Ep 4. Computer Bugs

Fear Factor is an American reality show that premiered on June 11, 2001, where contestants compete to win a prize by facing their fears and performing stunts. Season 1 episode 4 titled "Computer Bugs" features six contestants who have to overcome their fear of insects and use their problem-solving skills to win the game.

The episode starts with the host, Joe Rogan, welcoming the six contestants, three men, and three women. Joe explains the rules of the game, and the first stunt involves the contestants to put their hands in a box filled with 12,000 crickets, beetles, and other insects. The contestants have to find and remove 20 different colored poker chips hidden among the insects using only their hands in under five minutes.

The contestants seem nervous, some more than others, as they put their hands in the dark box filled with crawling bugs. Some scream and shiver as they try to find the poker chips. One of the contestants, a woman, cannot bring herself to put her hand in the box and quits the game. The others persevere, and some find the chips quickly, while others struggle to find them all. The stunt ends, and the three contestants who found the most chips move on to the next round.

The next stunt takes place in a simulated computer system, and the contestants have to contend with large fake bugs and insects. The contestants have to navigate a maze of computer wires and destroy 20 different computer viruses hidden in the maze while avoiding the simulated bugs. The contestants are given a scoop and a shaker, and they have to fill the shaker with granules, which they can throw at the bugs to stun them and continue with the task.

The contestants all start in the maze at different points, and the competition heats up as they race to finish the stunt. One of the contestants loses his scoop, and another gets lost in the maze and cannot find the way out. The other four contestants concentrate and try their best to finish the task, but in the end, only two contestants complete the task, and they proceed to the final round.

The final round takes place in a wind tunnel, and the contestants have to catch six giant, flying bugs. The contestants have to put on protective gear and enter the wind tunnel, where the bugs fly in a circular motion that makes it hard for them to catch them. The contestants have to use a net to catch the bugs, and they have three minutes to complete the task.

The two finalists enter the wind tunnel, and the competition is fierce. One of the contestants catches a bug early on, and the other struggles to catch one. The bug-catching becomes chaotic, as the insects fly in unpredictable directions, and the contestants become more desperate to catch them. In the end, the contestant who had caught a bug early on manages to catch five of the six bugs, and he is declared the winner.

The episode ends with Joe Rogan congratulating the winner, who walks away with $50,000 in prize money. He commends all the contestants for their bravery and resilience, and he mentions that the next episode will feature more tests of bravery and problem-solving skills.

In conclusion, season 1 episode 4 of Fear Factor titled "Computer Bugs" is an exciting and intense episode that showcases the contestants' ability to overcome their fear of insects and their problem-solving skills. The stunts are challenging and nerve-wracking, and the competition is fierce. The episode is a testament to the human spirit and the ability to overcome fears and succeed in extreme situations.