The Chamber (2002– ) User Reviews

Semi-impressive game show whose welcome will wear out fast.

[Aussie Stud · 24 January 2002]

"THE CHAMBER" is much like "WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE" and "THE WEAKEST LINK". They were fun when they first premiered, but a year or two later, the audiences have moved onto the next exciting thing to hit their television sets..."THE CHAMBER".

Rich Schwartz is the host of "THE CHAMBER", a 'game show' where two contestants (a male and a female) battle it out in a 'head-to-head' questionnaire. An example of the type of questions asked would be, "Name a U.S. state beginning with the letter N'. Each contestant responds until one cannot come up with an answer - the opponent being given the chance to win the point by giving a final correct answer. The first contestant to reach a total of 'two' points buys his or her pass to compete in 'the Chamber'.

The Chamber itself consists of a huge steel chair (think of Arnold Schwarzenegger in "TOTAL RECALL") where the contestant is strapped in, hooked up to heart, pulse and blood pressure monitors to prepare themselves to be exposed to extreme temperatures that will be randomly selected by a computer - either hot or cold. Once the contestant is strapped into the chair, the chair then slides back into the 'Chamber' which is a huge box with metal shutters and glass panels. If the contestant is to battle hot temperatures, flames will shoot out from the sides. If the contestant is to battle cold temperatures, water is sprayed onto them which turns into ice and frost, followed by blasts of cold air. On top of that, the chair rotates upside down where the contestant is compelled to answer questions in a certain time period.

The game period is extended over 'seven' phases. Each phase, the chamber gets either colder or hotter, thereby inflicting further pressure upon the contestant to think harder because the questions become more difficult. If the contestant consecutively gives two incorrect answers, the game is over. However, if the contestant is successful in answering the questions correctly within the certain time period, they move onto the next phase. Each correct question gives the contestant $1,000.00. If the contestant is eliminated within the 'seven' phases of the questioning, their cash pot is halved and that is the prize money they get to leave with. However, there is a further stage following the 'seven' phases should a contestant be so successful. So far, no one has even gotten past the fourth stage so it remains to be seen how brutal the final stage will be.

Some foibles within the game would include the headset that the contestant must wear in order to hear the questions and to interact with Rick Schwartz. The headset is unbelievably attached with nothing more than scotch tape. In extreme heat, the contestant usually sweats which takes away the adhesiveness contained in the scotch tape. The same is applied when the temperatures are freezing. When the contestant is repeatedly blasted by cold water, the scotch tape comes off. Another noticeable foible lies within the questioning. One of the questions featured in a previous episode was, "Name one of the top 10 female magazines in the U.S.". The female contestant obviously has the upper-hand in this style of questioning and as it proved in that particular episode, the male contestant couldn't even think of at least one answer. To make this game more 'fair and competitive', questions

to be asked should be un-sexually biased.

Other than that, "THE CHAMBER" is not such a bad game show. It has the same appeal like "GLADIATORS" once had, but unfortunately the average person of today doesn't even remember that show. I'll give this show maybe two years max.

Secret Guilty Pleasure

[VanillaLimeCoke · 8/10 · 9 March 2012]

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.