Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
It’s official: Universal not reviving ‘Fear Factor Live’
Universal Studios theme park is pulling the plug, permanently, on “Fear Factor Live,” its crowd-participation show that challenged contestants with encounters both slimy and slightly terrifying, a Universal Orlando spokesperson confirms.
The attraction has appeared in Universal’s lineup off and on since June 2005 and was also known for being the home of stage productions during Halloween Horror Nights, including the current run of “Halloween Nightmare Fuel.” Its open-air stadium was the home of “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure” show for many HHN seasons. “Fear Factor Live” never returned after the 2020 pandemic-related shutdown; its plaza served as a no-mask zone after the park’s reopening.
The theme-park show was based on the NBC reality series “Fear Factor,” and it was the first bit of the network’s programming to have permanent residence in Universal theme parks after Comcast, NBC’s parent company, took over in 2004.
“When you think Fear Factor, everyone expects sticky, ooey and gross, and we will not disappoint,” Scott Trowbridge, then vice president of Universal Creative, told the Orlando Sentinel before the debut of “Fear Factor Live.”
Participants faced off in the “eel tank relay,” an endurance hang, a stunt-driven challenge and other feats. Winners won low-level prizes such as T-shirts.
A similar attraction opened at Universal Studios Hollywood but closed in 2008.
Universal has not said what it will do with the “Fear Factor Live” space, which will close Nov. 1, the day after Horror Nights ends.
The theater is wedged between the park’s Men in Black: Alien Attack attraction and the Diagon Alley side of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The theme park recently announced that is shuttering its Shrek 4D attraction on Jan. 10. Its Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster will begin a monthslong closure for maintenance in January.
Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. Want more theme park news? Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters or the Theme Park Rangers podcast at orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-podcast.