Nick Borey lived the dream of every millennial when he competed on the first-ever season of Legends of the Hidden Temple. Now 44, Borey recently shared his unforgettable experience with PEOPLE, reflecting on his time as a contestant on the iconic ’90s game show.
The show, which was a staple of Nickelodeon during its original run, followed kids as they navigated physical challenges and tried to retrieve an ancient artifact hidden in a temple.
How Nick Borey Got on the Show
Borey, who grew up near Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, Florida, recalls how he first learned about the show. “We saw an ad in the Orlando Sentinel encouraging kids to audition for a new action-adventure game show,” Borey explains.
After calling the number listed in the ad, he was invited to Nickelodeon Studios for an audition. The process included measuring his height and weight, completing an obstacle course, doing push-ups, and answering trivia questions.
Afterward, he anxiously waited to hear back. Soon enough, the call came, and Borey was invited to return and film an episode of the first season.
What Really Happened During Filming
Borey remembers that, as a kid, he didn’t know what to expect from the show. He was just excited to be there and, in his words, “all I wanted to do was make it to lunch.”
The contestants, including Borey and his partner, who represented the Silver Snakes team, were briefed on the rules for the games like the moat, the Steps of Knowledge, and the temple games.
Once the rules were explained, the team moved on to the first challenge: crossing the moat, a physical challenge involving a narrow swimming pool.
After the moat, Borey and his partner made it through the trivia round, the Steps of Knowledge, where they answered questions about an ancient artifact. When they passed that stage, Borey achieved his goal: “It was a Pizza Hut Bigfoot pizza,” he remembers fondly, referring to the popular pizza at the time.
The Temple Games and Run
After lunch, it was time for the temple games, where Borey and his partner competed in three physical challenges. The two struck a deal: if Borey’s partner allowed him to do the temple challenge, he would let her go into the temple first. The deal paid off, and they won, advancing to the infamous temple run.
Before entering the temple, the contestants were shown a map to help plan their route to retrieve the artifact, which added an extra layer of strategy.
Borey recalls the atmosphere in the studio, feeling like a “live sporting event” with a live audience cheering them on. As for the iconic silver monkey challenge, Borey was excited to try it out. “It’s every millennial kid’s dream,” he says. However, like many others, he found it difficult.
“Putting the silver monkey together as a 12-year-old is like trying to parallel park with hundreds of people watching you and having just learned how to drive.”
The Big Scare
Despite his excitement, Borey’s temple run didn’t go as smoothly as he hoped. As he navigated the temple, a temple guard jumped out at him, causing him to panic. “I got scared and jumped out of the temple. I’m the only one who ever jumped out of the temple from being scared,” he admits. Unfortunately, that ended his run, and the game was over.
The Show’s Resurgence and a Second Chance
Legends of the Hidden Temple became a cult classic in the years following its original run. The show was re-aired on the Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids (Nick GAS) network, and later saw a revival on the CW in 2021. Borey, now an adult, was invited to compete again, this time on the reboot with his friend Josh.
Just like his first experience, Borey made it to the temple run, but ultimately lost once again. Despite the loss, Borey felt grateful for the chance to relive the experience. “Going through the temple is an experience that is as fun as you would imagine it would be,” he says. “I got to do it twice, which is so surreal for me.”
The Truth About the Prizes
One common misconception about Legends of the Hidden Temple is related to the prizes. Many viewers remember the prizes as being lackluster or strange, but Borey reveals that the prizes were actually quite good at the time. He won a telescope, which he says was a fantastic prize for the ’90s.
However, as the show was rerun later, editors adjusted the prizes to reflect contemporary advertisements, which made it seem like contestants were winning items like cans of tuna fish.
What the Show Really Takes
While fans often think they could have completed the challenges easily, Borey stresses that Legends of the Hidden Temple required a combination of skills—physical endurance, trivia knowledge, and teamwork. “You have to be a Renaissance contestant,” he says, explaining that to succeed, you had to be fit, smart, and able to work with a partner.
The Silver Monkey Controversy
Borey also weighs in on the notorious silver monkey challenge, which frequently receives criticism online for looking deceptively easy. “It looks so easy on TV, but it was definitely one of the hardest tasks,” he says.
The challenge involved assembling a statue, and for many contestants, it turned out to be much more difficult than it appeared on screen.
