Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get bitten by a snake or a tarantula?

Yeah, me neither.

There do seem to be a lot of folks out there who would like to know what that’s like, though, or at least a number of folks out there who really enjoy watching other people in pain.

Those are the only two reasons I can think of for the popularity of the television series Kings of Pain.

According to Realscreen, the series follows wildlife biologist Adam Thorn and professional animal handler Rob “Caveman” Alleva, as they get bitten and stung by some of the most dangerous insects and animals in the world.

And you thought your job was painful. Here’s an overview:

I’ll stick to writing.

Before we go into the logic behind the madness, here’s a video of what it looks like to get bitten by a python:

So it’s painful? Got it.

When I first watched the above I assumed that this was some weird nature-doccie version of Jackass. It turns out that there’s a good reason for the pursuit of pain.

Their goal? To create a complete and comprehensive pain index that could potentially save lives. The two will build on the work of entomologist Justin O. Schmidt, who subjected himself to harm in 1983 to develop a 1-4 scale of pain related to insect stings. Thorn and Alleva are adding venomous bites and more deadly creatures to create a 30-point scale.

“While the premise of this series may seem crazy, Adam and Rob are wildlife experts on a very important mission,” added Lehrer, EVP and GM for History. “While most people would flee, Adam and Rob go to great lengths safely scouring remote jungles and secluded beaches to test their pain limits in the name of science. We hope Kings of Pain will keep viewers at the edge of their seats during every scream, wince and puncture wound that brings our guys closer to updating history’s ultimate pain index.”

If that’s your thing, then, by all means, enjoy.

[source:realscreen]