Fear and Launching

The United States is, as we all know, the most litigious society in the world.

It's as if the nation's taking a holiday from personal responsibility. The epidemic of lawsuits has just gotten even crazier, what with the Cleveland television viewer who's just launched a lawsuit against NBC after an episode of Fear Factor caused him to launch his lunch.

Now, I think Fear Factor's one of the stupidest shows on television right now. I admit that I was drawn to it in a sensational "Wow, are you nuts?" kind of way when the show first came on the air, but it would have been fine to kill it after six episodes. Three years later, the freak parade's still on air.

This bloke somehow feels the network bears responsibility for the fact that his blood pressure rose and he vomited at the site of watching people noshing on the noxious little critters in pursuit of the paltry $50,000 payoff offered at the conclusion of each episode.

When looking at major television series and films, the US creates, without a doubt, some of the best in the world. And some of the worst. There isn't any accounting for tastes, but if you've got a watching-accidents sort of mentality that leaves you drawn to shows like this, you get what you deserve -- in this case, a spew session and the ensuing self-disgust -- but certainly not a $2.5 million liability judgment.

Now, if he devours a few rats himself, then maybe.