Conquer Fort Boyard
ABC, March 20, 1993

Fort Boyard, located five miles of the coast of France, was the setting for this unusual reality/adventure program. Dating backs to the Napoleon-era, the fort is considered as impenetrable as the legendary prison of Alcatraz - in other words, the perfect location for a television show.

In 1993, sportscaster Chris Berman and actress Cathy Lee Crosby hosted Conquer Fort Boyard, a one-hour special on the ABC Network. Two teams squared off in a variety of swashbuckling challenges, all of which took place in the rocky, remote fortress. In the more daring segments, contestants had to swim through underground tunnels, cross a room filled with snakes, and bungee jump. The action was dramatized for viewers with the use of ingenious special effects, such as helmet-cams for the bungee segment, and the contestants wore infra-red suits as they traversed a darkened maze.

And what was in store for the winning contestants? How about a room filled with $25,000 in gold coins - a room that just happened to be guarded by Bengal Tigers. Conquer Fort Boyard took game shows to a new level of adventure.