Heather Mullinix "Title Forthcoming" Published Jan. 14, 2005

Enough with the rats, change the channel already

Reality is actually stranger than reality television. A man is suing NBC's hit show "Fear Factor," saying an episode that featured contestants eating rats so sickened him he is entitled to $2.5 million.

According to Reuters, the Cleveland, OH, resident, Austin Aitken, said in his handwritten lawsuit, "To have the individuals on the show eat (yes) and drink dead rats was crazy and from a viewer's point of view made me throw-up as well an another in the house at the same time."

I'm not a fan of "Fear Factor," or pretty much any reality television show since the premier of "Real World" more than a decade ago. Frankly, the majority of these shows pander to the worst common denominators of our society. As if women lining up to compete to marry a millionaire wasn't bad enough, you've had shows where couples are constantly tempted to cheat on their significant other for cash, kids get to choose who will marry their dad and a woman tries to pick her real father from a cast of fakes. The only reality television show that I can think of that has put anything of worth into the world are "The Biggest Loser," which actually helped contestants to lose weight and bolster their self-esteeml.

But, I've never sued any of the networks or cable stations for airing such trash. I merely change the channel and find some fiction to watch. Who can't identify with some of the characters on "Everybody Loves Raymond"? And, I admit, I'm absolutely addicted to "Law and Order," in all its forms, and I can watch an episode pretty much any time of day.

Mr. Aitken seems to have forgotten no one was forcing him to sit there and watch people humiliate themselves for the sake of a dollar.

His lawsuit complains the show caused his blood pressure to rise so high that he became dizzy and light-headed, and when he ran away to his room, he bumped his head on the doorway. Sounds like a $2.5 million injury to me.

After four seasons, anyone who watches television at all should know what the show is about. It's people doing some really crazy, and sometimes very disgusting, stunts to win a cash prize. It's not like Mr. Aitken can claim he didn't realize contestants were made to eat unsavory dishes. His suit adds, "NBC is sending the wrong message to its TV watcher that cash can make or have people do just about anything beyond reasoning (sic) and in most cases against their will."

The show is about stretching people's boundaries, and, in theory, facing their fears. But, just as no one forced Mr. Aitken to watch the show, no one forced the contestants to appear on the show. Everyone knows what they are signing up for, whether they are part of the action or part of the audience.

Hopefully others who find the show gross and disgusting will leave the courts out of it and hit the networks were it hurts, in the ratings. Perhaps they will even turn off the TV and open a book.

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Heather Mullinix is assistant editor of the Crossville Chronicle. Her column appears periodically. She may be reached at reportnews@crossville-chronicle.com.