, they could get as many incorrect answers with no penalty was very generous.
This show was indeed pretty cool IMO, with all the statistics showing (CAUTION/SAFE/DANGER zone), (Temperature), (Quake Scale), (Wind cannons at 'x' MPH), and whole bunch of other stats. Plus the lights and mist made it look even cooler.
I remember that the FOX website had a special section for this show where you could play an online version of the game, but still kinda cool (I just remember the question box rocking and rotating upside down). I would actually be willing to purchase this show IF it ever came out on DVD, just to see those other three episodes there were never aired.
So overall from this extensive review I have just given (and I think I'm only like the 2nd person to review this), this was a great idea for a show but it was just taken way to far and turned into something very brutal. Otherwise, it could have been a SMASH HIT.