Ask yourself. Have you "No Shame?"

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Ryan Chang, left, and Mike Lum, creators of "No Shame." 'No Shame' 9 p.m.-4 a.m., Wednesday Pipeline Café Cover charge to be announced 18 and older More information at idylclothingcompany.com Also: Live "No Shame" event continues on Wednesdays at Pipeline for 12 weeks until Aug. 13. "No Shame" tapings will air on KFVE at 10 p.m., Sundays, starting June 8.

They would tell me, however, about the people they had to kindly beg — no, implore — to tone the shtick down.

"We had a guy that said he'd eat (feces)," said Mike Lum, half of Island Fire Productions, which is putting together the summer television series/competition showcasing the locally whacked set to debut June 8 on KFVE.

"His own. On stage," finished Ryan Chang, Island Fire's other half.

Uh, no thanks,they said.

"Another guy said he would stand on the balcony (at Pipeline Café), jump and body slam a wooden table," said Lum.

Again, the answer was thanks, but no thanks.

"We don't want anybody to get hurt," said Lum. "We've already got some pretty 'nuts' guys on board."

Taping of the half-hour "No Shame" contests begins Wednesday in front of a live Pipeline Café audience, and will continue over 11 more weeks of competition. A changing panel of judges will select a winner from each week's six contestants to move on to semi-final and final rounds. The last of the out-to-lunch left standing gets $5,000.

Island Fire already had Pipeline Café locked for a multiweek, multiband summertime showcase when it hatched the idea for a locally produced television program that would "combine 'American Idol,' 'Fear Factor' and 'Jackass' into one show," Lum said.

And at its most basic level, "No Shame" is a talent competition for folks with somewhat dubious talents. Truth is, it'd probably be a cold day in Cowellville before any of the contestants on "No Shame" found themselves on "Idol," or even "Star Search."

"Every group of friends has that one crazy guy that entertains everybody," said Lum, offering one possible brand of "No Shame" contestant. Said Chang: "It's also that one guy who just wants to be on TV or wants his 20 seconds of fame."

KFVE liked the idea and offered Island Fire a 10 p.m. slot on Sunday nights for 12 weeks. "No Shame" will be taped live on Wednesdays for broadcast a week-and-a-half later.

The competition will be hosted by Island Rhythm 98.5 FM deejay Makani and former Miss Hawai'i U.S.A. Juliette Lighter.

Patrons showing up at Pipeline for "No Shame" tapings will get to see the competition, plus the live-band showcase Island Fire originally planned for the summer.

Up first on Wednesday will be performances by Epic Session, Thick Tubes and Natural Vibrations. Scheduled for the weeks ahead: Ho'onua, Three Plus, Go Jimmy Go, Sudden Rush, Native Blend, B.E.T., Oshen and others.

Prizes awarded to live audience members over the length of the series will include trips to Las Vegas, a moped, car audio/dvd equipment & rims, auto detailing, salon packages and more.

Chang said Island Fire was still accepting applicants for "No Shame." Interested lunatics should e-mail their name, contact information and "talent" to the producers at noshametv@yahoo.com. Both asked that contestants attempt to add as many elements as possible — music, effects, costumes, etc. — to their stunts.

Contestants "can do one thing, but they probably won't win," said Lum.

The age requirement? Eighteen to 88, Chang said.

"I would love for a 60-year-old grandpa from Wai'anae to come down to Pipeline and show everybody what's up," Lum said.