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Scare Tactics

For the 1990s comic book series published by DC Comics, see Scare Tactics (comics).
For the use of fear in attempting to influence others, see Fear mongering
Scare Tactics
Created by
  • Scott Hallock
  • Kevin Healey
Presented by
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons
  • Original series: 5[1]
  • Revived series: 1[2]
  • Total: 6
No. of episodes
  • Original series: 96
  • Revived series: 10
  • Total: 106
(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Running time21 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseApril 4, 2003 (2003-04-04) –
October 28, 2013 (2013-10-28)[3]
NetworkUSA Network
ReleaseOctober 4, 2024 (2024-10-04) –
present

Scare Tactics is an American comedy horror hidden camera television show created by Scott Hallock and Kevin Healey and aired on Syfy from April 4, 2003, to October 28, 2013. The first season of the show was hosted by Shannen Doherty and then Stephen Baldwin took her place in the middle of the second season. At the beginning of the third season, the show was hosted by Tracy Morgan.

In July 2024, it was announced that USA Network would bring the show back with Jordan Peele as the show's executive producer. The show returned on October 4.[4]

Format

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The show's title card from 2010 to 2013.

Scare Tactics is a hidden camera prank show that puts victims into terrifying situations, usually involving movie-style special effects and makeup that recreates horror movie clichés. The victims, generally four per episode, are set up by friends/family in tandem with producers.

Unlike other hidden camera shows, Scare Tactics was shot and edited in a cinematic style intended to give each piece the look and feel of a horror movie.

There are some instances where the victims are lured into the pranks on the promise of being on a fake reality show called "Fear Antics" which plays off like a show similar to MTV's Jackass but end with dire consequences. In "Fear Antics", the victim is led to believe that they are the prankster, when in fact the joke is on them. Sometimes, the victim of "Fear Antics" will attempt keeping calm and rationally try keeping the situation from getting out of control (from their perspective).

The pranks end when the victim is completely terrified and an actor would ask them, "Are you scared?" to which they usually reply in the affirmative. They then get the reply, "You shouldn’t be! You're on Scare Tactics!" or "I'll have to/I'm gonna put you on Scare Tactics!". Alternately, at times when a victim almost ran for their lives, the actors would immediately announce the same thing. Rarely, a victim assulted an actor playing an antagonist in a moment of courage; forcing the crew to end the charade. There were only two occasions where a victim realized they were on Scare Tactics.

Guest stars

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Production

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Its first two seasons aired from April 2003 to December 2004. After a hiatus, the show returned for a third season, which premiered on July 9, 2008.[citation needed] The fourth season premiered on October 4, 2010.[5] On July 17, 2017, it was announced that Blumhouse Television was going to produce a new season of the show.[6] On July 25, 2024, USA Network announced that it would reboot Scare Tactics with Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions and Universal Television Alternative Studio set to produce.[7]

List of Scare Tactics episodes

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Season 1

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Season 2

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Season 3

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Season 4

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Season 5

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Season 6

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International broadcast

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In the United States, the show aired reruns on GSN as part of the "Friday Night Frights" block in October 2016,[8] formerly on MTV2[citation needed] and streamed on Netflix from 2019 to 2022.[9] In Europe, the first season of the program aired on MTV Central from 2003 to 2004. The show was also broadcast in Australia on Fox8, in Canada on MTV, in India on AXN, in Russia on MTV Russia (only the first two seasons), in Turkey on Dream TV, in Poland on TV Puls, in Finland on Jim, in South Korea on Q TV, in Sweden initially on TV6, and then on TV11. The program was distributed internationally by Rive Gauche Television.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Scare Tactics (Syfy) TV Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "Scare Tactics (Reboot Series) (USA) TV Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  3. ^ "Scare Tactics".
  4. ^ Otterson, Joe (August 29, 2024). "'Scare Tactics' Reboot From Jordan Peele Sets October Premiere Date". Variety. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Actor/Comedian, Tracy Morgan Returns as Host and First Time Executive Producer of Syfy's Hidden Camera Reality Series, Scare Tactics" (Press release). Syfy. March 16, 2010. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via The Futon Critic.
  6. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (July 31, 2017). "Blumhouse Television to Revive Reality Series 'Scare Tactics' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  7. ^ White, Peter (July 25, 2024). "Jordan Peele Rebooting Prank Show Scare Tactics For USA Network". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  8. ^ "GSN to Launch New "Friday Night Frights" Horror-Themed Programming Block in October" (Press release). GSN. September 22, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2024 – via The Futon Critic.
  9. ^ "Is 'Scare Tactics' on Netflix? Where to Watch the Series". New on Netflix USA. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
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