NBC Universal Synergy seen in new attraction.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

NBC's reality television show "Fear Factor" is being turned into a "Fear Factor Live" attraction, slated to open at Universal Studios Hollywood in early June. "Fear Factor Live" will mark the first time a reality show has been turned into a theme park attraction.

The attraction is one of the first synergies from a deal completed last May, that formed NBC Universal by combining the assets of NBC, part of General Electric, with those of Vivendi Universal. NBC Universal is 80 percent owned by General Electric and 20 percent owned by Vivendi.

Much like the reality show, the willing participants, who have to audition for a spot, will compete against each other in a series of contests designed to see who has the least amount of fear. The attraction bills itself as "taking guests out of their comfort zones and placing them in unfamiliar territory as it preys on basic human fears."

Accordingly, it will feature contestants withstanding electric shocks, swimming past slithering eels in a giant water tank, consuming chocolate-covered insects and being swarmed by a box filled with emperor scorpions. Each "Fear Factor Live" performance will involve the participation of up to 18 guests with as many as 144 guests participating on a daily basis. Universal Studios hopes that this will produce a vastly different viewing experience every time.

John Murdy, the creative director for Universal Studios Hollywood, maintains that the attraction is one more in a long line of Universal Studios attractions being created out of television shows and films.

John Robinett, the senior vice-president of Los Angeles-based Economics Research Associates, an entertainment leisure and consulting firm, believes that the potential for converting reality shows into theme park attractions is relatively limited.

"Quite a few of the reality shows will be tough to turn into an attraction. Fear Factor is one that you can. It will depend on the nature of forthcoming reality shows and how convertible they are," Robinett said. While one shouldn't expect a "Bachelor" reality theme show attraction any time soon, Murdy hints that the company is considering other reality options.

One can only speculate whether or not the attraction will be a success but Robinett gives credit to NBC Universal for rapidly capitalizing on natural synergies between the two companies.