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Fear Factor Episode 204
Original airdate: April 15, 2002
Players were surprised to learn that their first stunt would require nothing. No heights, no jumps, no divesôoh, and no clothing. Along with revealing the details, Joe pulled open a curtain to reveal a fashion-type runway and an eager crowd of two hundred onlookers. Contestants would be required to strip down to their birthday suits, parade along the runway for one minute, then stand with their hands on their hips for two minutes at the end of the runway atop a turning pedestal. Everyone was game, and everyone completed the stunt. However, everyone had his or her own reasons for being or not being nervous. While Jessenia boldly did a cartwheel, Jessica kept thinking of her 15-month old baby at home and chose not to do any gymnastics. Larinda proudly showed off her birthday presents (new breasts) and even did an acrobatic flip. As for the guys, Mike showed off his many tattoos, but admitted that he was a "grower, not a shower." Levi was glad his many hours at the gym were finally paying off, while Clason - a girls' basketball coach - calmed his nerves by talking with the audience the entire time.

On the night of the second day, the fully clothed players arrived at a mystery location under a full moon. Fear Factor Shuffleboard was on the agenda, but it would be anything but fun and games. As Joe explained, players would have one chance to push the shuffleboard disc into the scoring area. Whatever number the disc landed on (ranging from 0 to 5) would be the number of live, Madagascar hissing cockroaches they would have to eat. They also received a warning: the roaches' hard shells and spiny legs could damage players' windpipes, so chewing was key. With one minute per roach to complete the stunt, Larinda seemed confident even after she landed on five! However, after biting her second roach in half the squirming remains in her hand proved too much for this aerobics instructor, and she quit. Jessenia was next and thanks partly to Joe's encouragement, she managed to hold down five roaches. Clason almost lost it while gagging down his four roaches; however his big bite technique helped him pull it off. Levi, a confident player bordering on cocky, tossed five back like they were candy. Later, when he found out throwing up was allowed, he tossed them all back up. Meanwhile, new mom Jessica chocked down four roaches and Mike crunched down three. Five players advanced to the final stunt.

A twelve-foot deep tank filled with 300,000 gallons of icy cold water awaited the five remaining players on day three. They would have to climb atop a fifty-pound cement block, where their legs would be shackled together. Hanging off the side of the block was the key to unlock the shackles. Whoever could grab the key, free themselves and resurface from the depths of the tank in the fastest time would win. Mike was lowered into the water first. While holding his breath, he immediately got the key unhooked but had a hard time unlocking the lock. With time and air running out, Mike managed to resurface in thirty-six seconds. In a different strategy, Clason kept his eyes closed. Consequently, he couldn't unhook the key, panicked and signaled to rescuers that he needed air. Clason was out. Levi, who admitted not liking water, went in confident of beating Mike's time, and he did. The time to beat was now 22.3 seconds - and Jessenia beat it! Could the mom, Jessica, beat 21 seconds? Amazingly, Jessica kept her eyes closed too, but managed to get the key and resurface in only eighteen seconds - winning the money and proving that fear wasn't a factor for her.