Manhunt (2001 TV series)

Manhunt
GenreReality competition
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Running time43 minutes
Production companyParamount Television
Original release
NetworkUPN
ReleaseAugust 3 (2001-08-03) –
September 7, 2001 (2001-09-07)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Manhunt is an American reality television series that aired on UPN in 2001.

The contestants on the show posed as fugitives who tried to escape actors who pretended to be bounty hunters. The one who eluded the bounty hunters the longest would receive a cash prize.

Manhunt encountered multiple problems during its brief run. A deal collapsed with the World Wrestling Federation (where SmackDown! aired in the same network) in which a number of their "superstars" were to be a part of the show's cast.[1] Later, separate investigative reports by Peter Lance and game-show enthusiast Steve Beverly revealed that portions of the show were being filmed at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California, rather than entirely on location in Hawaii, as the producers were not satisfied with the original material.[2][3][4] Allegations were also made that Paramount Television had convinced a producer to rig the show in favor of a particular contestant,[5][6] which violated FCC regulations put in place following the 1950s quiz show scandals.

The program ended after six episodes.

John Cena (then a WWE developmental talent) [7][8] and former American Gladiator Raye "Zap" Hollitt were among the cast members.

  1. ^ Meltzer, Dave (August 27, 2001). "August 27, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: SummerSlam Review, More". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  2. ^ "UPN's 'Manhunt' a Maggot For Real". Reality TV Hall of Shame. Archived from the original on August 22, 2006. Retrieved June 13, 2006.
  3. ^ "Coming Up to Date on the Manhunt Scandal". Reality News Online. Archived from the original on May 2, 2006. Retrieved June 13, 2006.
  4. ^ Wilkes, Neil (2001-08-18). "UPN to dump Manhunt?". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  5. ^ Kaplan, Don (16 August 2001). "WAS 'MANHUNT' MANIPULATED?". New York Post. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  6. ^ Johnson, Steve (August 24, 2001). "'Manhunt' prompts a search for truth in reality TV". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  7. ^ Meltzer, Dave (August 6, 2001). "August 6, 2001 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: WCW Purchase Price Revealed". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2021-06-11.
  8. ^ "Whatever Happened to Manhunt's "Big Tim"?". Reality News Online. Archived from the original on January 18, 2006. Retrieved June 15, 2021.