History Main / SadisticGameShow

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' lives and breathes on this. The contestants are put through absurd and life-threatening challenges presented by a shamelessly sadistic host who makes the show "interesting" by [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem paying lip service to his own rules and guidelines]] and doesn't care about [[DisposableInterns the many interns killed]] in the process of setting up and testing new challenges. HilarityEnsues as contestants are subjected to numerous AmusingInjuries and frequent humiliation.

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' is a series of reality shows where contestants are put through grueling and tormenting challenges presented by a host who's job is to make the show ''interesting'' by paying lip service to his own rules and guidelines and doesn't care about the many interns killed in the process of setting up and testing new challenges. HilarityEnsues as contestants are subjected to AmusingInjuries and humiliation.

* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' has Planet Earth being forced to participate in a reality music competition called "Planet Music" with no prior knowledge of the rules and with the threat of being destroyed. It doesn't help that all of Planet Earth's musicians died when the head Cromulonian first visited Earth.

* In ''VisualNovel/DanganRonpaV3'', [[spoiler:the franchise as a whole [[TrumanShowPlot turns out to be]] a Sadistic Game Show in which the contestants kill each other and then [[VotedOffTheIsland vote off who they think is the killer]]. The whole thing is broadcast live in a RealityTV format. As of [[VisualNovel/NewDanganRonpaV3 the third game]], it’s been going on for ''[[FranchiseZombie 53 seasons]]'', and the main characters, as it turns out, volunteered for the show. Their true selves were erased and they were given special talents to make the show interesting. Although this is according to an UnreliableExpositor]].

* In ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'', [[spoiler:the franchise as a whole [[TrumanShowPlot turns out to be]] a Sadistic Game Show in which the contestants kill each other and then [[VotedOffTheIsland vote off who they think is the killer]]. The whole thing is broadcast live in a RealityTV format. As of [[VisualNovel/NewDanganRonpaV3 the third game]], it’s been going on for ''[[FranchiseZombie 53 seasons]]'', and the main characters, as it turns out, volunteered for the show. Their true selves were erased and they were given special talents to make the show interesting. Although this is according to an UnreliableExpositor]].

* In ''Franchise/DanganRonpa'', [[spoiler:the franchise as a whole [[TrumanShowPlot turns out to be]] a Sadistic Game Show in which the contestants kill each other and then [[VotedOffTheIsland vote off who they think is the killer]]. The whole thing is broadcast live in a RealityTV format. As of [[VisualNovel/NewDanganRonpaV3 the third game, it’s been going on for ''[[FranchiseZombie 53 seasons]]'', and the main characters, as it turns out, volunteered for the show. Their true selves were erased and they were given special talents to make the show interesting. Although this is according to an UnreliableExpositor]].

Compare DeadlyGame, AbsurdlyHighStakesGame

* In ''VisualNovel/NewDanganronpaV3'', [[spoiler: The game and franchise as a whole turns out to be a Sadistic Game Show that has been going on for 53 seasons in which the characters kill each other and it is broadcast live in a Main/RealityTV format. The main characters, as it turns out, wanted to do this. Their true selves were erased and they were given special talents to make the show interesting.]]

The premise of ''Film/TheRunningMan'' has Ben Richards (Played by Creator/{{Arnold Schwarzenegger}}), a wrongfully disgraced police helicopter pilot in post-apocalyptic 2019 competing in the eponymous DeadlyGame for his freedom along with two of his prison friends, then later a TV network employee who found out he was framed. In the game, "Runners" have to evade "Stalkers" in an arena with the promise of being pardoned by the state. This turns out to be a lie as it is revealed that Runners that avoided getting killed by Stalkers were later killed and their corpses left to rot in the arena. The one behind it all is Damon Killian, who ultimately gets taken down by Richards in true Schwarzenegger style.

* In WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons's episode "Thirty Minutes Over Tokyo", the Simpsons, stranded in Japan without any money, participate in ''The Happy Smile Super Challenge Family Wish Show" in order win tickets back to Springfield. The game includes such challenges as "Ow, that hurts!", "Why are you doing this to me!", or "Please let me die!".

* The premise of ''Film/TheRunningMan'' has Ben Richards (Played by Creator/{{Arnold Schwarzenegger}}), a wrongfully disgraced police helicopter pilot in post-apocalyptic 2019 competing in the eponymous DeadlyGame for his freedom along with two of his prison friends, then later a TV network employee who found out he was framed. In the game, "Runners" have to evade "Stalkers" in an arena with the promise of being pardoned by the state. This turns out to be a lie as it is revealed that Runners that avoided getting killed by Stalkers were later killed and their corpses left to rot in the arena. The one behind it all is Damon Killian, who ultimately gets taken down by Richards in true Schwarzenegger style.

* WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty has Planet Earth being forced to participate in a reality music competition called "Planet Music" with no prior knowledge and with the threat of being destroyed. It doesn't help that all of Planet Earth's musicians died when the head Cromulonian first visited Earth.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* The premise of ''Film/TheRunningMan'' has Ben Richards (Played by Creator/{{Arnold Schwarzenegger}}), a wrongfully disgraced police helicopter pilot in post-apocalyptic 2019 competing in the eponymous DeadlyGame for his freedom along with two of his prison friends, then later a TV network employee who found out he was framed. In the game, "Runners" have to evade "Stalkers" in an arena with the promise of being pardoned by the state. This turns out to be a lie as it is revealed that Runners that avoided getting killed by Stalkers were later killed and their corpses left to rot in the arena. The one behind it all is Damon Killian, who ultimately gets taken down by Richards in true Schwarzenegger style.

The show may look fun to watch, but actually doing the show is both torture, Ultimately, the goal is now not just to win, but to survive, both physically and mentally. It doesn't help that the host has this faux air of punchable cheeriness which encourages the audience to watch it more. In some cases, the show is rigged so that the competitors can't even win the prize money, which means that they just subjected themselves to torture and/or humiliation [[AllForNothing for nothing]].

* The premise of ''Film/TheRunningMan'' has Ben Richards (Played by Creator/{{Arnold Schwarzenegger}}), a wrongfully disgraced police helicopter pilot in post-apocalyptic 2019 competing in the eponymous DeadlyGame for his freedom along with two of his prison friends, then later a TV network employee who found out he was framed. In the game, "Runners" have to evade "Stalkers" in an arena with the promise of being pardoned by the state. This turns out to be a lie as it is revealed that runners that avoided getting killed by stalkers were later killed and their corpses were left to rot in the arena. The one behind it all is Damon Killian, who ultimately gets taken down by Richards in true Schwarzenegger style.

* The premise of ''Film/TheRunningMan'' has Ben Richards (Played by Creator/{{Arnold Schwarzenegger}}), a wrongfully disgraced police helicopter pilot in post-apocalyptic 2019 competing in the eponymous game show for his freedom along with two of his prison friends, then later a TV network employee who found out he was framed. In the game, "Runners" have to evade "Stalkers" in an arena with the promise of being pardoned by the state. This turns out to be a lie as it is revealed that runners that avoided getting killed by stalkers were later killed and their corpses were left to rot in the arena.

The show may look fun to watch, but actually doing the show is both torture, Ultimately, the goal is now not just to win, but to survive, both physically and mentally. It doesn't help that the host has this faux air of punchable cheeriness which encourages the audience to watch it more. In some cases, the show is rigged so that the competitors can't even win the prize money, which means that they subjected themselves to torture and/or humiliation AllForNothing.

Our protagonist is a huge fan of a popular game show that's either been on for some time or just started. S/he has always wanted to be a contestant on the show, and finally decides to audition. After being chosen, our protagonist finally gets to live out their dream... only to realize that what they see on TV and reality are two different things. The show may look fun to watch, but actually doing the show is both torture, Ultimately, the goal is now not just to win, but to survive, both physically and mentally. It doesn't help that the host has this faux air of punchable cheeriness which encourages the audience to watch it more. In some cases, the show is rigged so that the competitors can't even win the prize money, which means that they subjected themselves to torture and/or humiliation AllForNothing.

* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': In "WesternAnimation/TheDucksters", WesternAnimation/PorkyPig competes in a quiz show titled ''Truth or AAAUGH!'', hosted by WesternAnimation/DaffyDuck. Porky is subjected to nearly impossible questions ("What was Cleopatra's aunt's maiden name?") and potentially lethal stunts as penalties (reciting all the states in alphabetical order with ''dynamite sticks in his ears and mouth'').

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[[folder:Live Action TV]]

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* ''Series/{{Victorious}}'': In "Brain Squeezers" the entire cast go on the titular gameshow despite having never seen it before. Whilst initially seeming an ordinary gameshow, it turns out the penalties for getting questions wrong are flat out dangerous including: dropping heavy objects on their heads, blasting them with puss, getting hit in the chest with a bowling ball and getting punched in the face. As well as this host sometimes randomly orders additional punishments, other members sometimes randomly also get punished for wrong answers, and at one point they drop a toilet on someone's head half way through them giving the correct answer (something the host dismiss as "things go wrong"). By the end the entire cast are bruised, beaten, bandaged, bleeding and/or tared and feathered. To top it all off, it turns out the contest is rigged so its impossible to win the money.

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* in ''VisualNovel/NewDanganronpaV3'', [[spoiler: The whole game and franchise as a whole turns out to be a Sadistic Game Show that has been going on for 53 season in which the characters kill each other and it is broadcast live in a Main/RealityTV format. The main characters, as it turns out, wanted to do this. Their true selves were erased and they were given special talents to make the show interesting.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' is a series of reality shows where contestants are put through grueling and tormenting challenges presented by a host who's job is to make the show ''interesting'' by paying lip service to his own rules and guidelines and doesn't care about the many interns killed in the process of setting up and testing new challenges. HilarityEnsues as contestants are subjected to AmusingInjuries and humiliation.