Running Man for real?

August 24, 2001 11:27 AM

Running Man for real? Reality TV takes one more step closer to that plateau we're all awaiting. (Found on the Warren Ellis Delphi Forum.)
posted by matt8313 (16 comments total)

This is what (supposedly) rehabilitated criminals will learn from watching and/or gunning for a spot on Danger Island: that there is always a loophole, a chance to manipulate the system, to amply rectify your wrongdoings and begin to feel better about yourself without a lot of effort and determination. Maybe Western world elections could be run similarly - eliminate dedication to ideology and progressive thought, disregard track record, and simply have candidates engage in televised activities that they've already proven their capacity for: trash-talking forums, a smile-off, and maybe a firm handshake-a-thon. Oh, wait, I think I've seen programming like that before. How about a show where Reality TV Producers are given lobotomies on camera?
posted by crapchute at 11:55 AM on August 24, 2001

I think both shows would be equally cool, which is to say, very.

But they should actually be REAL, dammit, not like that STUPID fake serial killer show. How scary is a fake serial killer? Boo! BOOOO!!!
posted by UncleFes at 12:00 PM on August 24, 2001

Weren't Matt Damon and Ben Affleck supposed to be working up one of these things, too? I think the concept was that they'd be running 'cross the country, and we'd all have to find them.

Then again, Matt'n'Ben have attached their names to so many projects lately that they're starting to remind me of the hopeless kids hanging out at the coffeeshop, coming up with schemes never to be enacted, developing projects just far enough to claim ownership but not far enough to claim success...of wait, that was me.
posted by me3dia at 12:03 PM on August 24, 2001

I got into a heated discussion one time with my rommate about this very subject. I said that eventually, they will da show like Fear Factor, where there are no saftey harnesses, and where the contestants are challenged to eat things which can harm them. Perhaps a little Russian Roulette. They will do so after having signed what will be an air-tight waiver which will be bulletproof enough to stand up in court.

All for the enjoyment of the Springer crowd who seems to be bitchslapping the Nielsen's right now.

My roommate says that it will never happen. I think she's wrong.

(The server for the URL referenced in the post seems to be down right now.)
posted by fooljay at 12:26 PM on August 24, 2001

Um, please don't string up the newbie for a) missing the facetiousness of the previous posts or b)being Captain Obvious here to save the day, but isn't this a hoax? Or at the very least something so underfunded and ill-conceived that it will never happen?
posted by cowboy_sally at 12:26 PM on August 24, 2001

Oh there's a plateau? Here was me thinking there was no end to the one-up-manship. This concept is disturbing on so many levels...

Some more info from an article by Susan Schechter at
reality tv online -

"I should emphasize that Danger Island is still a concept only. No TV channel has picked it up as of this writing, and the web site lists several people at the major US networks to write or e-mail in order to show your support for picking it up in the 2002 television season. This show seems to still be in open casting for contestants (see web site for an application – but please don’t go out and commit a crime just so you can be eligible)."

Kids, take special note of that last point before you turn to crime solely to get a gig on a reality TV show. You can do it to make quick money and settle scores as well.
posted by lucien at 12:27 PM on August 24, 2001

I got into a heated discussion one time with my rommate about this very subject. I said that eventually, they will da show like Fear Factor, where there are no saftey harnesses, and where the contestants are challenged to eat things which can harm them. Perhaps a little Russian Roulette. They will do so after having signed what will be an air-tight waiver which will be bulletproof enough to stand up in court.

This is a major plot device in the 50's novel "Gladiator at Law" by Frederick Pohl (with Kornbluth?)
posted by DBAPaul at 12:53 PM on August 24, 2001

Are you sure this isn't a hoax? This struck me as being right in line with "Man Beef" and "Bonsai Kitty".
posted by Steven Den Beste at 1:15 PM on August 24, 2001

sure it may be a joke, but do you think they'd turn down a production deal?
posted by o2b at 2:01 PM on August 24, 2001

I hope this is real for Lou Ferrigno's sake. OJ Simpson is probably not far behind. Hey, could celebrities who have been convicted felons be on too, I wonder?
posted by zedzebedia at 2:21 PM on August 24, 2001

The contests will involve very intense physical and psychological challenges designed to pit some of the most diabolical criminal minds in the world against the best trained Manhunters on earth

Oh man, that's great. I can't tell if that's coming out of the mouth of a supervillian or a B-movie trailer.

I can almost smell the next press release, "DangerIsland is too dangerous to be contained on the small screen and now has funding to become a full length feature starring..."
posted by skallas at 3:30 PM on August 24, 2001

It may just be me, but when I think of "The Running Man", I think of that dance once popularized by the likes of MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice.

And yes, I am an '80s child. '80s/early '90s, anyway.
posted by lannie628 at 7:52 PM on August 24, 2001

Can't believe no one in this thread has linked to Battle Royale yet.
posted by Zettai at 8:09 PM on August 24, 2001

Probably has something to do with the fact that Battle Royale hasn't shown in the U.S. yet, not even in those poorly attended arthouse theatres where the people working the popcorn have spiky hair and pierced lips.
posted by poseur at 8:55 PM on August 24, 2001

Here's the Affleck/Damon project - coming January to ABC
posted by owillis at 12:29 AM on August 25, 2001

The Running Man: A short story by Steven King. Made into a very different (plot-wise) and bad movie starring Schwarzenegger. Now a TV show 'invented' by Matt-n-Ben. The link's above.

The Most Dangerous Game: A short story by Richard Connell that was in a lot of people's high school english text books (in the U.S. at least). Now being made into that horrific show.

Art imitating art.
posted by zpousman at 3:56 PM on August 25, 2001