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Fear Factor Episode 422 Original Airdate: February 17th, 2004

This was a 90-minute, 4-stunt episode.

The special, four-stunt Fear Factor brought the new batch of six contestants to a pier on a beautiful, clear afternoon. When a helicopter thundered by, it reminded the group that this would be no day at the beach. In the first stunt, players would have to hang upside down, traverse a cargo net attached to the belly of the hovering helicopter and release flags along the way. Then, they would have to slide down a rope, releasing three more Fear Factor flags (for a total of nine) and drop into the water below. The two men and two women who released the most flags in the shortest time would move on. Nicole, a boat captain, felt confident around the water and was ready to go. She worked methodically and got every flag attached to the cargo net. But then Nicole made a critical mistake by sliding too far past the final flag on the rope. Without the strength to pull herself back up, she dropped into the water. So, she released eight flags in 1:49. Next, Melissa, a police officer, had a strategy. Instead of sliding all the way down the rope to release the last three flags, she would pull the bottom of the rope up to her. Her plan paid off as she released all nine flags in just 1:43. April decided to go slowly, knowing that she only had to get all nine flags in any amount of time to advance. But her strategy backfired as she ran out of strength before releasing all of the flags. She dropped into the water, losing her shot at the cash.

For the men, Luis powered his way through the first eight flags in amazing time. But like Nicole, he slid past the last flag on the rope and couldn't reach it. He had no choice but to let go and drop into the water. He released eight flags in an impressive 1:07. Next, Michael also decided to go slowly, hoping to get all nine flags. But like others before him, he slid too far down the rope and couldn't release the last flag, getting just eight flags in 2:27. Garrett moved well and used Melissa's strategy of pulling the rope up to him. It worked perfectly and he released all nine flags, but then his foot got caught in the rope and he dangled upside down over the water as the helicopter rotated in the air. Finally, he got free and dropped safely into the water, eliminating Michael in the process.

The next day, the four remaining contestants caught a break - no one would be eliminated. Instead, they would compete for an all-expenses paid, one-week vacation to Jamaica, provided by SuperClubs and Air Jamaica Vacations. The stunt involved a platform suspended 250 feet above the water, which had a 5-foot-wide gap in the middle. Players would need to jump back and forth over the gap, transferring flags from one side of the platform to the other as quickly as possible. After 45 seconds, the platform floor would drop out from under them and they would fall 100 feet (saved by a safety cord). A wrinkle in the stunt was that it had been raining all morning and the Plexiglas platform was dangerously slick. Luis was first and jumped back and forth quickly, transferring seven flags. Luis was so confident in his performance that he said he'd bow to Garrett if Garrett beat his time. With newfound determination, Garrett jumped back and forth quickly. He managed to tie Luis and still had more time on the clock. As he jumped with flag number eight in his hand and began to attach it, the floor fell out from under him. But he'd done it. He'd transferred eight flags! Stunned, Luis half-heartedly bowed to Garrett, who accepted the gesture. Then Garrett took it up a notch and said that if Melissa beat his time, he'd kiss her feet. Fortunately for Garrett, Melissa had a hard time with the stunt and failed to transfer more than eight flags. Finally, Nicole, looking a little shaky, transferred just six flags. Garrett was going to Jamaica! In the next stunt, players sat in a glass coffin, covered with hundreds of pounds of cow intestines. They had to bite into the intestines and drain out the intestinal fluid, filling a glass. Finally, they had to drink down the glass of chunky, beige liquid. The slowest player would be eliminated. Garrett dove right in, grossing out everyone, including Joe, who admitted that this might be the first stunt ever to make him puke. Garrett finished with a time of 2:34. Next, Nicole milked the intestines and finished in 3:02. Luis was an animal and finished the stunt in a blazing 1:12. Garrett was so impressed that he voluntarily bowed down to Luis. Melissa, in the grossest photo finish of all-time, just squeaked by Nicole with a time of 2:56. Nicole was eliminated.

The next day, Luis, Garrett and Melissa arrived for the final stunt. Joe explained that the players would simply have to make it across a narrow pathway between two platforms suspended more than 100 feet above the ground. The Fear Factor twist? They'd have to do it riding a mini pocket bike (picture a racing motorcycle for circus clowns). Luis, who had ridden motorcycles (the non-clown kind) for the last five years, was up first. Looking silly but determined, he gunned the little bike and made a straight line right to the opposing platform in an impressive 6.2 seconds. He was going to be tough to beat. Garrett was up next. Unfortunately, he was too focused on getting his speed up, and he lost his balance almost immediately, sending himself and his mini bike over the edge. Melissa, who didn't seem too confident, drove off the edge even more quickly than Garrett. Luis handily won the event and took home the 50,000 dollars!