One of NBC's biggest contributions to the reality show craze of the early aughts was Fear Factor. Every week, host Joe Rogan would guide contestants through three challenges designed to test their physical and mental limits. Typically, two of the trials were stunts while the third sandwiched in the middle was intended to gross out both the players and viewers. The gimmick worked for several seasons, until declining ratings saw the show's cancellation in 2006. It had a failed revival in 2012, before a third crack at it ended up on MTV in 2017, hosted by Ludacris.

In a show about crazy stunts, it goes without saying that there are some equally crazy rules the contestants had to follow. As the next fifteen entries will show, some restrictions were more bizarre than others.

So get ready to prove that fear is not a factor for you, because here are 15 Crazy Rules All The Contestants Needed To Follow On Fear Factor

15 Non-Disclosure Agreements

Imagine being a contestant on the once popular show. After coming home, one would want to tell everybody every detail of the experience to friends and family. Too bad all participants sign non disclosure agreements before playing, meaning they have to keep it all to themselves until the episode airs.

14 Ralph And Lose

As if it's not bad enough that contestants are required to eat unspeakably gross foods, they have to do so without the delicacies making their way back out. If they hurl during the round, the challenge is failed. It is a shame to start the challenge only to lose due to a weak stomach.

13 Free The Network From Any Liability

It is natural for a network to do all in its power to avoid lawsuits from a game show contestant. As such, those who went on the show were pretty much powerless to hold NBC responsible for any damage incurred while on the program. To the network's credit, all stunts were safety checked by professionals.

12 Not Discuss An Episode Even If It Never Aired

The NDA didn't only account for episodes that aired. Any unlucky souls who were in the unaired episodes were also beholden to the agreement. This happened to two twins who drank something so gross, NBC opted not to air the episode. The two women voiced their displeasure with this, and the network told them to keep quiet.

11 Rigorous Medical Testing

While contracts prevented many lawsuits, the producers still didn't want people getting seriously injured, or worse, on television. To prevent this, potential contestants went through numerous tests to ensure they were in the right condition to go through these enduring challenges. Sometimes, doctors discovered ailments previously unknown to the candidate.

10 Let The Show Mercilessly Tease Them

Anybody who watched Fear Factor knows that people were regularly the butt of jokes. As a stand up comedian, Joe Rogan poked fun at people, sometimes making them uncomfortable. In one particular instance, an extended hug between a mother and son prompted the host to imply some inappropriate relations between the two.

9 Let Them Edit The Show To Change The Truth

This is standard fare for a reality show. Producers and editors will use tricks to create a different story than what actually transpired. At the end of the day, reality television still has to entertain an audience. If the truth turned out to be boring, then players had to be okay with the show runners artificially spicing things up.

8 Be Okay With Everyone Leaving Empty Handed

For a game show to work, at least one person has to leave with nothing. It was entirely possible for every contestant to walk away without a single prize, however. It rarely happened, but it was a reality that they had to face. Did it make the losers feel better if nobody won anything?

7 Be Okay With Physical Pain

Putting disgusting things in one's mouth is one thing, but a few of the challenges were straight up torture. Several of the tests during the show's run involved getting electrocuted, which most would agree is a painful sensation. It goes to show; people would do almost anything for fifty grand and the chance to be on television.

6 Not Engage In Inappropriate Behavior

Contestants regularly taunted each other, but people had to keep strictly hands off. One time, during a reality stars special edition of the series, two contestants were kicked off for getting too rowdy. One of them reportedly got into an altercation with Rogan, a bad idea considering the comedian's Jiu-Jitsu hobby.

5 Be Good Looking

While not an official rule, it is a trend one cannot help but notice. Virtually all of the contestants on the show were beautifully sculpted masses of flesh. Audiences would rather see people generally considered attractive. Most average looking people are probably just fine passing on the opportunity to be on the show.

4 Get Naked On Camera

One challenge early on in the series directly involved public nudity. A little streaking never hurt anybody, and it is fine as long as all parties are consenting. A couple of stunts, however, seemed directly designed to get women's tops off. We suppose blurred out private parts were a ratings boost in the early 2000s.

3 Get Gassed

Any reader who has been tear gassed can attest - it is not a fun experience. Would they do it for fifty thousand dollars? Some of them probably would, and they can't be blamed. The real ethical question lies with the producers who set up the stunt and offered the chance at a big payout if they did endure tear gas for as long as possible.

2 Get To Los Angeles On One's Own

To sign up for the newest incarnation of Fear Factor, contestants have to make their own way to Los Angeles if they don't already live in the area. That's right, MTV is too cheap to provide transportation costs for players. It's not a problem for those who win, but what about those who leave empty handed?

1 Not Run For Public Office For A Year Afterwards

It is confusing why this is a rule, but there has to be some rationale to it. If one wants to appear of the show, they must first agree not to try out for a position in politics for a year after their episode airs. It seems like nonsense, but it is probably best for everyone that contestants not try out for positions in government.