NBC.com

Episode 102
July 9, 2001

Fear is an understatement as the players arrive at a state penitentiary for their first stunt! Luckily, the stunt doesn't involve prisoners, but it does involve attack dogs. Players, wearing a specially padded suit, must get from point A to point B as guards release a 75-pound attack dog that is guaranteed to attack them.
Mea, a petite club DJ, is first up. Both Joe and the contestants are surprised when they learn there is no facemask, just the suit. Gina is particularly worried. Attacked by a dog as a kid, Gina had to have several stitches in her face! Mea fires the starting pistol and awkwardly tries to run in the quilt-like padding. The dog hits her and immediately drops her to the ground. She continues to crawl until time runs out. Her spot is marked with a pink flag. Marc, a big guy who enjoys personal challenges, just drags the dog with him as he effortlessly crosses the finish. Sandra has a rougher time than most. She is hit hard by the dog and falls to the ground. Her efforts to crawl past Mea's flag are made difficult as the dog practically rips the suit off Sandra's arm. Her end point is marked by a blue flag, just behind the pink one. While Ari suits up, Joe comments on his fancy green toe socks, but Ari seems too nervous to care. After the dog attacks, Ari manages to crawl across the finish line. Pete is a cop, but has never trained with attack dogs. Never the less, like Marc, he simply drags the dog with him over the finish line. Gina is last and is trying not to think about her childhood trauma. She bravely suits up as Joe reminds her that all she has to do is beat Mea and Sandra's flags to advance. Gina starts and is hit so hard by the dog that she flips over onto the ground! However, she keeps going and manages to crawl on all fours past the other women's flags. Mea and Sandra are eliminated.

On day two, in the dark of night, the players use flashlights to navigate their way into a creepy, dark cave, where Joe awaits. He asks if they know what ophidiphobia is and Pete answers, "a fear of snakes." That's when Joe reveals the snake pit: A coffin-like structure filled with 24 squirming, writhing snakes ranging in size from 4 feet to a 16-foot boa constrictor! Joe is quick to point out that there are no guarantees against snakebitesøªˆbut if you get bit you automatically advance. Gee, thanks Joe. Pete is the first one in the pit. He's changed into shorts, a tank top and he's wearing goggles. Goggles? Yes, and it's a good thing because after they set the boa down around Pete's body, they dump the rest of the snakes on his HEAD! Gina and Ari are icked out, but survive. Marc, however, quickly starts complaining that the boa is getting a little snug around his neck. After a quick safety check, Marc completes the stunt.

With all four players advancing to the final stunt, the pressure is on! They arrive at a power plant and discover "the beam walk." They will climb aboard a 6.5 inch-wide beam and be hoisted over 100 feet in the air. Once up in the air, they must navigate across the beam, retrieve a Fear Factor flag, cross back over to the starting point and secure the flag in place. The person with the fastest time wins. Marc has an incredible fear of heights, but is determined to win. Unfortunately, moments after standing up, he falls off the beam! A safety harness prevents him from crashing to earth, but he does manage to cut his arm. Gina is next. She quickly makes it to the flag and uses it like a tightrope walker for balance on the way back across. She plants the flag in one minute and one second! Joe was impressed, but Ari was about to top it. He jammed back and forth across the beam in forty seconds! Pete would have to be pretty impressive to win. In fact, Pete does get off to a great start. He is in the lead as he retrieves the flag. On the way back, he gets tripped up but still manages to maintain his balance. Just as he's putting the flag in its spot - and beating Ari's time - Pete loses his footing and plunges off the beam! Ari, a writer from San Francisco, has won.