If you've ever wanted to hang from a crane or eat stink beetles, this could be your chance.
The NBC television show "Fear Factor" is coming to Fargo, one of 22 cities selected nationwide, for "Home Invasion," a new feature on the show.
Casting directors will search for what a press release calls "the single most energetic and fearless household in Fargo" to participate.
If a Fargo family is selected, a crew will come to its home and film an actual "Fear Factor" stunt.
Mikey Glazer, a cast producer for the show, said the 22 cities were narrowed from an original list of 60 and cover a range of television markets from New York to Jonesboro, Ark. Fargo is one of the mid-level market cities, like Toledo, Ohio, and Evansville, Ind., under consideration.
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Glazer said the only way "Fear Factor" would skip Fargo is if no suitable family is found, but that's unlikely.
If a Fargo family is picked, it won't be given any warning about what stunt the show will require. The family will not compete against anyone else; the sole requirement will be to complete the stunt successfully.
Nor will family members know the prize, although it will be in the $5,000-to-$10,000 range, either cash, merchandise or a trip. "It's not going to be a 'Fear Factor' T-shirt," Glazer said.
Anyone wishing to apply should send a recent family picture and interior and exterior pictures of their house to Fargo@FearFactor.com . The e-mail should list who lives in the house, the relationship between everyone and all necessary contact information and state why that family should get a visit from the show.
Shooting in the "Home Invasion" cities is scheduled to begin in July.
Charley Johnson, general manager of Fargo NBC affiliate KVLY-TV, said it's rare for programs like "Fear Factor" to come to Fargo, although "you've got to keep in mind that this whole reality (show) thing is sort of new."
Fargo people have been on other network game shows - a couple were on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" during that show's heyday - but the shows didn't send producers here to actually recruit participants, Johnson said.
He was unconcerned that local residents would object to "Fear Factor," which is perhaps best known for challenges in which contestants must eat bugs, worms and other nearly inedible creatures and things.
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In fact, Johnson didn't know what a contest here would entail.
"Maybe they're just going to feed them lutefisk," he said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Tom Pantera at (701) 241-5541
