Real-ing ‘em in: Reality shows eager to push risk factor in Vegas

Judy Odierna

Monday, Jan. 20, 2003 | 8:22 a.m.

With the gleam of strobe lights in his eyes, Greg Peters climbed out of a 29th-floor window of Luxor and slid down the front of the pyramid.

Peters' Las Vegas experience earlier this month was unusual; it has been shared by only four other people, all fellow contestants on TV's stun-driven reality contest "Fear Factor."

The contestants competed for the $50,000 grand prize by swinging down Fremont Street, a la Tarzan, before dining on eyes of cow, sheep and fish in the Mandalay Bay presidential suite. The finale of the episode, which will be aired March 31, was sliding down Luxor.

"It's been incredible," executive producer Matt Kunitz said of the show's Las Vegas experience, which included an episode-ending high-stakes blackjack game for the winner. "What was important for us is we needed a hotel that was good for stunts."

Where else but Las Vegas?

The city has become the mecca for reality television programs. In addition to "Fear Factor," virtually every major reality-based show including "COPS," MTV's "The Real World," "The Osbournes," "The Anna Nicole Show," "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" and numerous new reality hopefuls have made stops in Vegas over the last few years.

With the city's buffet of sights, glamour and only-in-Vegas attitude, the TV industry has "found" a new home.

"Vegas has been so hot the last three to five years with celebrities and people so fascinated with gambling and what the city has to offer," said George Maloof, owner of the Palms, which was the host hotel for "Real World Las Vegas."

It's not just reality shows any number of TV shows have come through Vegas, including "CSI," which is centered on Las Vegas police investigators, and plenty of movies have been filmed in town. But reality programs are finding Las Vegas to be a perfect venue.

Jeanne Corcoran, production manager for Nevada Film Office, said there were more than 30 reality shows that had inquired about production in Vegas in 2002.

"Reality television is so inexpensive to produce so there is a huge surge in that kind of production," she said.

But reality programs have had to overcome casino executives' fears. There is a hesitancy for a hotel to let a show tape a stunt such as a "Fear Factor" contestant eating cow eyes because it could hurt the property's image.

And there's also a concern about liability not just because of the extreme stunts, but for the effect the stunts have on unsuspecting guests.

James and Laurie Ann Ryan of Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit in April in Los Angeles against the Hard Rock, MTV Networks and actor Ashton Kutcher over a practical joke that was sprung on the vacationing couple on Jan. 25, 2002. The episode was taped for a new MTV reality series called "Harassment."

The couple entered their room at the Hard Rock Hotel and discovered what appeared to be a dead body. When the couple tried to leave they were detained by actors posing as security guards until Kutcher, the show's host and co-producer, revealed the gag.

The Ryans' suit alleges violation of privacy and fraud and says they suffered emotional distress. The suit was moved to federal court in June.

The couple's lawyer did not return phone calls seeking comment. Jonathan H. Anschell, the lawyer representing Kutcher, MTV and the Hard Rock, said he could not comment on the case.

But Yale Rowe, vice president of marketing for the Hard Rock, said the hotel is not opposed to working with reality shows in the future.

"We certainly talk to each of them as they approach us," he said. "If it is something that appeals to our demographic, and the exposure is appropriate, then we will work with them."

Location manager Frank Carillo didn't find a warm welcome when he was arranging a shoot in October in Las Vegas with "Scare Tactics," a hidden-camera show. The show is hosted by actress Shannen Doherty and expected to air on the Sci-Fi Channel this year.

"MGM MIRAGE definitely said no," said Carillo, who eventually arranged a number of public venues as well as shoots in private homes.

"Especially with reality shows, if they perceive it to be negative they don't want to be involved with that," he said. "If you offend someone in a casino they are not going to blame us, they are going to blame the hotel."

Alan Feldman, spokesman for MGM MIRAGE, said the company is not against all reality-based shows.

"We are in discussions with a reality show that is more romance-based and we may choose to do something with that," Feldman said. "We get requests from sitcoms, news magazines, and each one is analyzed on its own merits. My own view is that it would be rare for a 'Scare Tactics' or a 'Fear Factor' to relate to our brand, our hotel and our experience. We don't want anyone to be scared or frightened while visiting us."

"Fear Factor" producers were greeted with a lackluster response when they first approached Mandalay Resort Group.

"Mandalay was not interested," said Billy Richardson, who works on special events for Mandalay. "I brought (Mandalay executives) the stats on viewership and told them it was a great opportunity. They were a little hesitant, but the general manager of the Luxor (Vince Matthews) loves 'Fear Factor.' "

They eventually found a great fit -- the Luxor and its sister hotels will get plenty of free air time on "Fear Factor."

"The Mandalay group has bent over backwards to make the show work, and work great," Kunitz said.

"Fear Factor," which is on NBC, took out a $25 million insurance liability during their production. Corcoran said liability limits imposed on productions start at $1 million.

Contestants on the show also sign a 50-page waiver and know ahead of time they will be doing dangerous physical stunts and a "gross-out" stunt.

"Although our show is controversial, we are incredibly responsible," Kunitz said. "We don't do any hidden camera stuff."

Those shows that do set people up usually have the victim's friend, relative or significant other as a co-conspirator. Carillo said anger is the initial reaction of many targets of hidden-camera pranks.

"Some people don't see the humor in it and they won't sign the release," he said. "If something played off really well, though, producers will do just about anything within reason to get them to sign the release. Once you get them to sign the release, it's a done deal. Most people will sign it, believe it or not."

But even when there are willing participants, there can be problems.

In 1999 MTV's "Real World/Road Rules" challenge show was shut down during a stunt in which 12 contestants bungee-jumped off the 660-foot level of the Stratosphere. The hotel canceled the competition, citing concerns about wind conditions, safety and potential lawsuits.

The producers of the show, Road Rules Productions Inc. and Bunim/Murray Productions, won a court order allowing them to continue with the jump because they agreed to provide the Stratosphere with advertising and promotional opportunities and $22 million in primary and excess liability insurance for the event.

"Overall our general policy has been to take each show on a case-by-case basis," said Mike Gilmartin, public relations manager for the Stratosphere. "Obviously we want something that shows the hotel in a good light."

Gilmartin said broadcasting a performance by the rock group Creed for the Billboard Awards on Fox was worth the time, cost and exposure. Other ventures just don't fit the bill.

"I got a message on my voice mail from a guy who wants to jump a limo off our parking garage into hundreds of tires," he said. "Then you have someone credible like 'Fear Factor.' That's the gamut. Vegas is a very hot city right now. We get everything and anything."

Maloof knows that all too well. His Palms hotel was the living quarters for the cast of "Real World Las Vegas," and ever since taping ended Maloof says he has been bombarded with other reality television requests. Some he has welcomed, such as those from ABC's new show, "The Bachelorette." Many others have been voted off his to-do list, however.

"Someone wanted to follow the life of a stripper and she was going to stay here. We passed on that one," Maloof said. "We have gotten a lot of requests from people who want the 'Real World' suite for their own real world."

With popular viewing parties at the Palms every night that "Real World" is broadcast, and various new reality shows such as "Joe Millionaire" being added to television schedules, the requests to shoot in Las Vegas are expected to continue to come in.

"I don't know when it's going to stop," Maloof said. "I'm kind of burnt out from watching them."

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