On Saturday, May 6, 2000, the Double Dare 2000 Audition Tour slimed it's way through the Springfield Mall in Springfield, VA (just outside of Washington, D.C.)

I had a great time at this all-day event and I must thank two very important people for all their hospitality and generosity: Beth Hergenhan, Nickelodeon's awesome Manager of Communications - and most importantly - Jason Harris, Host of Double Dare 2000!

Over 100 families eagerly awaited their chance to audition for the messiest show on the planet...but only eight would make it to the Double Dare 2000 Audition Tour semi-finals. In the semi-final rounds, two teams battled it out in true Double Dare-style by playing one full round of Double Dare 2000 in two shows at Noon and 2:00pm. Each winning family moved on to the final round played at 4:00pm - where one lucky family won a trip to Orlando, Florida to be on Double Dare 2000 at Nickelodeon Studios in Universal Studios Florida! Those episodes will be taped this July, 25 shows in all.

What would a Double Dare live tour be without the chance to meet the host? Here's a look at the official Nick publicity pic of Double Dare 2000's Master of Mess, Jason Harris.

In addition to taking time out to meet his fans, Jason penned these kind words about "The FIRST Double Dare Website" - Thanks, Jason!

This Double Dare live tour has one of the best sets ever used for a Double Dare road show:

The media was all over this baby...here's an article that appeared in the Sunday, May 7, 2000 edition of "The Washington Post"

Taking a Chance, Making a Mess

By Tom Jackman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday , May 7, 2000 ; C08

Minutes after Arthur Witt had been the centerpiece of a Human Banana Split, in which his kids threw bananas at him and his wife poured whipped cream and chocolate syrup over his head, he was still laughing and trying to get the gunk out of his hair.

"It's down my shorts and everything," Witt said. "What's in that stuff?"

When it comes from the people who introduced a generation to gak and goooze, who knows? But the Nickelodeon cable television channel does know how to stage an entertaining game show for youngsters. And a round of live auditions at Springfield Mall yesterday for the channel's "Double Dare 2000" attracted more than 100 families with hyper-excited kids, whose ultimate goal was to have a vat of cold, green slime poured on them.

In the end, the Witts won the three-round competition and a free trip to Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando for a taping of the show in July. The family won the honor of being slimed with one of several gooey substances (like gak and goooze) that are used on the weekday show and make it so appealing to children.

In this era of resurgent game shows, "Double Dare 2000" is the logical sequel to "Double Dare," Nickelodeon's original production, which enjoyed a hugely popular run from 1986 to 1992. The new show hit the air in January, and yesterday's audition was the latest in a 12-city mall tour to recruit contestants from places other than Orlando.

The concept is not complicated. Two families, comprising two parents and two children ages 8 to 14, answer trivia questions of varying difficulty. But the fun starts when one team calls for a "physical challenge," in which a task guaranteed to be both messy and silly must be completed in 30 seconds.

Is there money? Sure. Trips and prizes? Yeah. But young contestants could care less.

"I want to get messy," said Brian Witt, 8, of Kingstowne, before making a banana split out of his father. Brian also tossed rubber chickens at his dad after his sister, Jennifer, 10, and mother, Gail, had lathered the chickens in "tar and feathers," while Arthur Witt wore a mini-chicken coop around his head.

"We get to throw things at our parents," enthused Samantha Henry, 9, of Chantilly. "It's fun."

The show has its loyal followers--not necessarily all youngsters. Herb and Evelyn Foley drove from Howell, N.J., Friday night with four of their six children to try for one of the eight slots in yesterday's competition. "We watch every single day," Herb Foley said. "We don't eat dinner during 'Double Dare.' We either eat before or after the show."

The Foleys weren't selected from yesterday's contestant pool, but Foley said they would try again next week at a Philadelphia area mall.

The Tate family, from Leesburg, anticipated a huge crowd, so they arrived at the mall at 3:30 a.m. Unfortunately, the mall was shut tight, so they slept in their Ford Expedition until the doors opened at 7. The Tates eventually were selected to try out, so Tarrah, 8, and Alex, 9, got to launch cream pies backwards over their heads at their parents, Tracie and Paul Tate, who tried to catch them inside the expandable waistbands of their clown pants.

The host of the show, Jason Harris, presided over the tryouts yesterday, trying to muster as much energy and enthusiasm as he displays on camera. Harris said he performs, and wisecracks, as if whole families are watching, not just children. "That way, I don't get into the habit of talking down to people," he said.

© 2000 The Washington Post Company

 

Look for my exclusive photos of the Double Dare 2000 Audition Tour plus a very big surprise that you can only get from "The FIRST Double Dare Website" in the very near future.