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Blue Men Stuck a Camera Down My Throat!

An audience member at the Blue Man Group show is suing, claiming they stuck a dirty camera down his throat during their show. What?
Read the docs
TMZ has obtained a lawsuit in which James Srodon claims while he attended a 2006 show, he was "forcibly restrained" in his seat while the blue men shoved an "esophagus cam" into his mouth. According to the suit, the esophagus cam is routinely dragged on the floor during the show, which could contaminate it with food and liquid. James claims he now suffers from nightmares.

Srodon is seeking over $50,000 in damages.

UPDATE: Blue Man Productions issued the following statement: "We are shocked and surprised to learn of the allegations made in reference to one of our comedic pieces, "Esophagus Video." At the time of this statement, we have not been served any legal papers.

"Our well-known audience participatory pieces, such as "Esophagus Video," have been performed for over 15 years, in over 50,000 performances, to the delight of over 12 million audience members around the world. We are disappointed that this false claim forces us to reveal the truth behind one of our most popular theatrical devices.

"'Esophagus Video' is simply an illusion. A camera is held in an actor's hands, the actor's hands are placed near an audience member's mouth (not on or in). The live-feed video screen then switches to a pre-recorded medical video, resulting in the hilarious and absurd illusion that the audience is peering down an individual's esophagus. Because the camera never enters the mouth, the execution of this illusion could not possibly put anyone at risk of injury."



Filed under: Wacky & Weird, Hot Vegas

Reader Comments

(Page 6 of 6)Previous 15 Comments

76. Does the poo Man Group Poo in Blue too??????????????????

Posted at 12:52AM on Jan 25th 2008 by Poo man Group

77. SHHH!

Posted at 12:53AM on Jan 25th 2008 by Not a hex.

78. I'm most people here, unlike many of the earlier posters who believe anything they read, see that this guy is just trying to make a quick buck. I am a fan who has seen multiple shows in multiple places. The "throat cam" bit is one of the oldest Blue Man Group skits, so thousands of people before this man have been selected to be the "throat cam" person. The camera makes NO CONTACT with the mouth. It goes close, then the pre-recorded segment plays on screen. How would this guy possibly have injuries to his "mouth, throat and dental work."?

As for the claims that the camera is dragged on the stage and floor of the theatre, I can positively say this is false. The camera is always placed on a holder on the PVC instrument on stage. It never touches the ground, so there's no way it could have been as dirty as he claims.

Posted at 3:10AM on Jan 25th 2008 by Phillip

79. This is absolutley RIDICULOUS. This man is out for money and thats it! If any of you know anything about the show then you know that the blue men would NEVER force ANYONE to participate. and the camera NEVER touches the participants mouth. and how exactly would food from the ground get on the camera? do you think they bent down before PRETENDING to put it in his mouth and rubbed it around? HA battery.. OH MY GOD HE GOT SOME BLUE ON MY FACE AND PRETENDED TO PUT A CAMERA DOWN MY THROAT! I NEED $50,000! this guy is out for a quick buck, and I hope he gets his butt kicked in court! If he got emotional distress from THAT... then he has bigger problems.

Posted at 3:23AM on Jan 25th 2008 by h2opologirl

80. first of all, I have seen the Blue Man Group a bunch of times, and the act with the camera is simply them grabbing the camera and picking someone from the audience, they tilt their head back and act as if the camera goes into their mouth, when the video screen CUTS to pre-taped footage of an endoscopy, the camera goes all the way down into the stomach and the back out again where they they cut to the live camera to give the "illusion" that it came from the audience members mouth, this dude has NO case. The most entertaining show in vegas, lots of fun.

Posted at 3:57AM on Jan 25th 2008 by ShaneF

81. losers.
listen.
that stuff is pre-taped.
they dont really hold you down and stick a camera down your throat.
why would you believe this guy?
as for that comment about the dry cleaning.......
HELLLLOOO!!
its the blue man group.
they have drums with paint...
of course you're going to get dirty.
why wear expensive clothing to a concert anyway?

people shouldnt be turning their backs on the blue man group.
personally i think they are awesome.
im not gonna believe this guy and whatever lawer took this on is an idiot.

Posted at 5:53AM on Jan 25th 2008 by J@yp!Zzl3

82. I have been to a number of BMG shows. They do not put it down your throat. They may put it in your mouth to create the illusion that it's live but in reality it is a pre made video that the audience actually sees on the jumbo screen. The BMG are awesome and are worth every penny that they charge to see their shows.

Posted at 8:34AM on Jan 25th 2008 by Melanie002

83. Anyone who has ever actually SEEN the show would know this is a bogus, pathetic attempt at easy money. Absolutely NO way.

Posted at 10:44AM on Jan 25th 2008 by Meg

84. so.... obviously the man who filed the lawsuit is an absolute moron. my 10 year old saw the show and immediatly caught on that the camera on stage is NOT the camera that " goes down the hole". This moron is tying up the court system with BS

Posted at 4:32PM on Jan 25th 2008 by blue man fan

85. you have got to be kidding. He suffers from nightmares. Really? The things people will do to try to get a buck.

Posted at 4:25PM on Jan 27th 2008 by Lillllly

86. These smurfing smurfs smurfed a camera in my mouth during a show. I didn't even know it was part of the act until I saw the big screen. This guy is just another killjoy that is ruining this country. Sit at home in your cocoon and don't bother the rest of us please.

Posted at 9:32PM on Jan 27th 2008 by Papa Smurf

87. if anyone has ever attended one of their shows, you would know this was staged. #10 is absolutely right.
this is ridiculous.
maybe its a ploy to get the blue men out of makeup and into court. haha

Posted at 1:29PM on Feb 11th 2008 by paetonk

88. Thanks for the good post very interesting

Posted at 6:13PM on Mar 12th 2008 by Foxy

89. THIS GUY IS AN IDIOT--I WENT TO BLUE MAN GROUP TWICE AND THEY DO NOT FORCE ANYBODY TO DO ANYTHING...YOU EITHER VOLUNTEER OR THEY APPROACH YOU AND YOU JUST SAY "NO THANKS"...WHAT A LOSER! AND AS FOR THE GUY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BLUE PAINT---UMM HELLO BLUE MAN GROUP HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST 10 YRS ANYBODY GOING SHOULD KNOW IF YOU SIT NEAR THE FRONT TO WEAR A SLICKER OR CLOTHES YOU DONT CARE ABOUT--IT IS PART OF THE SHOW!!!! PEOPLE ARE JUST DUMB LOL!

Posted at 5:17PM on Mar 27th 2008 by LIZ

90. I think that you guys that have hate for the blue men suffer from a serious envy much like penis envy!!!!!! I think that i am going to try out for the blue men. They have more talent in their little finger than all of you greety little pricks. Blue men you have opened a new gate way of entertainment. You have a fan for life here. Viva la blue men

Posted at 10:06AM on Apr 5th 2008 by Ron

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