UPN’s ‘Manhunt’ a Maggot For Real

Long before Joe Millionaire’s bogus tycoons and the twisted deceptions of Married by America, there was a wretched little "reality" show called Manhunt that quickly sank out of sight like a lump of dark matter. Bullying, extortion, manhandling, and fraud were the order of the day, in a tale more worthy of pulp fiction than prime-time entertainment.

The premise was this: a band of rugged individualists would make their way through the wilds of Kauai, while fighting off the depredations of a trio of hunters. No politics, no in-fighting, just survival of the fittest. At least that was the original premise of veteran producer Bob Jaffe, creator of American Gladiators. "In the original production of Manhunt, 13 people banded together to act as a team," said Jaffe. "They were determined not to exhibit the kind of cut throat behavior that had been seen on shows like Survivor." But what Paramount executives ultimately dished out to viewers was a nasty mish-mash of faked footage, edited timelines, and countless scenes of humiliation and bullying of the show’s contestants.

The contestants were a mixed bunch of physically fit young men and women, who were vying for the top prize of $25,000. Viewers were frequently shown the map that the contestants navigated by, the suitcase full of prize money, the distance covered during individual episodes, and commentary by bandanna-clad players standing in front of palm trees – lies, lies, all lies! The contestants never used the map, individual monetary prizes were awarded throughout the show, distances were fabricated to fit the drama of the moment, and all footage showing bandana-clad contestants was filmed weeks afterward in L.A.’s Griffith Park. And what’s the big deal with the bandannas you ask? Why, to cover the shaved heads the players received for being "captured" by the show’s hunters, Big Tim, Koa, and Rain, all former pro-wrestlers.

For you lucky millions who missed this show, captured players were run down by the hunters, shot at often point-blank range with paintball guns, and then paraded before the other players. Finally, boss bully Big Tim would employ all his sadistic charm, shaving a wide stripe down the middle of the men’s heads (women would get their ponytails clipped), while hissing "maggot" into his victims’ ears.

Before the third episode had aired, two complaints hit the desk of the FCC. The first charge was filed by player Jacqueline "J.K." Kelley, who stated 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." Original co-producer Bob Jaffe had already quit the show, claiming that Paramount executives wanted more "conflict and back-stabbing. For the sake of ratings, they asked me to change the very 'reality' of the series and I couldn't, in good conscience, go along with that." He and the show’s judge, Hash Shaalan, filed the second charge. Jaffe and Shaalan claim that the gauntlet challenges were rigged in favor of "charismatic" contestants, that contestants recited scripted dialogue provided by Paramount, and that staged scenes were woven into footage shot in Hawaii.

As if these charges weren’t bad enough, Shaalan, who trained the hunters and contestants, also claimed that contestants were injured during filming and were not given any medical treatment. Two of the contestants, James McCaughley and Lucas Ford, sustained leg injuries. McCaughley had knee surgery, but Ford, who had no insurance, had not received treatment at the time he was originally interviewed. Shaalan also claimed that J.K. Kelley was physically restrained by a show producer from coming to the aid of the injured McCaughley, leading to her ouster by the group. "It was stated early on that there would be no interference (by show producers). One of the rules that I did impart to the contestants was that there would be absolutely no physical contact between them and the hunters and I also said that nobody in the field was going to come into play. The producers; the cameramen – they wouldn’t influence them."

Six other Manhunt contestants were interviewed by thestingray.net., describing reshoots in L.A.’s Griffin Park. "If we didn't shoot, they told us the show was not gonna air," said Wesley Ace, then a 21-year-old-student. "No show, no prize money."

Although it’s been three years since these charges were filed, RealityNewsOnline can find no documentation that action has been taken against Paramount concerning these charges. Were the charges dropped? Was Paramount censured in any way? If Bob Jaffe’s vision of the show had been honored would be even be asking these questions?

One thing is certain, all of these allegations add up to well-deserved induction in the Reality TV Hall of Shame.

You can read all about what happened on the show in RealityNewsOnline’s Manhunt page.

Melinda Smith is a technical writer and graphic artist who runs a web-based business out of her home in Cincinnati, Ohio. She can be contacted at tremme@eudoramail.com.

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