NBC will fight football on Super Bowl Sunday with centerfold models

NEW YORK (AP) _ Will America switch from the Super Bowl at halftime to watch bugs crawling all over Playboy Playmates? NBC will try to answer that question. <br><br>In an audacious attempt to draw viewers

Monday, December 17th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Will America switch from the Super Bowl at halftime to watch bugs crawling all over Playboy Playmates? NBC will try to answer that question.

In an audacious attempt to draw viewers from the game on Feb. 3, NBC has scheduled a special edition of its reality show, ``Fear Factor,'' with centerfold models to start at halftime.

NBC wouldn't reveal what stunts the models would perform. Past ``Fear Factor'' episodes have involved encounters with large amounts of creepy, crawling creatures.

``I do know water is involved in one of them,'' NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks said.

NBC will break out of the program it is airing in competition with the game _ probably a comedy or reality show but still undetermined at this time _ to start ``Fear Factor'' when halftime begins.

When halftime is over, NBC will return to its other program and resume the rest of ``Fear Factor'' when the game ends, Marks said.

Fox, which is telecasting the Super Bowl this year, had no immediate comment about NBC's challenge. Fox is no stranger to such gimmicks; it scheduled an abbreviated version of its comedy show, ``In Living Color,'' at halftime of the 1992 game.

The Super Bowl halftime show on Feb. 3 is to feature the rock band U2, according to The New York Times, which reported on NBC's plans Monday.