"Fear Factor" is coming back to NBC. Joe Rogan? Not so much.
Paul Teledgy, head of alternative programming at NBC, told EW.com on Thursday that the network will be reviving the gross-out reality competition, which originally ran from 2001 to 2006.
However, an individual familiar with the relaunch told TheWrap that Rogan — who hosted the series during those years — is not part of the revamp, as the network wishes to cast someone new.
According to Teledgy, the decision to revive the series came after seeing the high ratings that reruns of the series were receiving on the network's cable channel, Chiller. After revisiting the series by watching a few reruns himself, Teledgy realized that the show's time has come. Again.
“No one has come close to doing what they’ve done on that show,” Teledgy said. “You go back and they’ve stood the test of time. It always had this incredible spectacle to it.”
It's not certain who will be tasked with hovering over contestants as they eat disgusting things in pursuit of the ultimate prize, though another individual with knowledge of the production told TheWrap that casting calls are currently being held for the series.
(The same individual also said that it's "too soon" to say whether Rogan will return to the series or not; an announcement regarding the relaunch is expected from the network sometime today.)
A representative for Rogan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
