Scare Tactics
Encyclopedia
Scare Tactics is a hidden camera
/comedy
television show, produced by Hallock Healey Entertainment. Its first two seasons aired from April 2003 to December 2004. After a hiatus, the show returned for a third season, beginning July 9, 2008. The first season of the show was hosted by Shannen Doherty
. Stephen Baldwin
took her place in the middle of the second season. Since the beginning of the third season, the show has been hosted by Tracy Morgan
. The fourth season began on October 6, 2009.
In Europe
the first season of the program aired on MTV Central
from 2003 to 2004. The show is also broadcast in Australia
on FOX8
, in Canada
on MuchMusic
, in India
on AXN
, in Russia
on MTV Russia
(only first two seasons), in Turkey
on Dream TV
, in Poland
on TV Puls
, in Finland
on Jim
, in Sweden
on TV6 a short time. And now also on TV11.
prank show that puts "actor" victims into terrifying situations, usually involving movie
-style special effect
s and makeup
that recreates horror movie clichés. The victims, generally four per episode, are set up by friends/family in tandem with producer
s.
The actors on the show were usually lured to some location, either invited there by people they know (who were in on the act), or reporting for what they thought was a new job. Soon they would experience some kind of terrifying scene — like a strange monster, a terrible accident, or a violent crime being committed – all of which was staged while the victim was secretly being video recorded from multiple camera angles.
There are some instances where the victims are lured into the pranks on the promise of being on a fake reality show called "Fear Antics" which plays off like a show similar to MTV
's Jackass but end with dire consequences. In Season 3, one of the contestants was lured into a fake show called "Dog Catchers", which was a parody of Cheaters
. One additional fake show used to dupe the Scare Tactics victims is known as "Truthisodes," which is a generic conspiracy theory show that claims "the government is lying to you".
The pranks would end when the victim was completely terrified and someone would ask them, "Are you scared?" to which they usually replied in the affirmative. They would then get the reply, "You shouldn't be! You're on Scare Tactics!" or "I'll have to/I'm gonna put you on Scare Tactics!" In some instances, the pranks have ended when the victims "get violent" with the actors pulling the prank, or the victim running out of the controlled environment the prank is played out in.
Hidden camera
A hidden camera is a still or video camera used to film people without their knowledge. The camera is "hidden" because it is either not visible to the subject being filmed, or is disguised as another object...
/comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
television show, produced by Hallock Healey Entertainment. Its first two seasons aired from April 2003 to December 2004. After a hiatus, the show returned for a third season, beginning July 9, 2008. The first season of the show was hosted by Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty
Shannen Maria Doherty is an American actress, producer, author and television director, known for her work as Heather Duke in Heathers , as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 and its spinoff series 90210, and as Prue Halliwell in Charmed .-Early life and career:Doherty was born in Memphis,...
. Stephen Baldwin
Stephen Baldwin
Stephen Andrew Baldwin is an American actor, director, producer and author. One of the Baldwin brothers, he is known for his roles as William F. Cody in the western show The Young Riders and as Stuart in the movie Threesome...
took her place in the middle of the second season. Since the beginning of the third season, the show has been hosted by Tracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan
Tracy Morgan is an American comedian who is best known for his eight seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live and currently known for playing the role of Tracy Jordan on the NBC series 30 Rock.-Early life:...
. The fourth season began on October 6, 2009.
In Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
the first season of the program aired on MTV Central
MTV Central
MTV Germany, is a 24- hour German speaking entertainment channel operated by MTV Networks Europe. The channel was launched as MTV Networks Europe began to localize its brand throughout Europe in 1997. MTV Germany was launched on March 7, 1997...
from 2003 to 2004. The show is also broadcast in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on FOX8
FOX8
Fox8 is an Australian cable and satellite channel available on Foxtel, Austar and Optus Television's subscription platforms...
, in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
, in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on AXN
AXN
AXN is a Pay television, cable and satellite television channel owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, which was first launched on May 22, 1997. The network is now spread across several regions in the world, including Japan, Europe, other parts of Asia and Latin America...
, in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
on MTV Russia
MTV Russia
MTV Russia is a Russian language free-to-air 24 hour entertainment and music service seen in 22 million households in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Omsk, Voronezh, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk and Yekaterinburg, among other cities.-History:...
(only first two seasons), in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
on Dream TV
Dream TV Turkey
Dream TV, Dogan Media Group's foreign and Turkish, which broadcasts music channel. Super Kanal' s closure began with the publication. In addition to video clips in the channel film programs, including programs in Turkey are related to music festivals...
, in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
on TV Puls
TV Puls
TV Puls is a Polish commercial television channel, which was based on Telewizja Niepokalanów with the support of companies such as PKN Orlen, KGHM Polska Miedź, PZU Życie, Prokom and which started broadcasting in March 2001. Due to financial problems, ended broadcasting on April 1, 2003...
, in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
on Jim
Jim
Jim is a diminutive form of the forename "James". For individuals named Jim, see articles related to the name Jim.Jim may also refer to:* Jim , a comic book series by Jim Woodring* Jim , an album by soul artist Jamie Lidell...
, in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
on TV6 a short time. And now also on TV11.
Format
Scare Tactics is a set-up, hidden cameraHidden camera
A hidden camera is a still or video camera used to film people without their knowledge. The camera is "hidden" because it is either not visible to the subject being filmed, or is disguised as another object...
prank show that puts "actor" victims into terrifying situations, usually involving movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
-style special effect
Special effect
The illusions used in the film, television, theatre, or entertainment industries to simulate the imagined events in a story are traditionally called special effects ....
s and makeup
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
that recreates horror movie clichés. The victims, generally four per episode, are set up by friends/family in tandem with producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
s.
The actors on the show were usually lured to some location, either invited there by people they know (who were in on the act), or reporting for what they thought was a new job. Soon they would experience some kind of terrifying scene — like a strange monster, a terrible accident, or a violent crime being committed – all of which was staged while the victim was secretly being video recorded from multiple camera angles.
There are some instances where the victims are lured into the pranks on the promise of being on a fake reality show called "Fear Antics" which plays off like a show similar to MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Jackass but end with dire consequences. In Season 3, one of the contestants was lured into a fake show called "Dog Catchers", which was a parody of Cheaters
Cheaters
Cheaters is a weekly syndicated hidden camera reality television series that documents people who are suspected of committing adultery, or cheating, on their partners. Investigations are headed by the "Cheaters Detective Agency". The show is hosted by Joey Greco, the show airs on Saturday nights...
. One additional fake show used to dupe the Scare Tactics victims is known as "Truthisodes," which is a generic conspiracy theory show that claims "the government is lying to you".
The pranks would end when the victim was completely terrified and someone would ask them, "Are you scared?" to which they usually replied in the affirmative. They would then get the reply, "You shouldn't be! You're on Scare Tactics!" or "I'll have to/I'm gonna put you on Scare Tactics!" In some instances, the pranks have ended when the victims "get violent" with the actors pulling the prank, or the victim running out of the controlled environment the prank is played out in.
Season one
- 101 - UFO Abduction, Firing Range, Buried Alive, Camp Killer
- 102 - Bigfoot Attacks, Where's Shannen?, Flatline, Psycho Hitchhiker
- 103 - Limo in Area 51, Monster in the Closet, Organ Harvest, Disappearing Stripper
- 104 - Clone Attack, Repo Man, Orgy from Hell, Monkey Trouble
- 105 - Meteor Man, Barbershop of Blood, Date with the Devil, Taxi Cab Carnage
- 106 - Lab Spill, Haunted Babysitter, Serial Killer, Hellride
- 107 - Tanning Salon Terror, Cable Killers, Little Girl Psychic, Runaway Corpse
- 108 - Ghost Train, Body in Trunk, Dominatrix for a Day, Desert Monster
- 109 - UFO Trailer Attack, The Cannibal Family, Séance from Hell, Driving the Dead
- 110 - Harsh Reality, Dr. Werewolf, Boy in a Bubble, Virgin Sacrifice
- 111 - Chupacabra Attack, Deadly Secret, Lights Out, Black Magic
- 112 - Hazmat Hell, Surgery Nightmare, Death Lunch, Bad Seed
- 113 - Laboratory Meltdown, Eye Witness, Unborn Clones, Silo Scare
- 114 - Deadly Feast, Fear in the Box, Fear Antics: Psycho, Maniac Cop
- 115 - Killer Clown, Lethal Conversation, Caught on Camera, Demonic Duel
- 116 - Chainsaw Attack, Beastly Breakout, Deadly Hicks, Alien Returns
- 117 - Dangerous Obsession, Web of Evil, Laboratory of Blood, Repo from Hell
- 118 - Security Breach, Taste for Blood, Zombie Grandma, Killer Car
- 119 - Bad Medicine, Killer Queen, Dead Alive, Alien Hunters
- 120 - Massacre Under the House, Unholy Ground, Video Victim, Mask of Death
- 121 - Lethal Touch, Showgirl's Revenge, Terror Next Door, Bigfoot Returns
- 122 - Home Invasion, Demonic Possession, Fatal Beauty, The Hunted 123 Special - The Bloody Mirror,The Poltergiest,The Ouija Board,The Amityville Horror
Season two
- 201 - Rage from the Cage, Killer Bees, Bring Out the Gimp, Grave Robbers
- 202 - Street Justice, That's Not Santa, Freaks Come Out at Night, Possessed Office
- 203 - Gorilla with a Fist, Regression Aggression, Fear Antics: Mandroid's Revenge, Flowers for My Lady
- 204 - What's in the Box?, Stakeout, Shocker, Radio Daze
- 205 - Brother's Keeper, Cult Compound Crackdown, Revenge of the Switchhiker, Drug Ring Sting
- 206 - Toilet Full of Scary, Desert Cult Trailer Attack, Wrath of the Mummy, Juvenile Justice
- 207 - Slaughterhouse of Horror, Porn Dorm Massacre, Desert Ritual, Walk-in Portal
- 208 - Wired for Revenge, Shave and a Headcut, Summon the Demon, Fear Antics: Hotel Hell
- 209 - Motor Psychos, Attack of the Rat Monster, I Me Minefield, There Are Men Coming Here to Kill Me
- 210 - Piranhas in the Pond, Chambermaid of Horror, Shotgun Wedding, Critters
- 211 - If I Only Had Your Brain, Open the Pod Bay Door, Wired, Fear Antics: Room With a View
- 212 - Power Outrage, License to Drive, Wolfman Tells Campfire Stories, The Bagman
- 213 - Backwoods Booby Trap, Demon's List, Newest Mental Patient, Mob Morgue
- 214 - For Whom the Bridge Trolls, Party Forever (Parts 1 & 2), Burned Alive
- 215 - Drone Helicopter, Fed-Execution, Girl in a Blood-Soaked Dress, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
- 216 - Unsafe, Eye of the Beholder, Tastes Like Chicken, Meet My Psycho Girlfriend
- 217 - Bedridden but Deadly, The Set Up (Parts 1 & 2), Lost and Found
- 218 - Pond Creature, Carface, Moonshine Mountain, Rubbed the Wrong Way
- 219 - Car Wash, Fear Antics: Running Man, Gimme a Hand, Spa of Death
- 220 - The Blob, Road Rage, Strip Club, Man of the Haunted House
- 221 - Alien House Call, Hackman Attacks, Final Entry, Hannah's Abduction
Season three
- 301 - Satan's Baby, Wood Chipper, Psychic, Black Project
- 302 - 3:10 to Hell, Patient's Rage, Fire Starter, Affection
- 303 - Genie in a Beer Bottle, Vampire Spa, Escaped Mental Patient, Alien Eggs
- 304 - Psycho in a Box, Cheaters of Death, Welcome to the Neighborhood, Ice Man
- 305 - When White Noise Attacks, Phantom Power, Walled Off, Paralyzed With Fear
- 306 - The Screaming Room, Death Bed and Breakfast, Little Person, Big Kill, Welcome to the Dollhouse
- 307 - Frankenstein's Basement of Terror, Who's Your Dead Daddy?, Wired for Fear, Pool of Blood
- 308 - Taxi Cab Carnage, Alien Consortium, Double Trouble Clone, Junkyard Showdown
- 309 - Home Video Horror, Last Will and Testament, Voodoo Vixen, Assassin's Apprentice
- 310 - When the Larvae Breaks, To Catch a Predator, Curse of the Samurai, Pickled to Death
- 311 - Big Scoop of Scary, Home Invasion, Healer/Killer, Coffin Refill
- 312 - Blood Bath, Meteor Virus, Carmageddon, Welcome to the Dollhouse 2
- 313 - Satan's Baby Returns, Screaming Room 2, Barbershop of Blood 2, Junkyard Showdown 2
- 314 - Basket Case, Human Stew, Web of Lies, Breakdown
- 315 - Ghoul Bus, Criminal's Rage, Killer's Hideout, Psycho Kid
- 316 - Channeling the Dead, Black Project 2, Zombie Testing, A Quick Bite
- 317 - 28 Minutes Later, Nightmare Session, Zig the Clown, Paranormal Radio Show
- 318 - Ranger Danger, Mistaken Identity (Parts 1 & 2), The Doctor's Trip
- 319 - The Collector, Cleansing the House, Finding the Truth, Psycho Dance
- 320 - Toxic Shock, The Pimp, Female Serial Killer, Can I Have a Kiss?
- 321 - Tow Truck Killers, Radioactive Tanning, Mental Patient's Drug Overdose, Cannibal Party
- 322 - Ghoul Bus 2, Wrong Identity, Nightmare Motel, Criminal's Second Rage
- 323 - Dying to Kill!, Big Phantom Power, Re-hatched Alien Eggs, Old Man of Death
Season four
- 401 - It's My Party, The Squatters, Fraud Stick-Up, Crop Circle Showdown
- 402 - No Pain No Brain, Communicating With the Ghosts, The Freak Show, Blood on the Cosmos
- 403 - Killing Rosemary's Baby, Human Auction, Look in the Sky, Show and Hell
- 404 - Vampire Stakeout, Mind Killer, Wine to Die For, Grandpa Has Returned
- 405 - Life's a Witch, Revenge of the Werewolf, Alien Babysitter, Organ Harvesting Facility
- 406 - Alien Road Block, Lend Me a Hand, Black OPTS, Murderer Still at Large
- 407 - Valet Violence, Cursed Book, Possessed Farm, Demon Doll
- 408 - Tracy the Tour Guide, Into the Mist, Horror on the Horror Set, Death from Above
- 409 - Uh Oh! It's Maggots, Ultimate Alien Fighter, Fountain of Youth, He Shoots He Spores
- 410 - If These Walls Could Bleed, Size Splatters, Zombie Town, Truthisodes
- 411 - Chill Out, Reptile Creature Revolt, Gang Green Thumb, Scary Development
- 412 - Hot Under the Collar, Insanity Virus, No Asylum, Voo Doo You Love?
- 413 - Buzz Kill, Electrocutie, Ouija Sitter, Snakes in a Drain
See also
- InfartoInfartoInfarto is a hidden camera show on Azteca 13 in Mexico and Azteca América in the United States. People appearing on the show have been subjected to pranks such as the victim believing that they will be sacrificed in a cult ritual or believing that they will be murdered by axe-wielding neighbors in...
: A similar scare/prank show airing on TV AztecaTV AztecaAzteca, is the second largest Mexican television entertainment. It was established in 1983 as the state-owned Instituto Mexicano de la Televisión , a holding of the national TV networks channel 13 and 7 and was privatized under its current name in 1993 and now is part of Grupo Salinas...
and Azteca AméricaAzteca AméricaAzteca América is a broadcast television network marketed toward Spanish-speaking families residing in the United States. As a rapidly-growing Spanish language network, Azteca América now reaches 89% of the Hispanic households in the U.S., operating in sixty-two markets nationwide. Wholly owned by...
. - Room 401Room 401Room 401 was a hidden camera/reality television series on MTV, executive produced by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg. It was named after the room Harry Houdini died in at Detroit's Grace Hospital in 1926. The show also used some of his famous acts....
: A similar scare/prank show airing on MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
. - Gerilim Olur Musun: A similar scare/prank show airing on Kanal 1Kanal 1Kanal 1 can refer to:*BNT Channel 1, a Bulgarian-language public television station*TV1/Kanal 1/SVT1, a television channel broadcast by Sveriges Television in Sweden*Kanal 1 , a Turkish-language public television station...
in TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.