Scare Tactics (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Template:Hatnote
Scare Tactics is a hidden camera/comedy television show, produced by Kevin Healey and Scott Hallock. 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.
Format
Scare Tactics is a hidden camera prank show that puts victims into terrifying situations, usually involving movie-style special effects and makeup that recreates horror movie clichés. The victims, generally four per episode, are set up by friends/family in tandem with producers.
The victims on the show are lured to a 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 recorded.
Some controversy to the show's authenticity has arouse as in the segment "Cursed Book", you'll notice that the castle-like estate is said to be in Pyramid, GA. The same exact house is said to be in Hameville, CA in "Killing Rosemary's Baby". This house is then shown as being located in Walton, NJ in "It's My Party" and is also presented as being in Brodie, WY in "Wine To Die For".
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.
The pranks end when the victim is completely terrified and someone would ask them, "Are you scared?" to which they usually reply in the affirmative. They 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!"