What happened to television while we weren't watching?

Jake's feeling a bit crummy tonight (possibly Lucy shared her stomach virus with him), so we took it easy and turned on some easy TV. (Keep in mind that we don't have cable.) We were thinking that an episode of So You Think You Can Dance would be just what the doctor ordered. But when we turned on the TV, it was on ABC, in the middle of an episode of WipeOut that involved contestants going through an obstacle course. It was ridiculous, and of course, we couldn't not watch.

Just as we were about to turn off the TV, the next program came on. It is called DownFall, an apt title, as I think it may just bring about the downfall of civilization. I am watching the episode as I type, and the current contestant's name is "Bridget," which is perhaps what makes me keep watching. By the way, Jake went to bed. There is no good reason for me to continue watching, other than informing you, dear readers, of the horrors of network prime time programming.

DownFall involves a contestant answering trivia questions. Normal enough. But while he/she answers, a conveyor belt moves his/her prizes closer and closer to the edge of the 10-story building in LosAngeles where the show is filmed. As the person fails to answer (or answers incorrectly) the items fall off the building and are destroyed. I have watched a kitchen island and a tanning bed (with a crash test dummy in it), be dropped over the edge of the building, to a smashing destruction. After she lost the first round (all her prizes being dropped) she had the option to drop her "support person" or a personal item. She chose her "support person," who was her husband. What does this mean? The host actually said, "and now, Bridget's husband will be asked to pay the ultimate price!" WHAT? WHAT WHAT WHAT????? The ultimate price? Like they're going to kill him?

Don't worry, he didn't die. Only his dignity died. But I guess you might say he didn't have that before being on this show.

Also, I want to note that contestant Bridget chose to put her husband on the line BEFORE her personal item. What was her personal item? I mean, it must be pretty awesome, huh? It was a set of 60 workout DVDs. I am not kidding.

Contestant Bridget was really, really bad at trivia questions, even in categories that she got to choose. [Even I know what a shuttlecock is!] So hubby went over the edge (he was attached to a kinda bungee cord line, so was spared the impact, though still, it was quite a drop!), and then her personal item went over the edge, and finally, the $25,000 grand prize....and then Bridget went also went over the edge (with bungee cord). I mean Bridget, the contestant. This Bridget went over the edge long ago.