Manhunt, Episode 3: Rigging Allegations & Two Eliminations

Well folks, it looks like Paramount Television Network has managed to best Mark Burnett in the Reality TV genre, just not in the areas of ratings and revenue. The Paramount produced series Manhunt, which airs on the UPN network, is involved in a scandal that makes the Survivor allegations of rigging look like a day in traffic court.

Former co-executive producer Bob Jaffe contends that scenes were recreated and reshot after filming last winter in Hawaii, that contestants were coerced into acting out scripted scenes, that winners were selected by the producers, and that the contest’s rules were mis-stated in the credits. These allegations have been corroborated by contestant Jacqueline Kelley. Kelley, known as “JK” in the show, says that she was contacted several times to shoot new scenes. “I said I wasn’t going to participate in fraud. The game ended in Kauai. Anything after that is fraudulent.” The 12 other contestants allegedly cooperated with the reshoot, which took place in L.A.’s Griffith Park, after Paramount executives threatened to withhold prize money and stop the show from being aired. These allegations are all potential violations of FCC game-show laws.

UPN is considering several options, including pulling Manhunt from the air or informing viewers that some scenes were reshot, says spokeswoman Joanna Lowry.

The irony is, Manhunt has done miserably in the ratings, even with the outrageous manipulation by the network. The show ranks 120th out of 132 shows. That’s bottom-of-the-barrel ratings by anyone’s count. Paramount executives were so gung-ho to have a show with a lot of “conflict” that they pushed the actors, (Big Tim, Koa, and Rain) and the contestants to extremes unheard of in the Reality Show genre. And you know what, it didn’t have to be like this. Manhunt had the potential to be a lot of fun. As I suggested in Episode One, if the contestants were given free rein to make their way through the course, survival-of-the-fittest style, this show would really rock. Instead, we have an endless series of stalkings by a pack of overgrown playground bullies. The fittest contestants have been shackled by the usual pointless political in-fighting (J.K.) and have been targeted by the hunters from the beginning of the game (James, Joe, and Wesley). The contestants have also been forced to stay together in a pack, making them totally vulnerable to attack, since many of the group are just “pathetic suburbanites.”

Who knows if the show will even air this Friday? What other contests were edited out of the show? Which contestant did Paramount pick to win? Does anyone even care? Just the contestants who haven’t even been paid yet for all their pain and suffering. I’m sure Big Tim, aka John Cena, has gotten his cut, though. Otherwise Paramount Network Television president Garry Hart just might be in for a new hairdo.

Episode Three – Day three.

The contestants rank as follows: JK, Wesley, James, eliminated; Joe, Mandy, and Karen each have 2 hits; Jesse, Lyzz, Ed, and Romey have 1 hit; Jim, Lucas, and Nicole have no hits.

New leader, same enemy. With the passing of the compass by former leader James last episode, the group is now led by Preacher Jim. The remaining members take it in stride. We hear from James' sweetie Karen first. "When James was eliminated, we all realized it didn't matter any more how strong or how smart you are. I think now each of us feels we have a shot at the quarter of a million." Joe says, "We have a common enemy; we don't want to make that enemy ourselves, or else that other enemy, the hunters, are gonna beat us, and we don't wanna beat ourselves like that. Of course, if the recent rigging allegations are true, the show's producers are your biggest foe -- they control all.

Jim leads the group into the grasslands, checking the map for the route to Safe Zone 3. "The fact is, they've attacked us every time we've been in the open. I say we stick to the trees and to the brush." Ed, who's not happy unless he's sniping, says "I think we're making a big mistake." Remember how Ed dissed Lyzz for objecting to taking the mountain trail, calling her "honey"? The group ignores Ed and heads up the mountain.

James' subordinates, Joe and Jesse, retain their posts. Joe the point man, scouts ahead and Jesse takes up the rear. But Jesse says that his position has been determined by the "girls," this time. "Once James was eliminated, the group dynamic really changed."

Along the trail, the hunters search for spoor and Jesse admires the scenery. "Don't you wish you could be in my shoes right now?" he says to the camera. His lack of attention has not gone unnoticed by the "girls." Romey says, "Jesse is either over-responsive or under-responsive. He over-reacts and then he gets exhausted." Nicole says that he's "freaking out about the hunters," and Leader Jim can't get a radio response. Then, the group realizes that they're lost.

The hunters finally pick up their trail. Big Tim radios to his henchpeople, "They're heading for Hangman’s Hollow."

The group establishes their position on the map and decide to cut straight across Hangman’s Hollow to the Safe Zone.

Hangman’s Hollow - 1/8 mile to Safe Zone. The group slides down the rugged trail to the opening in the forest, where they can see the Safe Zone banner across the clearing. All is quiet, but not in a good way. Leader Jim may be just a minister, but he's savvy enough to know that they're not home free. He tells the group, "OK folks, I guarantee we have one more conflict coming; they're not gonna let us just waltz right into our camp." Unfortunately, he recommends that they travel down the middle of the clearing, saying that it "gives us more of a chance to go either direction." Romey does not look reassured.

Sheep-like, the group agrees with Jim, and they slowly stroll towards the camp. But, surprise! There's Big Tim crouching all military-like behind a tree, while his prey saunters past. Jim give positive reinforcement: "Great, great, we're doing great." Racking up the tension even higher, the camera films all the action in slow-motion. Big Tim shoots, and hits Romey right in the backpack, which finally motivates the herd enough to break into a run. Explosions and smoke encourage them further. Joe runs at full tilt -- right into Rain, who is crouching in the grass like the mighty lioness she is. He dodges to the side and she misses. Big Tim fires at Jesse and misses. One by one, the group leaps across the rope into the Safe Zone. Big Tim takes a stand at the barrier and aims for Lucas, who is manfully struggling along on his "third leg." Lucas says, "I saw Big Tim standing right in front of me and I literally saw paint balls flying right past my face and I seen that Safe Zone and I just dived right in there, man." Big Tim misses this shot, too.

Everyone crowds around Lucas and congratulates him. Lucas brags, "I had two people shooting at me and they still couldn't hit me. I got a cane. What's up with that?" Dude, did you forget about that big steroid-mountain who was just shooting at you; the one who can hear every word you're saying and likes to torture anyone who even looks frisky? Big Tim offers his parting shot to the happy campers, "Let 'em laugh; let 'em yuck it up all they want. They still have to vote one of their own into the gauntlet. Now that's funny to me."

Safe Zone - gauntlet vote. Nicole introduces the subject, "You're still a little freaked about the whole attack and then all of a sudden, you have to vote on someone running the gauntlet." At first the votes are directed toward a new problem member of the group, Lyzz. James says, "Lyzz, I actually thought you were gonna get hit again, just because of your (slow) speed." Ed, always happy to cast a negative vote, agrees with Jim. Lyzz is very upset, but tries to make the best of the situation, and offers herself as a human sacrifice, if only they won't vote her off. "I can draw fire. I can easily take myself out tomorrow and take a bullet and prevent anyone else from being pulled out." Then Mandy comes to her rescue. She hesitates and sweetly asks for the group's permission to speak. "I think -- Jesse," she offers. "I feel like he's trying to trample over everyone. I'm feeling very uncomfortable." This is the same attitude the group had toward JK. They were very pissed off with her for not coming back to help James when he hurt his knee in the first attack. Of course, now, it seems she was deliberately stopped from going to his aid by a producer, who never told the group about the incident. Now the group vote swings to Jesse, who tries to shift blame on a faulty headset and too much radio traffic. Lame, lame, lame. Fickle Ed sees the wind blowing another way, and switches his vote to Jesse. He even throws in a compliment to Lyzz, calling her "smart" in an obvious attempt to gain some favor. So far, Ed has managed to fly under the radar pretty well, with only one hit. With the pool of menfolk dwindling, it doesn't pay to antagonize the girls. Jesse is chosen for the gauntlet.

Gauntlet Run. The runner has 2 minutes to cover 50 yards to capture the flag and travel 50 yards back, unmarked. Jesse says, "We all know the gauntlet is suicide. I don't think I have a very good chance, but I'm gonna try like I have all the chances in the world." This gauntlet is in a straight line across the clearing. The only cover is the tall grass. Jesse stays low, crawling rapidly to the flag, and avoiding all the hunter's shots. He pulls down the flag and starts his crawl back. He finally jumps to his feet when he is a few feet from the finish line, but is hit right in the face by Rain's last shot.

Rain is gracious in her victory, "I dunno, I'm just doin' my job and havin' a good time doin' it." He-man Tim rewards her with a punch in the arm. Rain is so tickled at her first haircutting experience, that she indulges in a little jungle artistry and carves a nice big "R" in the back of Jesse's head. Jesse accepts his end philosophically, saying "I'd rather go down the gauntlet than on the field." The remaining group members head off into the jungle.

Ed expresses his warm and fuzzy side, "At the end of the day, we were under this beautiful, amazing tree. It just felt totally safe and then I spotted the waterfall and the lagoon." Now we see the kind of scenery we expect from a tropical paradise. The wise and caring producers of this show have seen fit to provide our grungy contestants with the best rest stop this side of, well, Hawaii. Nature child Romey, who entertained us last week with a belly dance, now strips down to her bikini bottom while explaining, "Basically we have no inhibitions anymore. It's not a big deal to have our shirt off in front of someone else. We've kind of been trained by society to think that something is taboo; it doesn't matter in the jungle. I'm pretty uninhibited; I was raised by hippies. I don't have a lot of physical barriers. I'm really comfortable physically naked." I have a feeling she included that bit on her application.

The group sets up the tents. Leader Jim says, "As a pastor of a church, I've really had to ask myself, if I was put in any compromising situations, cause if I am, I can't do this. I just want to be consistent with what I believe in and not sell my soul out for $250,000." Then again, if the contestants were playing for cash prizes along the way, as has come out in the scandal accusations, his soul could go for a lot less than a quarter mil.

But look, Peeping Tim is back for another math lesson. "It's been 3 days and we've only shaved 4 heads. Three because of the gauntlet. That stops tomorrow," he says, his eyes glowing with an evil glow as he circles the tents.

Safe Zone - Day 4. Joe, Karen, Lyzz, and Mandy have 2 hits; Ed and Romey have 1 hit; Lucas, Jim and Nicole have no hits. After checking the map, the group decides on the arduous-sounding Twisted Vine Path, because "what's nasty for us is nasty for them" (the hunters). Jim tells us that some members are "pretty banged up" but that "spirits are very, very high." Joe is pumped. "My status right now is 110%. I feel better than I did the first day." We see the hunters skulking through the trees.

Lyzz has been giving some thought to the hunters' techniques. "There seems to be a shift in the strategy of the hunters. They definitely are trying to weaken the stronger ones on the team, which is good for me because they're not paying nearly as much attention to me." No wonder Ed thinks she's smart.

Jim warns the group to observe the birds to see if they fall silent. Unfortunately, someone stumbled over a booby trap in the trail and set off an alarm. The hunters rush to cut off the group on the path. Big Tim fires first, but misses all his shots. Koa hits Joe and Romey. Joe now has three hits and is eliminated. But Lucas has fallen behind enemy lines and has lost radio contact. The hunters stalk their limping prey. Koa sneers, "I've got the one with the stick." Motherly Rain coaxes, "Come on down, baby, come on down." Koa finally spots Lucas and runs up on him as he crawls under a fallen tree. Koa's shot goes wide, but he is gracious in his defeat, saying "Hey, Lucas, if you're looking for a walking stick, we got a sale goin' on -- hunter's price -- two for one," as he breaks a cane stalk in two. A cease fire is announced.

The group is ecstatic that Lucas evaded the hunters for the second time. Joe, who is now out of the game, is equally happy for Lucas. Nicole says, that Joe is "brave and chivalrous and everyone loved him." But life goes on in reality-show land, and the remaining contestants divvy up loser Joe's stuff, stripping off his valuables while he's standing there. Romey explains, "You honestly do feel a difference; like that person's not there anymore. Like they're a ghost." The pragmatic group decide that it's best to just move on and not witness chivalrous Joe's shaving. "I felt we just needed to move on and get a jump on the hunters," says their moral compass, Jim.

Now it's Koa's turn with the shaver. Like a friendly family barber, he asks, "What's your name, son?" Rain coos, "He's such a pretty boy." But Joe isn't fooled. He swats Koa's arm away, snarling, "Before you do that, look me in the eye and tell me if you think you'd last one day out here in the jungle." He vents, "You've got no heart; I've got more heart than all of you guys." Now Joe is ready for the razor. Koa follows his master's lead and gives Joe a modified version of a monk's hairdo. Koa is just as eloquent as the big guy, saying "You were pretty; you're gonna be pretty ugly." Whoever writes this caveman dialogue is even more thick-headed than these "bounty hunters."

Joe is defiant to the end. Speaking to the camera, he says, "They'll never beat us!" He then rounds on Big Tim and shouts in his face, "Ever!" The big guy never breaks his smirk, and calmly continues his gum chewing. But to the camera, he admits, "I gotta give it to him, the kid had ahelluva lot of fight in him. But I'm a mountain -- immovable! And it's gonna take a whole lot more than fight to win $250,000." It's gonna take an executive decision by the show's producers to determine the winner, that's what it'll take.

Next week: Manhunt Western-style with plenty of ropin', hidin' and stampedin'.

Melinda Smith is a technical illustrator and writer with a background in graphic arts. She and her family live in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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