Wow! She just stuck her hand right in there…
I’m surprised she didn’t climb in the tank.
How would you react if you were led into a completely dark room and asked to blindly stick your hand in a tank to identify the object it held?
That’s pretty much the premise of a new reality show, Total Blackout, coming to Syfy in 2012. A show I got to take part in… sorta. Last month I attended the Syfy Press Tour and they asked for volunteers willing to help out with an interactive demonstration of the show. The catch? We weren’t told anything about the show beforehand. And they meant that. I had absolutely no idea what I was walking into when I was led into that dark room and the creator, Henrik Nielsen, explained the concept to me from his location across the hall.
Just a little while earlier, I had been told I was one of the volunteers who had been selected to participate. I joined four other members of the digital press in the “green room” across the hall to meet the show’s host, Jaleel White (!!!), and Henrik. Who teased us mercilessly but still revealed NOTHING about we’d be doing. At one point Henrik asked me, “Are you good at trivia?” And all I could think was, “Great, now I’m going to look like an idiot when I don’t know the answers to anything they ask us.” HA.
Joining us as the fifth “contestant” was Colin Ferguson who plays Sheriff Jack Carter on Eureka. He claimed he hadn’t been told anything either but I still have some doubts. Not that they told him exactly what we’d be doing but I suspect he knew a little more than we did. Or maybe he’s just used to performing for the camera because his turn through the room is definitely entertaining.
Speaking of The Room… Let me tell ya, you really couldn’t see anything in there. Lest you think we’re exaggerating that part. The door was cloaked with a black curtain to let as little light into the room as possible when you first stepped into it. This gave your eyes no time to adjust before the pitch black descended. I suppose it says something about me that I was more concerned about not tripping and falling than the things they wanted to identify in those tanks. But, come on, I’m clumsy!! Of course, now that I’ve seen the video, all I can think about is how that snake was so close to me as I tried to get my bearings at that first table. The heebie jeebies have me dancing in my seat thinking about it!!
But why keep describing it for you when you can see for yourself! Check out the videos below for a sneak peek at the concept of Total Blackout. The first video is just my turn through the room, the second is Colin Ferguson’s, and the last one is the full demonstration with all five contestants.
Rae Demos Total Blackout
Colin Ferguson Demos Total Blackout
Total Blackout: #SyfyTour Edition
PS: The quote at the top of this post is Jaleel White’s reaction to my performance. Love him. He was still marveling at how “fearless” I was later that night. Of course the truth is that 1) I would never be that fearless again and 2) would have been A LOT more cautious if I’d had a little more information. I’d had no time to ponder what could be in those tanks and I was more relieved it was “identify this object” rather than “answer this question” that I dived right in… I imagine, though, if they’d put cockroaches in that tank (which apparently some evil people at Syfy suggested), my reaction might have been more along the lines of those girly screams the Internet wanted. In fact, I may need to go soak in a bleach bath after even thinking about the prospect…
This was the highlight of the DMT. #syfytour
Agreed! Altho maybe I’m not allowed to say that since I was a participant.
Can’t wait to watch these when I get home!
Yes, I need you to go home and laugh at me!
Hilarious! Wow-your composure throughout the whole thing was amazing, and you got those right away! I would have been totally freaked out like Michelle. I am far from a pet person, so I probably would have shrieked and screamed after touching the snake. And then it would have taken a lot of effort to even put my hand in the next tank. I would have totally freaked when I touched the bear, assuming it was another live animal!
I probably would have looked stupider than Sammi. 
Haaa. Thanks, Kyle. Like I said at the end there, it was more just me being so relieved it was something I felt I could do and therefore not really thinking about what would be in the tank. NOW I’d totally psych myself out about it. I wonder when they screen people if they’ll figure out that some people will react better if they know a little more info while others will give a better reaction not knowing anything?
As for the not shrieking after touching the snake…. I think it helps that I’m from florida and touch lizards (that my cats bring in the house) all the time. But also it was so dark that it helped not having to see it after touching it. I had more of a reaction when I got back into the room and was watching the others touching it!
Yeah, the bear was definitely hard after the snake. Intentionally so, I’m sure. Because you’re now expecting it to be something live!
OMG! Are you kidding me?!! I would have freaked out so bad. Actually before watching the video I thought I would never do this because I would be too afraid they would put a snake in there and BAM. You are way more courageous that I would have been to even volunteer. You deserved the praises Rae
Thanks, Sandy! I have to say I mostly volunteered because no one else at our table wanted to… I’m not sure that makes me courageous or a rebel.