Wipeout!

[J.J. Walters]

Ok, ok, I'll admit it. I love the "obstacle course" game show Wipeout! My whole family loves it! In my mind, it's right up there with AFV as one of the great, fun, family-friendly, prime time TV shows.

Ex-ESPN anchor John Anderson is one of the hosts. I could be wrong, but I believe that one of the Japanese game shows that Wipeout is based on (Takeshi's Castle) used to air on ESPN, because I remember watching it a couple of times several years ago. That was a fun show, too, but Wipeout is much better IMHO.

Anyone else like this show?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9tEn1e3rqY&feature=fvw

Gotta love the "Big Balls"!

[rubber chicken]

Can't really comment on Wipeout!, but I loved MXC or Most Extreme Elimination Challenge (regrettable names imo), which is the Takeshi's Castle you mentioned. I think it aired only on the Spike TV channel, not ESPN. Then there's Ninja Warrior, or Sasuke, on G4, with it's seriously demanding obstacle courses. Both of these shows were / are great in my opinion, so fun to watch. My viewing of them only dropped off after it seemed like I'd seen all the various episodes at least a few times each.

I've only seen a tiny bit of Wipeout!, and wasn't really interested because I thought of it as a knockoff of Takeshi's Castle / MXC and couldn't imagine it was as good. But that could just be my jaded side talking. Your opinion carries some weight with me James, so in my mind I'll put an asterek next to Wipeout!. The ball obstacle in the video looks fun.

MXC's contestants were everyday people, like Wipeout! I think. (Ninja Warrior competitors are very athletic). And I was often surprised just how unconcerned the Japanese people and makers of the show were about the contestants safety. That was a great part of the show, and I imagined that the US version would take that fun out it by making people wear more safety gear and making everything nice and soft etc. Kind of similar to how Hong Kong Jackie Chan films are more raw, real, and exciting than US Jackie Chan films.

Here's an MXC video, and another, and another. I'd forgotten just how great this show was. Maybe I should give Wipeout! a chance.

[J.J. Walters]

Yeah, Wipeout! is basically a ripoff of Takeshi's Castle, but it also draws inspiration from Fear Factor (which I really didn't care for). What makes Wipeout so great (IMHO) are, a) the obstacle courses, and b) the running commentary from the two hosts (extremely humorous). TC was a little too "cheesy", and the editing was a little suspect at times, but it did seem to be a little more dangerous than Wipeout. Danger is good. I could have sworn I saw it on ESPN. Maybe it was part of The Cheap Seats (a show on ESPN)? I hardly ever watch Spike. Hmmmm.

I like how Wipeout uses a good cross-section of people (young, old, fit, not-so-fit, etc.). Part of the fun is picking somebody to root for. I always root for the older guys/gals. If a dad's in the mix, he's my man! The people who "showboat" or have annoying soundbites are the one's we hope will fail! Unfortunately, it's usually the young, annoying guys who win it.

You meet some real characters on the show. Our absolute favorite was Ariel "Never Been Kissed Before" Tweto. She didn't win it (I believe she came in second), but she was one of the very few people to ever make it across all of the "Big Balls" (with a highly unique "Frog Hop" technique)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvRRbFgMO4A

The second best obstacle course object is the "Dizzy Dummy". They spin everybody around in a super fast Merry-Go-Round then let them loose on the course. Hilarious!

[rubber chicken]

Yeah, MXC had people all about the same age I think. Ninja Warrior, which is much harder in it's way, had adults of all ages but the older folks seldom made it past the first course, or even the first obstacle. There was this really thin but muscular man in his late 60s or 70s who always held up a real octopus before he began the course. I think he was a fisherman or octopus dealer or something. I love Japanese tv shows!

I liked the aspect of MXC that you're referring to as cheesy, it made it that much more hilarious. Sometimes it was too juvenile, but most of the time the commentary was great.

After seeing the first video you posted I was surprised to see the girl in the second make it through the big balls. It's like they turned down the level of bouncyness.

[J.J. Walters]

Hitting the second ball right is the key. If you can land on the second ball and stop (like Ariel did), you've got a chance. I've never seen anybody bounce across all four balls without stopping, although I've been told it's been done.

What's interesting is that the first obstacle course is a timed event, with the lowest times advancing. Why even bother with attempting to traverse the balls? Just jump off the first ball straight into the water and swim to the next waypoint! They apparently allow you to do it, as you occasionally see people do it (usually the ones who are dead tired at that point). I'm sure the show strongly encourages you to not do it, however.

One guy actually fell through the bottom support of the ball...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mu5jaMF ... feature=iv

Ouch!

[Frodoleader]

Yup, I enjoy Wipeout. I'd love to try the obstacle course myself. I also like Jill Wagner too...

[Steve]

My son and I love to watch it as well. I do however, think my wife is getting tired of us screaming "thats gotta hurt!" and other sound effects when they wipeout in the most hilarious ways......