Editing Scare Tactics

{{For|the 1990s comic book series published by DC Comics|Scare Tactics (comics)}}
{{hatnote|For the use of fear in attempting to influence others, see [[Fear mongering]]}}
{{Lead too short|date=November 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Scare-Tactics-USA-Network.webp
| image_size           = 200
| creator              = {{ubl|Scott Hallock|Kevin Healey}}
| num_seasons          = {{ubl|'''Original series''': 5<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scare Tactics (Syfy) TV Listings |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/scare-tactics/listings/ |access-date=October 14, 2024 |website=[[The Futon Critic]]}}</ref>|'''Revived series''': 1<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scare Tactics (Reboot Series) (USA) TV Listings|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/scare-tactics-reboot-series/listings/ |access-date=October 14, 2024 |website=The Futon Critic}}</ref>|'''Total''': 6}}
| num_episodes         = {{ubl|'''Original series''': 96|'''Revived series''': 10|'''Total''': 106}}
| runtime              = 21 minutes
| list_episodes        = Scare Tactics#List of Scare Tactics episodes
| executive_producer   = {{ubl|Jesse Fawcett|Kevin Healey|Scott Hallock|[[Jordan Peele]]}}
| presenter            = {{ubl|[[Shannen Doherty]] (season 1–2)|[[Stephen Baldwin]] (season 2) |[[Tracy Morgan]] (season 3–5)|Jecobi Swain as Flip (season 6–present)}}
| country              = United States
| company              = {{ubl|Hallock Healey Entertainment (2003–2013)|[[Monkeypaw Productions]] (2024–)|LikeMineDid Media (2024–)|[[Universal Television Alternative]] (2024–)}}
| network              = {{ubl|[[Syfy]] (2003–2013)|[[Chiller (TV channel)|Chiller]] (2012)}}
| first_aired          = {{Start date|2003|4|4}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2013|10|28}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Scare Tactics|url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2013/09/13/syfys-sixth-annual-31-days-of-halloween-scare-a-thon-unleashes-600-hours-of-bloodcurdling-programming-730011/20130913syfy01/}}</ref>
| network2             = [[USA Network]]
| first_aired2         = {{Start date|2024|10|4}}
| last_aired2          = present
}}

'''''Scare Tactics''''' is an American [[comedy horror]] [[hidden camera]] television show created by Scott Hallock and Kevin Healey and aired on [[Syfy]] from April 4, 2003, to October 28, 2013. The first season of the show was hosted by [[Shannen Doherty]] and then [[Stephen Baldwin]] took her place in the middle of the second season. At the beginning of the third season, the show was hosted by [[Tracy Morgan]].

In July 2024, it was announced that [[USA Network]] would bring the show back with [[Jordan Peele]] as the show's executive producer. The show returned on October 4.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |date=August 29, 2024 |title=‘Scare Tactics’ Reboot From Jordan Peele Sets October Premiere Date |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/scare-tactics-reboot-jordan-peele-premiere-date-usa-network-1236123982/ |access-date=October 14, 2024 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

==Format==
[[File:Scare Tactics (2009) Title Card.png|150px|thumb|left|The show's title card from 2010 to 2013.]]
''Scare Tactics'' is a [[hidden camera]] [[prank]] show that puts victims into terrifying situations, usually involving movie-style [[special effect]]s and makeup that recreates horror movie clichés. The victims, generally four per episode, are set up by friends/family in tandem with [[television producer|producers]].

Unlike other hidden camera shows, ''Scare Tactics'' was shot and edited in a cinematic style intended to give each piece the look and feel of a horror movie.

There are some instances where the victims are lured into the pranks on the promise of being on a fake reality show called "Fear Antics" which plays off like a show similar to [[MTV]]'s ''[[Jackass (television series)|Jackass]]'' but end with dire consequences. In "Fear Antics", the victim is led to believe that they are the prankster, when in fact the joke is on them. Sometimes, the victim of "Fear Antics" will attempt keeping calm and rationally try keeping the situation from getting out of control (from their perspective).

The pranks end when the victim is completely terrified and an actor would ask them, "Are you scared?" to which they usually reply in the affirmative. They then get the reply, "You shouldn’t be! You're on ''Scare Tactics''!" or "I'll have to/I'm gonna put you on ''Scare Tactics''!". Alternately, at times when a victim almost ran for their lives, the actors would immediately announce the same thing. Rarely, a victim assulted an actor playing an antagonist in a moment of courage; forcing the crew to end the charade. There were only two occasions where a victim realized they were on ''Scare Tactics''.

==Guest stars==
* [[Matt Hardy]] (Season 3, Episode 15)
* [[Judah Friedlander]]
* [[Brooke Hogan]] (Season 5, Episode 1)
* [[Lauren Ash]]
* [[Eric Stonestreet]] (Season 3, Episode 17)
* [[Marc Evan Jackson]]
* [[Dot-Marie Jones]]

==Production==
Its first two seasons aired from April 2003 to December 2004. After a hiatus, the show returned for a third season, which premiered on July 9, 2008.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} The fourth season premiered on October 4, 2010.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Actor/Comedian, Tracy Morgan Returns as Host and First Time Executive Producer of Syfy's Hidden Camera Reality Series, Scare Tactics |url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/03/16/actor-comedian-tracy-morgan-returns-as-host-and-first-time-executive-producer-of-syfys-hidden-camera-reality-series-scare-tactics-34974/20100316syfy05/ |publisher=[[Syfy]] |via=The Futon Critic |date=March 16, 2010 |access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref> On July 17, 2017, it was announced that [[Blumhouse Productions|Blumhouse Television]] was going to produce a new season of the show.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=July 31, 2017 |title=Blumhouse Television to Revive Reality Series 'Scare Tactics' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/scare-tactics-blumhouse-television-revive-reality-series-1202510192 |website=Variety}}</ref> On July 25, 2024, [[USA Network]] announced that it would reboot ''Scare Tactics'' with [[Jordan Peele]]'s [[Monkeypaw Productions]] and [[Universal Television Alternative Studio]] set to produce.<ref>{{cite web|last=White|first=Peter|title=Jordan Peele Rebooting Prank Show ''Scare Tactics'' For USA Network|url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/jordan-peele-scare-tactics-usa-network-1236022067/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=July 25, 2024|access-date=July 25, 2024}}</ref>

==List of ''Scare Tactics'' episodes==
===Season 1===
* 101: UFO Abduction, Firing Range, Buried Alive, Camp Killer
* 102: Bigfoot Attacks, Where's Shannen?, Flatline, Psycho Hitchhiker
* 103: Organ Harvest, Monster in the Closet, Disappearing Stripper, Limo in Area 51
* 104: Clone Attack, Orgy from Hell, Repo Man, Monkey Trouble
* 105: Meteor Man, Date with the Devil, Barbershop of Blood, Taxi Cab Carnage
* 106: Lab Spill, Haunted Babysitter, Serial Killer, Hellride
* 107: Tanning Salon Terror, Cable Killers, Little Girl Psychic, Runaway Corpse
* 108: Ghost Train, Body in Trunk, Dominatrix for a Day, Desert Monster
* 109: UFO Trailer Attack, The Cannibal Family, Séance from Hell, Driving the Dead
* 110: Harsh Reality, Dr. Werewolf, Boy in a Bubble, Virgin Sacrifice
* 111: Chupacabra Attack, Deadly Secret, Lights Out, Black Magic
* 112: Hazmat Hell, Surgery Nightmare, Death Lunch, Bad Seed
* 113: Laboratory Meltdown, Eye Witness, Unborn Clones, Silo Scare
* 114: Deadly Feast, Fear in the Box, Fear Antics: Psycho, Maniac Cop
* 115: Killer Clown, Lethal Conversation, Caught on Camera, Demonic Duel
* 116: Chainsaw Attack, Beastly Breakout, Deadly Hicks, Alien Returns
* 117: Dangerous Obsession, Web of Evil, Laboratory of Blood, Repo from Hell
* 118: Security Breach, Taste for Blood, Zombie Grandma, Killer Car
* 119: Bad Medicine, Killer Queen, Dead Alive, Alien Hunters
* 120: Massacre Under the House, Unholy Ground, Video Victim, Mask of Death
* 121: Lethal Touch, Showgirl's Revenge, Terror Next Door, Bigfoot Returns
* 122: Home Invasion, Demonic Possession, Fatal Beauty, The Hunted
* 123 Special: The Bloody Mirror, Camp Killer, Deadly Infestation, Harsh Reality, Voodoo Resurrection, Psycho Hitchhiker

===Season 2===
* 201 (24): Rage from the Cage, Killer Bees, Bring Out the Gimp, Grave Robbers
* 202 (25): Street Justice, That's Not Santa, Freaks Come Out at Night, Possessed Office
* 203 (26): Gorilla with a Fist, Regression Aggression, Fear Antics: Mandroid's Revenge, Flowers for My Lady
* 204 (27): What's in the Box?, Stakeout, Shocker, Radio Daze
* 205 (28): Brother's Keeper, Cult Compound Crackdown, Revenge of the Switchhiker, Drug Ring Sting
* 206 (29): Toilet Full of Scary, Desert Cult Trailer Attack, Wrath of the Mummy, Juvenile Justice
* 207 (30): Slaughterhouse of Horror, Porn Dorm Massacre, Desert Ritual, Walk-in Portal
* 208 (31): Wired for Revenge, Shave and a Headcut, Summon the Demon, Fear Antics: Hotel Hell
* 209 (32): Motor Psychos, Attack of the Rat Monster, I Me Minefield, There Are Men Coming Here to Kill Me
* 210 (33): Piranhas in the Pond, Chambermaid of Horror, Shotgun Wedding, Critters
* 211 (34): If I Only Had Your Brain, Open the Pod Bay Door, Wired, Fear Antics: Room with a View
* 212 (35): Power Outrage, License to Drive, Wolfman Tells Campfire Stories, The Bagman
* 213 (36): Backwoods Booby Trap, Demon's List, Newest Mental Patient, Mob Morgue
* 214 (37): For Whom the Bridge Trolls, Party Forever (Parts 1 & 2), Burned Alive
* 215 (38): Drone Helicopter, Fed-Execution, Girl in a Blood-Soaked Dress, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
* 216 (39): Unsafe, Eye of the Beholder, Tastes Like Chicken, Meet My Psycho Girlfriend
* 217 (40): Bedridden but Deadly, The Set Up (Parts 1 & 2), Lost and Found
* 218 (41): Pond Creature, Carface, Moonshine Mountain, Rubbed the Wrong Way
* 219 (42): Car Wash, Fear Antics: Running Man, Gimme a Hand, Spa of Death
* 220 (43): The Blob, Road Rage, Strip Club, Man of the Haunted House
* 221 (44): Alien House Call, Hackman Attacks, Final Entry, Hannah's Abduction
* 222 (45): Moms Crazy

===Season 3===
* 301 (46): Satan's Baby, Wood Chipper, Psychic, Black Project
* 302 (47): 3:10 to Hell, Patient's Rage, Fire Starter, Affection
* 303 (48): Genie in a Beer Bottle, Vampire Spa, Escaped Mental Patient, Alien Eggs
* 304 (49): Psycho in a Box, Cheaters of Death, Welcome to the Neighborhood, Ice Man
* 305 (50): When White Noise Attacks, Phantom Power, Walled Off, Paralyzed with Fear
* 306 (51): The Screaming Room, Death Bed and Breakfast, Little Person, Big Kill, Welcome to the Dollhouse
* 307 (52): Frankenstein's Basement of Terror, Who's Your Dead Daddy?, Wired for Fear, Pool of Blood
* 308 (53): Taxi Cab Carnage, Alien Consortium, Double Trouble Clone, Junkyard Showdown
* 309 (54): Home Video Horror, Last Will and Testament, Voodoo Vixen, Assassin's Apprentice
* 310 (55): When the Larvae Breaks, To Catch a Predator, Curse of the Samurai, Pickled to Death
* 311 (56): Big Scoop of Scary, Home Invasion, Healer/Killer, Coffin Refill
* 312 (57): Blood Bath, Meteor Virus, Carmageddon, Welcome to the Dollhouse 2
* 313 (58): Satan's Baby Returns, Screaming Room 2, Barbershop of Blood 2, Junkyard Showdown 2
* 314 (59): Basket Case, Human Stew, Web of Lies, Breakdown
* 315 (60): Ghoul Bus, Criminal's Rage, Killer's Hideout, Psycho Kid
* 316 (61): Channeling the Dead, Black Project 2, Zombie Testing, A Quick Bite
* 317 (62): 28 Minutes Later, Nightmare Session, Zig the Clown, Paranormal Radio Show
* 318 (63): Ranger Danger, Mistaken Identity (Parts 1 & 2), The Doctor's Trip
* 319 (64): The Collector, Cleansing the House, Finding the Truth, Psycho Dance
* 320 (65): Toxic Shock, The Pimp, Female Serial Killer, Can I Have a Kiss?
* 321 (66): Tow Truck Killers, Radioactive Tanning, Mental Patient's Drug Overdose, Cannibal Party
* 322 (67): Ghoul Bus 2, Wrong Identity, Nightmare Motel, Criminal's Second Rage
* 323 (68): Dying to Kill!, Big Phantom Power, Re-hatched Alien Eggs, Old Man of Death
* 324 (69): Desert Cult Trailer Attack
* 325 (70): Satan's Baby Returns

===Season 4===
* 401 (71): It's My Party, The Squatters, Fear Antics: Check Yourself, Crop Circle Showdown
* 402 (72): No Pain No Brain, Communicating with the Ghosts, The Freak Show, Blood on the Cosmos
* 403 (73): Killing Rosemary's Baby, Human Auction, Look in the Sky, Show and Hell
* 404 (74): Vampire Stakeout, Mind Killer, Wine to Die For, Grandpa Has Returned
* 405 (75): Life's a Witch, Revenge of the Werewolf, Alien Babysitter, Organ Harvesting Facility
* 406 (76): Alien Road Block, Lend Me a Hand, Black OPTS, Murderer Still at Large
* 407 (77): Valet Violence, Cursed Book, Possessed Farm, Demon Doll
* 408 (78): Tracy the Tour Guide, Into the Mist, Horror on the Horror Set, Death from Above
* 409 (79): Uh Oh! It's Maggots, Ultimate Alien Fighter, Fountain of Youth, He Shoots He Spores
* 410 (80): If These Walls Could Bleed, Size Splatters, Zombie Town, Truthisodes
* 411 (81): Chill Out, Reptile Creature Revolt, Gang Green Thumb, Scary Development
* 412 (82): Hot Under the Collar, Insanity Virus, No Asylum, Voo Doo You Love?
* 413 (83): Buzz Kill, Electrocutie, Ouija Sitter, Snakes in a Drain

===Season 5===
* 501 (84): Driver's Dead, 2 Guys 1 Suit, The Brand, Human Doll Party
* 502 (85): Pregnant with a Mutant, Work Your Skin Off, Elite Bodyguard Firm, Alien in a Box
* 503 (86): Blown to Green Pieces, Farm Troll, Welcome to the Psych Ward, Monsterious Waste
* 504 (87): Bicentennialien, Waste of Talent, Human Blood Drive, All Puzzled
* 505 (88): Barnacle Boy, Reviving Your Fate, Deadly Sibling Rivalry, Lost Your Hand
* 506 (89): Touched by an E.T., Human Clothing, Vampire Child, Nightmare Therapy
* 507 (90): The Happening Again, Don't Mess with the Boss, Fried Girl, The Missing Link
* 508 (91): Party 'Til You Nuke, The Enigma, Fear Antics: Hospital, Polterheist
* 509 (92): The Corpse Whisperer, Date from Hell, Carnivorous Flies, Send in the Clowns
* 510 (93): Alien Car Crash, Morgue Woman, El Scareiachi, Coma Killer
* 511 (94): Gnome Sweet Gnome, Fear Antics: Mailbox Killer, Baby Trauma, Secret of Survival
* 512 (95): Fright at the End of the Tunnel, Look Who's Laughing, Wonderful Knife, Conjoin Me for Dinner
* 513 (96): Twilight My Fire, Crystal Myth, Double Cross Dress, Killer Performance

===Season 6===
*601 (97): Dearly Bedeviled, Death's Table
*602 (98): Hospital Hell!, Prized Possession, Thrill Ride
*603 (99): Mutant Theme Park, TBA
*604 (100): The Cursed Collection, TBA
*605 (101): Root of All Evil, TBA
*606 (102): Fear Kitty, Kitty!, TBA
*607 (103): Selling Sasquatch, TBA
*608 (104): False Prophet, TBA
*609 (105): Killer Couture, TBA
*610 (106): Art of Darkness, TBA

==International broadcast==
In the United States, the show aired reruns on [[Game Show Network|GSN]] as part of the "Friday Night Frights" block in October 2016,<ref>{{cite press release |title=GSN to Launch New "Friday Night Frights" Horror-Themed Programming Block in October |url=http://thefutoncritic.com/news/2016/09/22/gsn-to-launch-new-friday-night-frights-horror-themed-programming-block-in-october-845513/20160922gsn01/ |publisher=[[Game Show Network|GSN]] |via=The Futon Critic |date=September 22, 2016 |access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref> formerly on [[MTV2]]{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} and streamed on [[Netflix]] from 2019 to 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is 'Scare Tactics' on Netflix? Where to Watch the Series |url=https://usa.newonnetflix.info/info/70157266 |access-date=July 26, 2024 |website=New on Netflix USA}}</ref> In Europe, the first season of the program aired on [[MTV Central]] from 2003 to 2004. The show was also broadcast in Australia on [[Fox8]], in Canada on [[MTV (Canada)|MTV]], in India on [[AXN]], in Russia on [[MTV Russia]] (only the first two seasons), in Turkey on [[Dream TV Turkey|Dream TV]], in Poland on [[TV Puls]], in Finland on [[Jim (TV channel)|Jim]], in South Korea on [[Q TV]], in Sweden initially on [[TV6 (Sweden)|TV6]], and then on [[TV11 (Sweden)|TV11]]. The program was distributed internationally by Rive Gauche Television.

==See also==
* ''[[Infarto]]'': A similar scare/prank show airing on [[TV Azteca]] and [[Azteca América]].
* ''[[Room 401]]'': A similar scare/prank show airing on [[MTV]].
* ''[[Prank Encounters]]'': A similar scare/prank show airing on [[Netflix]]. It was also produced by Kevin Healey and included some of the same prank actors.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0339968|title=Scare Tactics (2003–2013)}}
* {{IMDb title|id=33039423|title=Scare Tactics (2024–)}}

{{USANetwork Shows}}
{{Syfy Shows}}

[[Category:2003 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2013 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2024 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2000s American reality television series]]
[[Category:2010s American reality television series]]
[[Category:2000s American horror comedy television series]]
[[Category:2010s American horror comedy television series]]
[[Category:2020s American horror comedy television series]]
[[Category:American hidden camera television series]]
[[Category:Television series by Universal Television]]
[[Category:Syfy original programming]]
[[Category:USA Network original programming]]
[[Category:Practical jokes]]