The end of the world as we know it – and I don’t feel fine
-
- June
- 4
It is true. The apocalypse is upon us.
Every time I believe the absolute worst reality show concept has been created and there can’t actually be anything worse, I get a shout on Digg proving me wrong.
Case in point: Ladies And Gentlemen, The Worst TV Show in the World!, as written in Broadcasting & Cable.
The show is called Hurl! (yes, the exclamation point is part of the name) and it’s on G4. In fact, it’s so incredibly horrible that I’ve had this in my drafts for more than a month and only finally now decided I just had to post it.
Here’s the description, courtesy of B&C:
LOS ANGELES, April 29, 2008 — G4 is taking competitive eating competitions to the next level with a new series that combines speed-eating with intense physical challenges. In each episode, five brave contestants attempt to consume the largest quantity of food in a short amount of time and are then immediately subjected to a series of challenges designed to shake them up. The one to hold his or her food down the longest claims victory and walks away with a cash prize, the Iron Stomach Award, and more importantly, serious bragging rights. The half-hour series, “Hurl!” premieres summer 2008 on G4.The competition is made up of multiple stages, beginning with an intense eating contest. Contestants are challenged to consume a massive portion of some popular All-American favorite, as quickly as they can, with items ranging from chicken pot pies to New England chowder, fish sticks, hot dogs, blueberry pie, and more. Those who devour the largest quantity and keep everything down move on to the second stage where they must face nausea-inducing physical challenges, designed to shake them up – from carnival rides to belly flops off a high dive, to mechanical bull-riding. Each episode features two different cuisines and a new outrageous challenge.The few survivors remaining who have held on to their stomachs are forced back to the food table, where they must gorge an additional serving of a surprising new menu item. In a comedic and gag-inspiring display, the remaining few desperately try to prevent themselves from getting sick. If the competition is still underway after the second round of eating, they advance to the final tie-breaker stage, heading back to the daunting physical challenge. And this time, for added pressure, the physical challenge introduces a surprise twist, making the final stage especially difficult.
Viewers will laugh and cringe their way through the half-hour show as they witness the eliminations of contestants who can no longer avoid the inevitable queasiness and the often messy celebrations of the new champions.
Look, I never pretended I’m the most discriminating television viewer. I was totally hooked on Joe Millionaire, for goodness sake!
But a game show in which the ultimate goal is to make people puke? My only question: Who’s gonna puke first? The contestants or the viewers?
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, June 4th, 2008 at 5:07 pm by Amy Vernon.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print
| 
Email
I think the viewer will lose his lunch first. What an absolutely awful concept for a show. Binge eating and then bulemia with an audience. No thanks.
Debby
Oh my money is on the viewers!
This station used to be a great tech station, help with all things computers, and then one day. poof GONE! and in its place this stuff emerged. I have to be very careful that my kids don’t wander to the station without my being there…....... so I am not surprised one bit that they are now into this whole reality thing.
thanks for the alter to this.
Yuck, you’ve got to be kidding me! I can’t even stand to clean up my dog’s puke (my husband does it!) so I’m definitely not going to watch a show where people gorge themselves and then throw up. I’m betting any view over the age of 13 isn’t going to like this show either…
Funny, this was more or less my reaction to Viva Laughlin.
(and I didn’t even eat anything!)
C.
Oh my gosh. that is awful.
Yeah, as a rule, they don’t make good shows for G4. My inner nerd still misses TechTV.