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Fear Factor Episode 317
Original airdate: January 27, 2003

This episode was part of NBC's Blizzard Monday

Snow in Los Angeles? Only on Fear Factor! Players arrived to their first chilly location wearing ski parkas and winter gear. There before them was a giant wheel spinning high above the cold, hard snowy ground. Like hamsters, they would have to climb atop the wheel and run along the top of it while it spun round and round, faster and faster. Julie was up first and down after only 27 seconds! Hamsters make it look so easy! Shelby, a smoker, was next. She lasted a mere 25 seconds, which gave Sou a chance to send her home. Unfortunately, Sou spun out of control after only 16 seconds that sent her on her own walk of shame.

The wind was picking up as Todd took the wheel first for the guys. His jerky start made the others think he'd be an easy out. Todd hung on though. He balanced atop the spinning wheel for 41 seconds before sliding off. Shawn almost fell within the first few seconds, but regained his balance. By maneuvering to the very top of the wheel, Shawn easily kept up the pace. In fact, Joe had to tell him to stop after a minute passed! The pressure was on Omar to beat Todd's time. He got off to a good start, but with only two seconds to go to beat Todd, Omar slipped off and out of the game!

Of course it was snowing on day two. Luckily, players headed inside a desolate building and up a creaky staircase. They arrived in an industrial looking kitchen where Joe showed them their second stunt. Or should we say, "snack." Fear Factor Pizza was on the menu. The bile-based crust was made with bile "straight from the cow's gall bladder" and topped with a coagulated blood paste and rancid cheese. Like at any fine pizzeria, players had their choice of toppings. Depending on what bucket they successfully tossed a pizza tray into, their slices would be topped either with fish eyes, live red worms or a combination of the two. Hungry yet? Shawn was and after his tray toss he had ten minutes to eat a slice of worm-topped pizza. He started gagging midway through the first bite! As the worms squirmed and Todd taunted, Shawn kept going. He finished the slice - and went immediately to the Fear Factor puke bucket to toss it back up! Todd also got the worm topping, but had a unique eating method. Like a fussy child, he plucked the worms out of the blood paste and rancid cheese, eating the topping first. Then he picked off the cheese. Finally he polished off the remaining crust. Julie was getting paler with each slice and she hadn't even gone yet! Shelby was actually next and decided to plug her nose while she ate. With only seconds to spare, Shelby choked down the final bits. Shelby soon found herself curled over the hurl bucket, just like Shawn. Julie, who seemed sure to quit rather than face this feast, actually aimed for the fish eyes and got them. She said she couldn't stomach eating anything that was still alive. Other than her pained expressions, the first few bites went down pretty smoothly. Halfway through the slice the gagging started. Julie kept going and choked it all down. Everyone advanced to the finals.

Brrrrrrr! Day three was freezing! Not only was it a cold night (by Los Angeles standards), the ground was covered in snow and an icy plunge awaited players. They would each be chained to a platform then lowered into icy cold water. Once submerged, players would have to free themselves from two locks by finding the correct key on a key ring. The players were outfitted with a large belt (similar to a weight-lifting belt) that had locks on either side. Chains from the locks ran down to the platform. Shawn was locked in first. He had to keep his hands on his head while being submerged into the water. In one hand, he held the key ring. He didn't seem to take a deep breath or anything before he plunged under the surface. Shawn fumbled with the keys at first, but managed to free himself and swim to the top in only 32 seconds. Todd confidently predicted that he would complete the stunt in only 22 seconds. Easy to say when you're on solid ground wearing warm clothes! Once Todd was locked in he was lowered into the water. He immediately opened the first lock. In an amazing 21 seconds his head broke the water's surface! Shawn was out. Shelby took the plunge next. She was quick at first, but then seemed to panic. She signaled for rescue divers to free her and was therefore eliminated. Only Julie remained and she was determined to shut Todd up! However, Julie couldn't brave the elements and after only 8 seconds underwater, she quit. Todd earned bragging rights as the new Fear Factor champ.