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FEAR FACTOR Best Friends
Original Airdate: 11/29/04

by Fearless Frankie

This episode featured teams of best friends and began under the cover of darkness. The first stunt was sort of an underwater relay race with strobe lights. I'll explain it by telling how the first team, Ryan and Tre, completed the stunt. Ryan hit the water first, dunking to the bottom of a long tube to grab a red strobe light. He had to resurface once before diving back down to attach the strobe to a position outside the tube, but inside an underwater tunnel. He resurfaced a second time for air - and as his friend Tre watched and waited for his turn, Ryan quit! So maybe they were a bad example of how the stunt should be done. Did I mention it wasn't an elimination stunt? That may have been why Ryan gave up so easily; although he was coughing and choking once he came back on shore. He later said that he just swallowed a bunch of water and couldn't regain his composure. The friends were still in the running for $50,000, but were out of the running for two 2005 Dodge Dakota trucks.

Brandy and Cecilia, who met in a plastic surgeon's office, were up next. Brandy got down the tube and got the strobe, then found an air pocket for a quick breath. She started down the tunnel to place the strobe, but backed out in a search for air. Once again, she started down the tunnel and this time successfully clipped the strobe in place. Now she had to resurface, grab another strobe to hand off to Cecilia, who would then repeat the process. Cecilia totally hesitated on jumping in the tube. With everyone yelling at her to jump or not jump, Cecilia seemed like she might do it. Eventually, however, she quit! What a bunch of loser friends! So, the time to beat was one strobe at 1:16. Joe continued to berate Cecilia once she rejoined the group. He kept telling her "don't come on the show if you don't want to do the stunts!" Mike & Joey, best friend since second grade, were up next. Joey zipped through his portion of the stunt and the two seemed destined to prevail. Mike hit the water next and the tag team system continued until they had placed all the strobes in the underwater tunnel. Their final time for actually completing the stunt: 8:38.9. Would Tabitha and Amber be able to top that? Would Tabitha & Amber be able to just get in the water? Even if they didn't, they sure looked good in their matching rainbow bikinis!

Tabitha made it into the tube and got the first strobe before surfacing for air. She banged her head in the air pocket, but didn't let that deter her. Her hand off to Amber went okay - except for banging her head again on her way out of the water! Jeez Tabitha, easy girl! Amber got confused once she emerged from the tube and didn't know which way to swim to the tunnel. After a pause for breath, she found her way and planted the strobe. Then, she got lost again trying to come back up! I know it's easy to sit in my nice, dry office chair and judge - but how hard is it to look up and see a big square to swim through? Finally, she made it to the hand-off so Tabitha - the old pro at this point - could take over. Yet, despite having done it once, Tabitha couldn't do it twice and failed to attach the strobe light properly. Mike & Joey had won the 2005 Dodge Dakota quad-cab trucks!

For the second stunt, the group arrived at a deserted warehouse. My favorite part was during the voiceover that plays as everyone walks toward the stunt reveal. Brandy & Cecilia, who had totally choked on the first stunt, were like "there's no competition here," and "we're not going to stop until we win." Um, hellooo - you totally stopped once already! Did you magically get courage in the middle of the night? Anyway, this elimination stunt would definitely separate the wussies from the competitors. Joe revealed a large glass fish tank filled with bloodthirsty, slimy leeches. One member of the team would have to verbally guide his or her blindfolded partner over to the leech tank. The blindfolded player would have to follow the verbal cues to the tank, dunk his or her head into the leeches grabbing as many of the critters with his or her mouth as possible. Then, the poor blind soul would have to transfer the mouthful of (I assume) painful pals through a tiny hole in a piece of Plexiglas to his or her partner's mouth. The partner would then spit the leeches into a bowl. The process would repeat for two minutes and the team that transferred the least leeches would be eliminated.

Mike & Joey were up first and did quite an impressive happy dance prior to starting the stunt. Mike was blindfolded, while Joey called out commands. However, Joey pretty much got to the tank with no trouble. The two kept up a good pace and showed good teamwork. When time ran out, they had transferred 58 leeches. Afterwards, Mike said the leeches clenched onto his tongue and he could feel them sucking the blood out of his mouth! Amber & Tabitha were up next, with Amber volunteering to wear the blindfold. Now, at least these two had attempted the first day's stunt. Perhaps they'd do a good job with this one. Little Amber had to actually climb up on the tank to stick her head in because of her small stature. On the second transfer, a few leeches slipped passed Tabitha, but other than that the girls were doing good. Tabitha & Amber agreed with Mike & Joey that they could taste blood in their mouths. They were ecstatic to learn that they had beaten the boys' tally by transferring 63 leeches! Ryan & Tre, determined to make up for blowing the first stunt, were up next.

Tre donned the goggles and got his head into the leech tank. It looked like he was getting huge mouthfuls of leeches, plus they moved a lot quicker than the girls. Tre was sucking down leeches right up to the final seconds. The result was transferring over 200 leeches! Brandy & wimpy Cecilia were up next. Cecilia, who wouldn't even attempt the first day's stunt, was blindfolded. She got no further than getting her hair wet, when she popped up, pulled off the goggles and QUIT AGAIN! This time, however, it counted and she and Brandy were OUT. I don't know about you, but if I were Brandy I'd be shopping for a new best friend. Brandy remained speechless as Joe told Cecilia that she was easily the worst contestant they'd ever had on the show. Joe also wished Brandy luck in finding new friends. The remaining three teams of friends couldn't wait to get to their final stunt.

The sun beat down as the teams arrived a rock quarry or some such empty, dusty place. Joe revealed two side-by-side barrels suspended over 200 feet above ground. The friends would have to balance on the barrels as they rotated faster and faster. Whoever stayed up the longest, would win. Simple as that! Ryan & Tre chose the girls to go first. Once in their safety gear, Tabitha & Amber knelt atop the barrels awaiting the go signal. The barrels started off really slow and gradually picked up speed. Tabitha slipped off after only 20 seconds, but Amber kept going. Amber's time would count for the total team time. She found her rhythm and kept up the pace despite the increasing speed of the barrel. Good thing she was in good shape! Finally, the speed got the best of her and Amber slipped off for a final time of 2:01. Matt & Joey were literally up next. (Up, as in up in the air, get it?) The boys were chatty during the slow, easy portion of the stunt. As things got speedy, Mike slid off. Joey was working overtime to keep up and keep his balance. At just over a minute, Joey lost his footing and ended his chance at $50,000. The girls were obviously thrilled at being one step closer to the cash. Ryan & Tre stepped up next, after sharing their 100th heartfelt hug. Even Joe pointed out that these two guys hugged a LOT. Ryan positioned himself in the middle of the barrel, which had worked well for Amber. Tre, however, was further back on the barrel and almost slipped up during the slow part! At 24 seconds, Ryan was the first to go! At 42 seconds, Tre stumbled - but recovered. He was breathing heavy and as the minute mark passed, Tre fell! Amber & Tabitha had won!