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Fear Factor Episode 434 Original Airdate: April 19, 2004

Five couples arrived for this newest twist on a Fear Factor favorite. Not only would the teams have to complete three extreme stunts, they would do it without any sleep! For the first stunt, the teams were wide awake - and wide-eyed in awe. It was a simple flag transfer across the rooftops of two buildings. The not-so-simple part was that each guy would hang upside-down, holding his mate's hands while they traveled from rooftop the other. Then she would drop down onto the roof and grab flags before grabbing back on to him to make their way back across to the first rooftop. The four couples that could transfer the most flags in five minutes would advance to the second stunt. The other tricky part was that after each guy dropped his girl off, he would automatically start back towards the other roof. If she missed grabbing his hands, she would have to wait for him to go all the way across and back again.

Matt & Heather were up first. They made it to the first drop successfully, but Heather missed Matt's hands for the trip back and had to wait from him to complete another trip. During the other trips, Heather barely made it into Matt's awaiting hands. Towards the end, she missed him a second time, which ate up precious time. She was late planting the last flag, so it didn't count towards their total. They had 3 flags in 3:39. Kelly & Paul grabbed onto each other next. Kelly almost missed Paul's hands for the first return trip, but she jumped like a trapeze artist and made it at the last second. They got into a good rhythm and managed to transfer 3 flags in less than 3 minutes, which meant they would automatically advance. Once time ran out, they were left with 5 flags in 4:40.

Leo & Vanessa stepped up next. Vanessa had plenty of hustle, but on the second trip, Leo only had her by one arm and she just couldn't hold on long enough! Meanwhile, Sean & Heather did a little cheer to get themselves pumped up. If they transferred one flag, they would advance while Leo & Vanessa would be heading home. They planted one flag, but it took them longer than Leo & Vanessa's first attempt. So, if they fell, Leo & Vanessa were in. On the way back to plant the second flag, Heather missed Sean's hands a second time! Finally, they planted their second flag, which sent them into round two. Only Dana & Brad remained. Despite Leo's attempts to wish them into falling, Dana & Brad kept a good pace and successfully planted two flags. This guaranteed them a spot in the next round, but they kept going in an attempt to beat Kelly & Paul's time. They succeeded, which allowed them to pick the next day's order.

On day two, the remaining four couples arrived - having been awake for at least 36 hours straight. Joe revealed a tank filled with hagfish. The eel-like fish have large slime glands and tentacles which sting. The hagfish transfer would involve one partner in the top part of the tank handing off hagfish to the other partner in the bottom of the tank, who would then have to drop it into a bucket just outside the tank. The slowest couple would be headed home. Brad & Dana chose Paul & Kelly to go first. They got into their bathing suits and climbed into the slimy, stinky, disgusting, cold tank. Kelly was positioned on top, then covered in hagfish and goo. The slow-moving hagfish slid down the exterior of the tank as Kelly pushed them out a small opening towards Paul. They transferred the total amount of 7 fish in 2:44.7. Sean & Heather were next, and started with an original cheer. Then it was into the slime tank, where they picked up the pace. They transferred 7 fish in 1:38, beating Paul & Kelly and landing in the finals. Heather & Matt got slimed next. With a final time of 1:50, they also beat Paul & Kelly and made it to round three. Dana & Brad climbed in last and had a good system of communication, since they couldn't see each other. Their final time of 1:37 meant that Paul & Kelly were heading home…after taking the "sleepwalk" of shame.

That night, the teams struggled to stay awake as they waited for their final stunt. Finally, after more than 41 hours without sleep, the teams saw what they'd have to do to win $50,000. A giant upside-down horseshoe-type rig, lit against a dark night sky, awaited them. All three couples would be hoisted up at the same time to balance on a tightly stretched, thin piece of cable wire suspended over chilly water below. With only another thin piece of cable to hold onto, the tired teammates would have to see who could hang on the longest. The lack of sleep was sure to affect balance and endurance, especially since the players were only allowed to hold on with one hand. In less than 20 seconds, the first player fell - causing a chain reaction that resulted in three players hitting the water. Dana, Sean and his mate Heather were out. Matt, Heather and Brad remained. Brad was determined to outdo the duo of Heather & Matt. The wire wobbled and the wind picked up, which made holding steady difficult for all three players. At the 4-minute mark, Brad looked a little weary, while Matt & Heather were chatty. Time ticked by…five minutes. Finally Brad couldn't hold on any longer, leaving Matt & Heather as the sleep-deprived Fear Factor champs.