Tracy Morgan and Scott Hallock talk Scare Tactics
Tracy Morgan is a busy man. Along with his role on the NBC comedy 30 Rock, now entering its third season, Tracy is also taking on the reigns of host of the SciFi Channel program Scare Tactics, also in its third season. Premiering on July 9th, Scare Tactics is a hidden-camera, reality-comedy hybrid that allows friends and loved ones to set up unsuspecting victims into a series of horror hoaxes that are staged with movie-style special effects and makeup.
Earlier this week, Tracy, who is the third host of the program after Shannen Doherty and Stephen Baldwin hosted the first two seasons, joined Tactics’ Executive Producer Scott Hallock on a conference call to talk about this upcoming season.
How did Tracy get involved with the series?: Tracy has been a fan of Scare Tactics since the show began. He sites his favorite episode of the series as one involving a wood chipper because it was one of the most honest reactions someone would have to that particular horror. Tracy said that once the reveal was made to the victim it was like watching him breathe in a gulp of fresh air.
Tracy was excited when the producers of Scare Tactics asked him to host the show … it allowed him to do his own rendition of Rod Sterling. As host, Tracy gets to watch others be pranked rather than having others prank on him. And, because the victims don’t see the pranks coming it makes Tactics funny.
How did the show’s premise come about?: According to Scott Hallock, Scare Tactics came about while he was working on the NBC hidden-camera series Spy TV. The concept they came up with was similar to Spy, but infused with horror. As Hallock put it, he wanted to have a show that featured four mini-horror movie segments, complete with special effects and makeup.
Why mix horror and comedy?: Comedy and horror are really close, said Hallock, which made them a perfect match for the show. The program doesn’t go for the meanness factor when it comes to pranking the victims. When things are getting a bit too serious the reveal is made to lighten things up a bit.
How do they maximize safety on the show so no one really gets hurt?: “We take safety really seriously on our sets,” said Hallock. “When the bit is at its height is when we do the reveal.” The Tactics’ producer added that they sweep the area for anything that could be used as a weapon prior to the beginning of the prank. If it looks like the victim is ready to fight, then the reveal is made immediately.
Has anyone not signed the release form to air their segment?: It is very rare that someone decides not to sign the waiver, said Hallock. This season everyone signed the release notices. The only time that someone didn’t sign a release notice was when they were running for office and feared that airing their segment on the show would hurt his chances in the polls.
What makes a good victim: According to Hallock, a good victim is one who is expressive, who will react, get involved in the story and say what is on their mind. Also entertaining are those who take the leadership roles during these scary moments. As an example of a good victim, Hallock mentioned the victim from the this season’s premiere of Scare Tactics. “It was the greatest reaction I have ever seen,” said the show’s producer.
The crew for Scare Tactics: Hallock mentioned that Scare Tactics has one of the larger staffs for a reality-based program. More than 60 people. This doesn’t include the makeup and special effects personnel that are hired for many of the segments. The amount of people are integral in making Scare Tactics the big, cinematic show it is, said Hallock.
Have there been any complicated bits or bits that haven’t gotten on the air?: Hallock said the most complicated bit was the season three premiere “Satan’s Baby.” That’s because you needed the victim to believe that someone was giving birth to a 28-inch spawn of Satan. Hallock and his team have been very lucky that they have had little resistance to their ideas for the show. If anything, ideas have been pulled back if Hallock and his team didn’t think they would work out. Despite that luck, the show is still a bit of a hassle for the network’s legal department. Said Hallock, “The legal department…that’s another story. This is a very scary show for lawyers.”
Do family members ever contribute to prank ideas?: The writers will pass ideas to the family and friends to see if it will work for the victim. They will also take suggestions from friends and family as well. However, they won’t take an idea that will be harmful to the victim. In the example Hallock gave, if the victim is deathly afraid of spiders, they will not put him or her in a room full of them.
Last but not least…
What should Tracy’s prank be if he was a victim on Scare Tactics: The IRS coming to his house to collect taxes.
Metal Heads, VH1 wants you
VH1 is rolling out yet another new show to add to its brand new summer schedule. “That Metal Show is a 30-minute romp through the extra loud realm of high hair, spandex and parental warning stickers.” They’ve got three experts as the hosts: Eddie Trunk, host of nationally syndicated radio show Eddie Trunk Rocks, Jim Florentine, best known for his character Special Ed on Crank Yankers, and Don Jamieson, Florentine’s partner from Crank Yankers. The three will play loud music, debate the key moments of different metal songs, and play pranks on fellow metal heads.
The show, to be aired on VH1 Classic, will begin taping in New York City on the afternoon of June 11th. And you can be a part of the audience. The tickets are free. All you have to do is email audiencecasting@vh1.com with your name, age, phone number, and a recent photo. Be sure to type “Metal” in the subject.
Why I’m excited Reaper is back tonight - VIDEO
Reaper’s back and I’m excited. If you are too, don’t go looking for your fave show in its old time slot, Thursdays at 8:00 EST. It’s got an all-new night and time, Tuesdays (tonight!) at 9:00 EST on The CW.
Now, why am I so excited about Reaper’s return?
1. The Devil
He’s suave, slick, sarcastic, and nasty — I love him! Ray Wise couldn’t have been a more perfect casting choice for this modern-day incarnation of Satan himself. From popping up at inopportune times to manipulating Sam’s love life, The Devil wreaks havoc in such a subtle, funny way that you can’t help but appreciate the underlying evil with the debonair facade.
2. The back story
We know Sam’s parents sold his soul; what we don’t really know is why, and what Sam’s father has to hide. I love the promise this holds, especially to give Andrew Airlie as Sam’s dad a meatier role.
3. Gladys
Whenever the friends return an escaped soul to the DMV, you can be sure Gladys will have a snarky comment for the threesome. From orchestrating a fantasy dream of Sock’s to insulting the trio on the lame vessels they are given, she’s the DMV’s bright spot.
4. The pranks they pull on Ted
Poor Ted, trying to run the Work Bench with a strict managerial style, seeking out the respect of his employees. And getting only sass, snark, and pranks. Andi leaves a note on Ted’s car to apologize for the fake damage; Sam steals the video surveillance cameras; Sock taunts him with the talking snowglobe.
5. The Vessels
Each week, the devil gives Sam a new vessel with which to capture the escaped soul and send it back to hell. There have been a myriad of comical choices, from a Dirt Devil to a remote-controlled monster truck to a hand-knit snow people sweater. It seems that Sam often has some sort of operator error, like being unable to blow a bubble with the wand when the bubble stuff is his vessel, or trying to fix the broken toaster that needs to spark to capture the soul. And how about when Ben takes a liking to the dove (naming him Winston)? Is that funnier than Sock carrying around a snowglobe with an advice-giving soul inside? Priceless.
6. The new demon neighbors
Not only do I love these actors (Michael Ian Black from Ed and Ken Marino from Veronica Mars) but I love the way they are being used. They are not just demons, they are gay demons, who feel they are unfairly prejudiced for being… demons. The gay thing never comes up, which is such a funny social commentary.
But the biggest reason…
7. It’s getting Buffy good
I was beginning to get nervous that Reaper would not live up to its potential. It became very formula and seemingly dropped the back story of Sam’s father’s mysterious burning of several pages of the contract which sold Sam’s soul to The Devil. I now have some hope that they may get back to that, and that even more intrigue lies behind that back story.
We left off with the demon neighbor proposing a partnership to Sam to work together to take down The Devil. Now we are getting somewhere. The potential for a deeper storyline, for the danger to become just a little more dangerous and the dark to become just a little darker. If they keep going along these lines, this Buffy fan will be satisfied.
Want a clip from tonight’s episode? Look no further….
Nine reasons why I love Deadliest Catch
Deadliest Catch returned with new episodes Tuesday night on Discovery. This is easily one of my favorite shows on television. I could watch a Deadliest Catch marathon every weekend, it’s that good.
Here are nine reasons why I love this show:
1. Mike Rowe. Yes, the Dirty Jobs guy. He’s also the voice of Deadliest Catch and there is no one better suited for the job. He may be a goofball on his own show, but he brings out his deep and foreboding voice to follow the fishermen on Catch.
2. Pranks. This week’s season opener had a doozy of a prank. Capt. Jonathon Hillstrand (Reason #7) replaced one of Capt. Phil’s crab pots WITH A TRUCK. He loaded a rusted, old pick-up truck onto his ship and sought out Phil’s crab pots for his elaborate prank. Last season, one of the captains put a bag of flour on a crab pot so when it went through the crank, it exploded and covered the deck and crew in white powder.
3. Profanity. If you didn’t pay real close attention to Deadliest Catch, you probably wouldn’t notice just how much these guys curse. It happens a lot. But the editors don’t ’bleep’ it out. There’s always so much background noise happening that they just cover up the curse words with natural sounds from the environment. I like that Discovery didn’t ask the fishermen to roll back their profanity– it makes them more real. If I were working that job, I’d be swearing up a storm too.
4. Big waves. There are a lot of reality shows out there about dangerous jobs, including Ax Men and Ice Road Truckers, but none of them even compare to Deadliest Catch. The other jobs are tough, yes, but not nearly as exciting. On Deadliest Catch, there are always waves crashing onto the decks of the ships. Everyone in an orange jump suit is constantly getting thrown around. It’s non-stop action, and non-stop awesome video. Even the shots of the seagulls riding along with the boats are amazing.
5. Capt. Sig Hansen. Fishing is in Sig’s blood. He and his brother are on their boat, the Northwestern, and they learned to fish for crabs from their father. Sig isn’t the prankster that some of the other guys are. He’s serious about fishing and he has a respect both for the Bering Sea and for the long history of fishing it.
6. Greenhorns. This is the emotional part of the show. Every season, some fellas come on board thinking they’re going to make a ton of cash in just a few months. Not many of them actually do that, though. I always feel so sorry for them because they’re usually fumbling around and falling down a lot– and being tortured by the grizzled old men who have been fishing for crab their whole lives. I root for the ones who make it through the season and I feel sad for the ones who quit.
7. Capt. Jonathon Hillstrand. This guy has long hair and is covered in tattoos. If you bumped into him on the street, you’d probably be a little bit intimidated. But he’s a teddy bear at heart and that’s why I adore him. Last season, he rescued a greenhorn who fell off another ship while securing crab pots. Jonathan couldn’t contain his emotion- he hugged the guy and cried with him. He drives a smaller boat than many of the other guys, but holds his own against them. And he loves to prank the other captains (see #2).
8. The Yellow Pages Crab Count. Each episode ends with the crab tally so far in the season. So you can root for your favorite boat and crew. While I like Capts. Hillstrand and Hansen, I usually root for the Cornelia Marie and Capt. Phil Harris. He’s a gruff old fisherman who is a big pushover for his sons (they’re part of the deck crew). He’s the guy who seems to be in charge of the whole operation.
9. Video podcasts. A lot of shows are finally jumping onto this podcast thing. It’s like a DVD extra. This season, Discovery is planning three podcasts about the topics that interest me but don’t fit within the realm of the on-air show. For instance, the first podcast is about life in Dutch Harbor. Who are these people who live here year-round? I’m particularly looking forward to the next two podcasts: one is a behind-the-scenes with the producers and cameramen of Deadliest Catch. The other is about the boat captains and what they do during the off season.