Wipeout (2008 game show)

This article is about the 2008 ABC game show. For the 1988 game show, see Wipeout (1988 US game show). For the 2009 UK version, see Total Wipeout. For the Australian game show, see Wipeout (2009 Australian game show).

Wipeout
Titlecard for Summer Wipeout currently in use as of 2011.
Created by	Matt Kunitz and Scott Larsen
Directed by	J. Rupert Thompson
Presented by	John Anderson John Henson Jill Wagner (2008–11) Vanessa Minnillo (2012–)
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	4
No. of episodes	72 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer	Matt Kunitz and Scott Larsen
Producers	Heather Finnegan Sean Jennings Eric Timm
Production location	Santa Clarita, California
Running time	60 minutes
Production companies	Endemol USA Pulse Creative
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	June 24, 2008 (2008-06-24) – present

Wipeout is an American reality show series in which contestants compete in what is billed as the "world's largest obstacle course". The series premiered on June 24, 2008 on ABC.

Wipeout is hosted and commentated by John Henson and John Anderson while Jill Wagner acts as the "on-location" presenter. The creators and executive producers are Matt Kunitz (Fear Factor) and Scott Larsen. Distribution of the show is handled by Endemol USA. The show is taped at Sable Ranch in Canyon Country, Santa Clarita, California, about 40 miles north of Los Angeles. The show currently holds a "TV-PG L" rating due to mild language by participants and some crude humor.

History

In January 2009, several international versions of Wipeout debuted in countries including the UK (known as Total Wipeout) and Argentina.

According to TV Week, in 2009 Wipeout became the third most popular game show in the world, based on ratings. On July 22, 2009, Wipeout was renewed for a third season and filming began in September 2009.

Wipeout titlecard used between 2008-2010

On January 11, 2010, Entertainment Weekly crowned Wipeout the winner of the Guilty Pleasures Reality TV Showdown. In February 2010, Wipeout was nominated for the 2010 Kids Choice Awards for favorite reality series.

On March 18, 2010, Activision announced the show would be made into a video game titled Wipeout: The Game, set to be released along with the show's third season. The game was released on the Nintendo Wii & Nintendo DS. On April 7, 2010, a trailer was released for the game on their Facebook page, along with a confirmed release date of June 22, 2010. The Season 3 premiere of the show was on June 22, 2010 according to A special two hour "Blind Date" episode aired on June 1, 2010 as a Season 3 sneak peek. ABC announced that other themed episodes in Season 3 would include "Ladies Night" and "Family Edition". The Season 3 Finale aired on September 14, 2010 with a special America's Finest Edition, featuring some of America's heroes, including firefighters and policemen.

On August 15, 2010, ABC announced that the show was renewed for a 4th season. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the next round of the Endemol-produced series will feature two new obstacle courses, including a fresh "motivator" for the infamously difficult Big Balls, the classic sweeper with a new twist and obstacles such as the Lawn Mower and the Sky Scraper Slide. The paper added: "Wipeout has the distinction of being the only broadcast reality series launched in recent years that has demonstrated proven staying power."

On October 13, 2010, ABC announced plans for Winter Wipeout scheduled to debut on January 6, 2011, this 8-episode run will consist of winterized obstacles such as the "Wipeout Ski Lift", the "Polar Bear Run", and the "Spanker Sleds". ABC is considering the 8-episode run of Winter Wipeout to be a part of Wipeout's 4th season which will extend to 31 episodes, with 7 Spring episodes and 16 Summer episodes.

In February 2011, Wipeout was nominated for the 2011 Kids Choice Awards for favorite reality show.

On June 16, 2011, ABC announced that the show was renewed for a 5th season and Vanessa Minnillo would replace co-host Jill Wagner.

On June 29, 2011, Wipeout was nominated for 2011 Teen Choice Award in the category of Choice TV: Reality Competition Show.

It was announced in early 2011 that truTV has acquired reruns of Wipeout. The said reruns began airing every Friday as of September 2nd.

Gameplay

During an episode, contestants compete through four rounds of competition until a final winner is chosen. The first round features 24 contestants (they were introduced from seasons 1-3, but from season 4 onwards, they were never shown), while only the top four (top three in season 4) will make it to the final round called the Wipeout Zone, where the winner earns the title of Wipeout Champion and a $50,000 grand prize.

The challenges change each week, but always feature offbeat and comical obstacles, such as the "Sucker Punch", "Big Balls" (the show's trademark obstacle), the "Sweeper", the "Dizzy Dummy" or the "Dreadmill", and the "Wipeout Zone". In one of the show's trademarks, the commentators have a humorous running commentary, often mocking and gently insulting the contestants as they compete. The hosts make frequent use of puns.

Jill Wagner offers additional commentary and reactions, and also provides interviews with the contestants filmed before their turn begins. Generally only those who will pass the first round are introduced, and a nickname is assigned that is used throughout the game. However, during the "Wipeout Zone", the show takes an epic and serious turn, with the humor dialed down, and serious background music instead of its lighthearted theme music.

Round One - "The Qualifier"

In the first round of the competition, 24 contestants attempt to qualify for the next round by passing a four-part obstacle course as fast as possible. The course consists of four distinct obstacles. If the contestant fails to pass a particular obstacle, they must swim or crawl through mud or water to the next obstacle.

Although many of the obstacles vary between episodes, common obstacles have included the "Sucker Punch", a wall covered with mechanical boxing gloves above a mud pit, and the show's trademark obstacle, the "Big Balls", consisting of a set of 4 red balls that a contestant must attempt to bounce across. Beginning in Season 2, the Big Balls are also accompanied by a "motivator", a device which has taken several forms, but all of which force contestants onto the balls if they hesitate to go toward them.

In Season 2, the round 1 course featured two different pairs of obstacles following the Big Balls; the "Log Roll" and "Fender Bender", and the "Hurtles" and "Slippery Swing Set". Season 3 introduced the "Shakalator" (a platform that tries to shake players off it), the "Shapeshifter" (a vertical disc with 3 different shapes in it that must be traveled past using various means), the "Fling Set", the Trampoline Sweepers, the "Trouble-U's", the "Hoop Run", the "Blob" (where the contestant must sit on one end of a half-inflated blob, while propelled off it by either a weight or a partner), the "Door Knock", and the "Smack-Wall Sweepers."

The Winter Wipeout portion of Season 4 introduced other new obstacles, including "Nanna's House" and variations (which featured a arm delivering a "pie in the face", two doors, snowmen, and a dog to trip contestants), a conveyor belt to lead up to the Big Balls, the "Snow Plow Sweeper", and the "Yule Log Jam". Some episodes featured "Mogul Madness" (where the contestant had to ride a zipline past sweeper arms while wearing fake skis), the "Winter Wonder Planks", the "Snowman Sweeper", "Snowman Surprise", the "Holiday Hams", and the "Snow Blower".

In the 'Spring Wipeout portion, the qualifier is called "Spring Fever". It features many spring-themed obstacles, starting with the "Bed Bugs" with two platform beds full of giant foam bugs that 'spring' out if a contestant makes it through the spring bed board. Next the "Springavator" conveyor belt that leads into the original red "Big Balls", then jump onto a trampoline to the "Spring Fling", a swinging platform suspended in the air. Then its the "Wipeout Kitchen", a long platform consisting of moving walls with holes in them that contestants have to squeeze their body through advoiding a plate full of breakfast cereal in their face.

In episode 2 of Spring Wipeout (Ballsey Shows Off His Giblets), the first obstacle is called "Flipsy Daisy", where the contestants have to cross a spinning x-shaped platform that flips them across to the other side. The last obstacle is re-named "Ballsey's Kitchen", which is the same as Wipeout Kitchen, only it doesn't have breakfast cereal on the menu--contestants have to jump through oven-themed wall holes, landing in giblets and gravy, along with going over hotdog-shaped hurdle bars.

In episode 3 of Spring Wipeout (John Henson, Zombie Hunter), the first obstacle is called "Scarecase", where contestants run up two staircases to reach a faux trapeze bar to get to the other side, but they don't have to use it. They first have to watch out for a sneaky rail bar that pops out to block their way, and then a trick step that springs out of them. After the Big Balls is the "Spring Fling", which this time it features a driving board to help contestants jump onto the swinging platform. Lastly, in the "Wipeout Kitchen", today's menu features "fluffernutter" sandwiches made of marshmallow and peanut butter, along with rolling pin moving hurdles that contestants have to get by while banana peels are being thrown at them.

In episode 4 of Spring Wipeout (The Wizard of Owws), the first obstacle is called "Bowled Over", where contestants have to make it across the Wipeout Lanes before giant bowling balls roll down massive lanes. If they make it passed, they will have to get by the "automated contestant return", which is a hidden lever that flies out sending them into the water below. Lastly, in this episode's Wipeout Kitchen is the "chocolate shop", which is serving up pies and baked-goods, where contestants have to avoid getting hit by flying donuts.

In episode 5 of Spring Wipeout (The Most Dramatic Rose Ceremony Ever), the first obstacle is called "Spring Training", as the commentators say, "It'll shape you up and knock you down." Contestants grab a swing bar to a platform that pops-up by surprise, then up the steps to a giant red boxing glove that springs out to punch them off the platform into the water below. After the Big Balls, in order to jump on the Spring Fling, contestants now have to swing on a zipline to land. Then it's off to the Wipeout Kitchen, which is serving up candy, and need to get over the giant tootsie roll hurdles.

In episode 6 of Spring Wipeout (Dirty Laundry), the first two obstacles are "Faulty Bridge", a walkway consisting of a sweeper arm, and a platform which opens out to make contestants fall, and "Twister Mill", where contestants have to jump off a diving board through windmill blades. After the Big Balls, contestants now have to jump on a little green ball to get to the Spring Fling. Lastly, "Wipeout Kitchen" was renamed "Wipeout Laundromat" where contestants have to jump through washing-machine-themed wall holes landing in Fabric softener, detergent, and Washing powder, go over "dual-action" scrubber hurdles, and avoid getting sprayed by bubbly soap.

In episode 7 of Spring Wipeout (Engaged Couples), the first obstacle is called "Love Boat Launch", consisting of two shoe-themed rafts in which couples have to individually ride over a ramp to get launched into the water. The obstacle was similar to a season 3 obstacle called "White Water Rafting". And, in the spring finale's "Wipeout Kitchen", they have to do a "wedding cake testing" with frosting, and lemon and jam pies, and jump over two hurdles with wedding rings.

In the Summer Wipeout portion, the first episode (Hotties versus Nerds), the qualifier was changed with summer themes for the new season. It featured the "Wipeout Car Wash" where contestants get soaped up and waxed while crossing a platform to the other side. Then its "Driver's Ed" (which serves as the replacement of the Sucker Punch), where the steering wheels explode airbags filled with powder. Next is the Big Balls with a rotating motivator, and its off to the "Jiggle-ator", two vibrating, juggling platforms. Lastly, its the "Double Barrel" red and blue rotating vertical platforms that spin contestants around to the finish.

In episode 4 of Summer Wipeout (At Full Tilt), the first obstacle is called "Wipeout Pinball" where the monster flippers knocks the contestants into the water. After the big balls is the "Mood Swing" this time with a trapzee, then its off to the "Wipeout Cantina" featuring the world's first "full-bodied buffet": contestants have to "squeeze through the cheese, rock through the gauc, and slice throught the rice" as they battle the giant taquitos.

In episode 6 of Summer Wipeout (All Stars), the first obstacle is called the "Double Sweeper Dive" where contestants jump onto a diving board springing themselves over two rotating sweeper arms. Then it's over to the "Dredmill" and Big Balls. Lastly, its the "Wipeout School Cafeteria" where they have to crawl through the lunch line getting peppered and assaulted: "smack n' cheese", nacho cheese dip, "slappy joes", and green jello, then they have to jump over the giant hot dogs to the finish platform.

In episode 7 of Summer Wipeout (You're All Acting Like Babies), the first obstacle is called "Teeter Towers", where contestants run across circular unstable platforms that are stacked up without falling off. Next is the Big Balls then the Mood Swing, this time with a slide to the swing. Lastly, the its the "Wipeout Nursery", where contestants live out their earliest childhood memories with baby food (pureed peas, strained carrots, and organic apple sauce), a giant baby bottle and blocks (sweeper arms) to play with.

In episode 8 of Summer Wipeout (Boss and Employee), the first obstacle is called "Caterpillar Crossing", six caterpillar platforms with one trick platform that makes contestants into the water as lettuce leaves are being thrown at them. Next is Driver's Ed, then the Big Balls, and the Jiggle-lator, this time contestants have to jump threw a dog house only to be confronted by two Doberman guard dogs (stuffed animals) while the platform gyrates. Lastly is the Double Barrel designed to look like two giant chocolate chip cookies with milk and chocolate chips being thrown at the contestants.

In Episode 10 of Summer Wipeout (Is That a Potato in Your Sack or Are You Just Happy to Wipeout?), the first obstacle is called "Kindergarten Chaos" where contestants avoid fingerpaint splatter and dodge balls flying at them as they cross the long platform to the other side. Then its off to the Big Balls and slide into the Mood Swing. Lastly, it's "Nana's Kitchen" where she's serving up beef stew, cottage cheese, and sweet potato, plus contestants have to make it over the giant corndog hurdles.

In Episode 11 of Summer Wipeout (Ballsy's Playground), the first obstacle like the episode title is called "Ballsy's Playground". It features a zipline to a giant foam pit and a "Not-So-Merry-Go-Round". Next is Driver's Ed, the descending Big Balls with sweeper arm motivator, and the Jigglator. Then it's off to the "Ballsy's Aquatic Adventure" Double Barrel which contestants have to dodge an array of sea creatures (stuffed animal toys) being thrown at them.

In Episode 12 of Summer Wipeout (Contestants Are Dropping Like Flies), the first obstacle is called the "Fly Swatter", where contestants zipline to the other side while trying to avoid two giant fly swatters (sweeper arms) with green bug juice inside and a giant fly overhead. Next its Driver's Ed and the descending Big Balls with sweeper arm motivator, and the Jigglator with a rabbit hole and two stuffed toy bunnies blocking the way to the other side. Then it the Double Barrel with a circus-theme called "Ballsy's Two Ring Circus", where contestants have to avoid different colored paint being sprayed at them by faux elephants and clowns.

Note: Evidently some obstacles can be bypassed for a time penalty; some mention of this is made if a contestant avoids the obstacle completely. However, it is unclear whether the time penalty applies if the person only makes a token effort at passing the obstacle and purposely falls quickly to the mud/water, which in many cases seemingly would otherwise frequently save time. The contestants are not seen being briefed on such details, nor is there a running clock, nor the entire start-to-finish shown without edits, so it is essentially impossible for viewers to calculate.

Round Two

In the second round, the twelve remaining contestants compete in a competitive challenge. These have included;

• The Sweeper (season 1 and 2): The contestants start in a circle of elevated pedestals in order to dodge the titular Sweeper Arm (a rotating horizontal arm) by jumping over it. Players knocked off their pedestals are eliminated, and the 6 remaining contestants advance to the next round (however the game continues, as the last remaining person wins a bonus prize of $1,000). The speed of the arm is increased as the round progresses, and there may also be an additional handicap (such as wearing potato sacks, or being equipped with dodgeballs) or an attachment or modification to the arm itself (such as a rotating gyroscopic arm, spikes, etc.)

• King of the Mountain (season 2): A challenge with a similar setup to the Sweeper, but with a sweeping bridge that players must jump onto and cross to reach the circular platform in the center. Players who are knocked into the water have unlimited chances to make it to the "mountain", but the game ends once 6 players make it to the center who then advance to the next round.

• Double Cross (season 3): A rig with 4 rotating platforms (three colored green, one colored red) and 4 arms rotating in the opposite direction. Contestants must make their way to the center of the obstacle via one of the three green arms, exit on the red arm, and then cross the Unstable Table (a platform that tilts periodically) in order to cross to the finish line. The center hub may also spray water to make the platforms more slippery or to distract contestants lurking at the center. As with King of the Mountain, contestants have unlimited attempts to cross the obstacle, but only the first 6 to complete will advance.

• Overdrive (season 3): Similar to the Double Cross, contestants must enter the obstacle on a green start platform, cross through the middle to a red exit platform on the other side, and then cross one of three final obstacles (the Spinning Little Ball, Banana Hammock, or Unstable Table) to the finish. Four Sweeper arms, two pairs of Windshield Wipers on either side of the obstacle, and usually foam or water jets seek to impede the contestants' progress. The sweeper arms may only be dodged by jumping over them, contestants must bail out and start over if they pass under a bar. As with King of the Mountain, contestants have unlimited attempts to cross the obstacle, but only the first 6 to complete will advance. This rhyme explains the rule: "enter on green, exit on red, don't let the sweeper bar (or arm) go over your head".

• The Ski Lift (season 4) (Winter Wipeout): Twelve contestants start out on elevated platforms ten feet above the icy water. As this giant ski lift moves in a circular motion, they have to hang onto the handlebars as long as they can, lifting themselves over the frozen sweeper arms to avoid being knocked into the water. The sweeper arm will rise higher and higher as they go around. The last six contestants must stay on to advance to the next round and the last one left will win $1,000.

• Scare-ousel, (season 4) (Spring Wipeout): A carnival-themed carousel that has two stages contestants have to transverse: a red track and a yellow track. They will start on the red track, grab a red "dangler", travel over three hurdles to the red spot platform. If they wipeout, they have to start back at the beginning. Once they land on the red spot, they can hitch a ride on the yellow dangler to the finish platform. But if they wipeout here, they can remain on the yellow track to try again, while avoiding the sweeper arms in their way. In episode 5 of Spring Wipeout (The Most Dramatic Rose Ceremony Ever), three blue danglers were added for increased difficulty.

• Total Carnage, (season 4) (Summer Wipeout): Twelve contestants start out on a pedestal 10 feet above the water. They have to make it over to the finish platform while navigating over the rotating crankshaft and between the spinning hoops without ducking.

Round Three

The remaining contestants participate in a challenge that varies with each episode.

Season 1 variations included the "Dizzy Dummy"; a cycle of competitive rounds where players are strapped to a spinning cylinder for a short period, before racing across one of two sets of obstacles. The winning player in each round advances to the final round, while the remaining contestants "spin again" and then alternate to the other set of obstacles and a time-based challenge known as the "Dreadmill", which sees contestants run on a giant treadmill with the best 4 times advancing, either highest or lowest depending on the task, tasks include dodging a giant swinging wrecking ball and running to the end while lifting up doors.

Season 2 saw the return of the Dizzy Dummy but now the contestants need to squeeze through an obstacle at the top of a spinning disc before they could go on to the main obstacle. The "Slippery Course", is similarly formatted, but uses a water slide instead of spinning the contestants. The Dreadmill is replaced by "The Rocket" which has the contestants ride a rotating rocket which moves around like a Mechanical bull making the challenge harder for contestants. Sometimes the "Bucking Bull" was used which was the same as the Rocket only with a bull instead of a rocket. The top 4 times move onto the Wipeout Zone.

Season 3 uses the "Circular Challenge" a circular, individually run, time based obstacle which circles around a central podium. This course always has a theme such as "One-Ring Circus" (Clowns throw circus objects at the player from the central podium), "Pirate's Revenge" (Pirates throwing cannonballs from the middle), or "Medieval Wipeout" (Knights hurling tomatoes and lettuce from the podium). The top 4 times advance to the Wipeout Zone.

Another round called "Bruiseball" is used in some episodes which has the contestants have to cross 4 obstacles in the shape of a Baseball field. The round is played twice with the first 2 people to reach home-plate in each round advancing to the Wipeout Zone. Also in Season 3 is a challenge which sees contestants run on a spinner from season one's Wipeout Zone, while avoiding sweeper arms. Costumed characters, called "lifeguards", in the middle of the spinner throw items at the contestants based on the theme of the week. Variations of items thrown at the contestants include baggage and boxes on "Unclaimed Baggage" (known for housing John Henson), beach items and wet towels on "Beach Party", stuffed animals, pillows and feathers on "Sleepytime". The round is played in four rounds with the last standing person on the spinner in each round moving on. In addition, there is a ring hanging in the air and whoever grabs the ring wins $1,000.

Season 4 (Winter Wipeout) The third round was called "The 7-Letter Word", which consists of seven platforms that spelled the word, WIPEOUT. The contestants will start at the "W" and the first one to the "T" wins. The letters "W" and "I" features sweeper arms, the "P" puddle to avoid, then bounce off the "E" diving board onto the spinning "O" and jump over the three hurdles on the "U" to get to the "T" platform. Contestants who have wiped out after reaching the "P" or the "U" may return to those points instead of starting the entire course over. However, only the best 3 times went on, rather than the usual four. In episode 4 (Baby It's Blob Outside), The 7-Letter Word featured a person in a polar bear costume scaring contestants on the "P".

In episode 5 (Hockey Pucks and Bieber Fever) the "7-Letter Word" was replaced by another obstacle course called the "Wipeout Ice Arena". For three rounds, contestants start out on the "Dizzy Dummy" a spinning contraption, then they move onto springboards that propel the contestants onto the "Spinning Slap Shot", a horizontal spinning platform trying to make it over the "Penalty Box", a vertically rotating platform. After that, contestants try to avoid being checked by the "Knee Sweeper", a rotating set of connecting bars aimed at their knees, then jumping and spinning their way to the finish platform. While crossing the course, contestants will try to advoid giant hockey pucks being thrown at them by two hockey players (one of them being John Henson) and a female skater.

Season 4 (Spring Wipeout) The third round was called the "Not So-O.K. Corral". There are three rounds that start on this western-themed obstacle course. First the contestants take a spin in the classic "Dizzy Dummy". Then they bounce off the diving boards trying to land on the rotating platforms crossing over to the "Crank Shaft". Next is the "Knee Sweeper", then the spinning platform and one final step to the finish platform. All this while advoiding faux horseshoes and moneybags being thrown at them when crossing the course.

In episode 2 (Ballsy Shows Off His Giblets) the background was a French cafe in which contestants were hit by pies.

In episode 3 (John Henson, Zombie Hunter) the background was a Roman coliseum called "Wipeout Colosseum", in which contestants were hit by tar (chocolate sauce), foam shields, and stuffed toy lions.

In episode 4 (The Wizard of Owws) the background was an Arabian Nights theme, complete with a desert sand, toy snakes, and an oasis. The contestants must run the course while avoiding Persian throw-pillows and plush cobras being thrown at them.

In episode 5 (The Most Dramatic Rose Ceremony) there was a new obstacle called "Super Tramp", where six contetants start out together on trampolines elevated 10 feet above the water. They have to bounce over a rotating sweeper bar as it travels around, to avoid getting knocked into the cold water below. If they go under the bar, they're out. There will be three rounds and the last person standing at end of each round will move on. (The round was similar to the Season 3 spinner where contestants jump on trampolines avoiding a sweeper arm. The last one standing moves on to the wipeout zone.)

In episode 6 (Dirty Laundry) "Super Tramp" was renamed "Clean Sweep", which follows the same rules and format, except the 6 trampolines were replaced by 6 regular platforms.

In episode 7 (Engaged Couples) using episodes 1-4 obstacle, the background was a Wedding chapel theme. The couples must run the course while avoiding pieces of cake and frosting thrown by a couple dressed in each other's clothes (groom in a gown, bride in a tuxedo), and John Henson dressed as the priest.

Season 4 (Summer Wipeout) features the "Wipeout Playset" where each contestant starts off with a ride on the swing set where they have to hurl themselves to the spining plafrom in the center. Then they have to make it around the "sweeper stops" by riding the sweeper arm to the next stop and finally making it through the "chutes and splatters" by timing their slide (just like a second half of the point break in the spring Wipeout zone) to not get hit by the windwill on their way down to the finish platform, where winners of each 3 rounds move to the Wipeout zone.

In episode 3 (Let's Make A Wipeout) the "Dive Bar" was featured, contestants must stay on their own platform while jumping over a giant snorkel as it rotates around the platforms.

In episode 6 (All Stars) the obstacle "Jump the Shark" was featured. Six contestants begin on elevated platforms 10 feet above the water as a giant Great White sweeper arm circles around. They need to jump the shark as the bar goes higher and higher without ducking underneath.

In episode 7 of Summer Wipeout (You're All Acting Like Babies), the obstacle "Wipeout Sushi Bar" was featured. Six contestants start out on 10 foot high platforms above the water. They must jump over the rotating salmon sushi roll sweeper bar to advoid getting knocked into the sake (water) below.

In episode 8 of Summer Wipeout (Boss and Employee), the obstacle "Wipeout 500" race track was featured. There are 2 heats: first contestants must make it past two yellow "street sweeps" (roatating sweeper arms), then they have to cross the rotating "spinner change" (spinning platform), then they have to motor down to the "spinning straightaways" (street platforms) en route to the checkered flag finish line platform all while being pegged by tires and checkered flags by the pit crew.

In Episode 10 of Summer Wipeout (Is That a Potato in Your Sack or Are You Just Happy to Wipeout?), the obstacle is called "Sweeper Sack" where contestants start out on platforms high above the water wearing potato sacks all while trying to avoid the rotating sweeper bar for three rounds.

In Episode 11 of Summer Wipeout (Ballsy's Playground), the obstacle "Detour" is featured where the Wipeout crew are dressed as a old retirement couple that took a detour to "Ballsy's National Forest" on their RV trip. It' exactly the same as Wipeout 500 only the crew throws pillows and sleeping bags at the contestants as they make there way through the course.

In Episode 12 of Summer Wipeout (Contestants Are Dropping Like Flies), the obstacle "Wipeout Playset" is featured. There are three rounds: contestants start off on a slide ride launching themselves on a spinning platform below. Then they have to make it across three rotating sweeper arms at different speeds to the spring board platform, jumping through the spinning foam blades of a windmill to get to the finish platform.

Round Four - "The Wipeout Zone"

At night, and with a more serious tone than the previous rounds, the final three contestants play separately on a large obstacle course called the Wipeout Zone, each attempting to finish the course in the fastest time, much like the first round. Though slight variations are used in each episode, contestants begin by either sliding down a water ramp or being launched by a giant catapult into the course, swimming to the first obstacle. Obstacles have varied between episodes, but the course contains several obstacles that must be traversed in order to reach the finishing platform. Some obstacles can be skipped for a time penalty, but the last obstacle(s) has to be completed in order to reach the finishing spot. The maximum time for any contestant in the Wipeout Zone is 20 minutes. The player with the fastest time on the course is declared the "champion" of the episode and is awarded the show's grand prize of $50,000.

Season 1

One course is used for a large majority of the series but in episode 9 (The Pilot Episode) a second Wipeout Zone is used

Season 1

In order:

Killer Surf

A large water ramp at a 45° angle, on which contestants control their launch into the Wipeout Zone.

Barrel Roll

A narrow ramp which contestants must run up, while avoiding oncoming barrels. (In episode 1-09, the Triple Threat, three triangles which must be crossed, replaced this and the next obstacle)

Climbing Wall

A wall above a narrow ledge which contestants must cross using handles on the wall. Sometimes a rope is present instead of handles, or water pours down the wall. (Not used in episode 1-09: see above)

The Spinner

Rotating platform which contestants must jump on, and then onto a platform on the other side. The Spinner is covered in padded barricades to increase difficulty of jumping on.

Launch Pads

Four trampolines which must be crossed to reach the finish spot. (In episode 1-09, the Blast Off, a narrow plank with water spraying the contestants from all directions, replaced this obstacle)

Pilot Episode

Killer Surf

A large water ramp at a 45° angle, on which contestants control their launch into the Wipeout Zone.

Triple Threat

Three Triangles that can rotate if not crossed quick enough

The Spinner

Rotating platform which contestants must jump on, and then onto a platform on the other side. The Spinner is covered in padded barricades to increase difficulty of jumping on.

Blast Off

A narrow plank which must be crossed. Water cannons will spray the contestants to distract them

Season 2

For season 2, two different courses are used, alternating each episode. Episode 2-15 (Australia special) used the season 1 version of the Wipeout Zone, with an obstacle (exclusive to international versions) replacing two Launch Pads called the Rolling Log.

Course 2A

In order:

Catapult

Large catapult that launches contestants toward the first obstacle.

Gears of Doom

Three large, rotating gears that must be traversed. A time penalty allowing the contestant to skip the obstacle may be taken, after one failed attempt.

Scary-Go-Round

Rotating platform with two sweeper arms moving in the opposite direction that the contestant leaps onto, and climbs to the top of a staircase in the middle of the obstacle. The contestant edges out onto the larger sweeper arm and leaps onto a platform.

Gauntlet:

Piston Punch

Three pistons that punch out into the walkway. The contestant must cross without getting punched into the water.

Turntable/Blades of Fury

A turntable with varying obstacles on it that the contestant must jump on, then off. In 2 episodes, the turntable got replaced by the Blades Of Fury, which is 2 sets of windmills which contestants have to jump through. If they time it wrong, the windmill knocks them off into the water.

Drop Bridge

Narrow beam that suddenly drops when the contestant reaches the end. If they hang on, they can climb up to the finish spot.

Course 2B

In order:

Aqua Launch

A revamped Killer Surf, known as the Aqua Launch, in which the contestant must slide down a ramp and control their launch into the Wipeout Zone. Season two's edition features additional water rapids and a bump.

Raging Rapids

Ramp with water flowing down, which the contestant must climb. Ten seconds into the obstacle, a 1,000 gallon tidal wave gushes down for a few seconds. This tidal wave has varied during the series, being either water, mud or drink.

Climbing Wall

A wall above a narrow ledge which contestants must cross using handles on the wall. Season two always featured just a climbing wall with no water, but the ledge is sloped downward, increasing difficulty.

Crazy Sweeper

Contestants run along a zigzag walkway and then five pedestals while being chased by sweeper arms featuring large objects on them. After the last pedestal the contestant must leap to a platform.

Turntables

Three turntables with varying obstacles on them that the contestant must jump on, then off. When a contestant stands up with two feet planted on the last turntable or the finish spot (in some episodes), the clock is stopped.

Season 3

Once again, two different courses are used.

Course 3A

In order:

Catapult

Large catapult that launches contestants toward the first obstacle.

Spin Cycle

A huge, thirty foot circular tall washing machine which the contestant must enter on one side, then exit at the other onto a narrow platform.

Triple Threat

Three sweeper trees in a row that contestant must cross upon while avoiding the sweeper arms.

Rib Rage

Rack of 10-foot-high (3.0 m) ribs which jut out at the bottom, creating a sort of walkway which the contestant must cross. The ribs drop out from under the contestant as they run. The contestant does not have to repeat this obstacle if they fail.

Gauntlet:

Spiked Wackers

Similar to the "Fence Flapper" qualifier stunt. Two flapping panels with spikes on them that flap into the walkway and the contestant must avoid. The flaps are fired as he/she tries to cross it for the first time, although the Johns avoid saying it, after the first attempt, however, the flaps fire in a sequence the contestant can time their jump with.

Arms and Dangerous

Narrow walkway with spinning arms that are right in the running path of the contestant. He/She must time their run past each arm carefully to avoid being knocked into the water. If the contestant crosses then they have one more small jump to the finish spot.

Course 3B

In order:

Dreadmill Launch

A forward moving treadmill the contestant must run along and jump off the end landing on a giant sloped trampoline before landing in the water.

Gut Busters

A series of platforms at varying heights which move up and down as the player tries to traverse them.

Sini-Stairs

- A spiral staircase on the outside of a rotating tower with sweeper arms to knock the contestant off the stairs.

Gauntlet:

Crank Shaft

A narrow platform next to a rotating crankshaft shaped beam, contestants must time their moves carefully to avoid the beam.(Similar to the Arms and Dangerous,see course 3A final obstacle)

Blades of Fury

The same as in season 2.

Beater-Totter

A hydraulic see-saw which moves about as the contestant tries to cross it and land on the finish spot.

Season 4

Course 4A (Winter Wipeout)

Bobsled Blastoff

A mechanical bobsled that launches the contestant out the end of a tunnel into the water below.

The Icy Stairway from Hell

An arc of stairs that are lifted up and down from their sides.

Frostbite

Two slowly rotating platforms with four teethed sweeper arms moving in the opposite direction that the contestant leaps onto.

Sinister Snowflakes

Two rotating rigs with 7 spokes that the contestant must cross to finish the course.

Course 4B (Spring Wipeout/Summer Wipeout)

Springshot/Chair-borne

First, contestants start with being blasted out of the "Springshot" where they fly at 35 mph through the air into the freezing water below. In episode 5 (The Most Dramatic Rose Ceremony) and the Summer Episodes, this was replaced with "Chair-borne" where contestants are launched from a chair into the water.

Over and Out

Next is the second obstacle, the "Over and Out", two giant rotating "roadblock" platforms they must cross.

Point Break

It's onto the third obstacle called "Point Break", a staircase platform made up of two parts. First they'll climb to the peak on the slippery staircase with flying paint, trying to hold out when random 500 gallons of water splash down on them. Then they have to time a steep slide onto a platform below.

Coin Toss

The last obstacle is the "Coin Toss", where contestants must balance their way across spinning coin-like platforms that will try to flip them into the water. Like the Spiked Whackers in season 3, the contestant cannot pass the obstacle on the first attempt. The coins spin against the contestant, making them near impossible to cross the first time. After the contestant wipes out, the platforms spin in the opposite direction, allowing the contestant to cross them more easily.

Course 4C (Summer Wipeout)

The Towering Flume of Doom

A towering 7-story plunge down a 70ft tall water slide which launches contestants into the Wipeout Zone pool below.

Iron Maizen

A giant rotating maze. Contestants must enter one side (yellow side) of the maze, climb through to the other side (red side) and jump to the next platform to exit, all while battling gravity, momentum, and speed of the rotating maze.

Axle of Evil

A three-pronged disk at the end of an arm twists around whilst the whole arm rotates in a circle. Contestants must use the each peg to support themselves as they are carried around to cross the next platform.

The Great Wall of Fall

A 50ft long wall containing of several cylindrical pistons which randomly retract into the side. Contestants must make their way along the moving pistons to the finish platform.

Reception

On its premiere night, Wipeout scored the highest premiere rating of any new show in summer 2008, besting competing veteran summer shows Hell's Kitchen and America's Got Talent. As the season progressed, Nielsen Media Research put it at the top of the 18-49 demographic, slightly outpaced by America's Got Talent. On August 6, 2008, Wipeout was officially renewed for a second season.

The second season premiered on May 27, 2009, and with an audience of 9.69 million, Wipeout bested its first season average and gave ABC its best numbers in the Wednesdays-at-8 slot since November 2007. In Asia, season 1 began in late 2008, and season 2 premiered on December 23, 2009.

The third season premiered on June 22, 2010, with a special "Blind Date" episode on June 1, 2010.

On January 6, 2011, the first season of Winter Wipeout premiered with the series's highest ratings ever, beating the 8pm competition in the coveted 18-49 demographic and many other key demos.

Wipeout Bowl

On December 8, 2008, ABC announced plans to counter-program NBC's Super Bowl game-day telecasts with a sports-star-studded episode of the "Wipeout Bowl". ABC aired a 13 minute football-themed "Wipeout Bowl" special against NBC's official halftime show. Then, immediately following the game, ABC aired an hour-long "Wipeout Bowl" in which cheerleaders competed against male "couch potato" sports fans. During the hour long special, Monica Kaufman became the show's first female competitor to win and also the first and only (female) winner of the Wipeout Bowl. After that show, a promo for season 2 was shown promising that it will have "more wow, pow, and ow!" This was followed by a short season 5 promo for Lost.

Lawsuit

The concept and style of the show has been compared to several Japanese game shows, most notably Sasuke and Takeshi's Castle. This was brought to the attention of the Japanese broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System, who filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against ABC, charging that Wipeout is "a blatant copycat" of several of its classic Japanese competition game shows. Among the charges are that ABC bought search terms such as MXC (the Americanized comedy version of Takeshi's Castle) on Google to help drive traffic to the official Wipeout page, and that specific obstacles in Wipeout were knock-offs of challenges in those Japanese game shows.

Wipeout creator and executive producer Matt Kunitz, who also executive produced Endemol's Fear Factor (NBC), said that Wipeout is "90% Fear Factor-inspired, 10% Japanese game show". He also said, in a Los Angeles Times interview, that Wipeout was born from a desire to do a funny stunt series. He reportedly wanted to sell the show as Fear Factor meets America's Funniest Home Videos. The lawsuit went forward in 2010.

Video game

Wipeout was also turned into a video game, "Wipeout: The Game", which was released June 22, 2010, along with the Season 3 premiere. The game was released on the Nintendo Wii & Nintendo DS, and was developed by Activision.

In the game, the player can choose from 23 different characters. There are four categories of characters, with each category having a certain amount of "Speed" and "Strength" for the player, which varies based on their body sizes. The "Small" characters have great Speed but little Strength. The "Medium" characters have a more balanced amount of Speed and Strength, with neither one serving as the dominant trait. And the "Large" characters have great Strength but little Speed. These first three categories all have 6 different characters each; 3 females and 3 males, and each character having 3 different outfits. The fourth category is "Special," which has a high amount of Speed and Strength. There are 5 characters in this category, including the three hosts.

The game is played in two different versions. Challenge mode is where the player can challenge specific obstacles and attempt to beat them in a certain amount of time. The other is Play The Show, which means to play the game as they would in the show. They go through the Qualifier round first, and advance to the Sweeper round second. The third round, Free For All, has 3 different versions. In the Easy level, the Free For All features players spinning on the dizzy dummy, and then going across the Tipsy Tables or the Spinning Platform. Challenging level has players on the Unclaimed Baggage, and the Extreme level has them on the Double Crosser. Finally, they go through the Wipeout Zone. The game is different from the show in that there are only 4 contestants, and none are eliminated during the first three rounds. The game has commentary by John Henson, John Anderson and Jill Wagner, all three of whom are featured as unlockable playable characters.

Another Wipeout game is under development by Activision, this time for Xbox 360 with Kinect, entitled 'Wipeout: In The Zone'. It will take full advantage of the Kinect remote and has ragdoll wipeouts and different rounds from the Wii and DS version, such as Bruiseball. The game was released "in conjunction with the premier of Wipeout's summer season on ABC" on June 16, 2011.

Activision announced on August 18, 2011 that a direct sequel to the first Wipeout game was in development titled Wipeout 2 for Xbox 360 with Kinect, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS. The new game is described as "Offering updated, outrageous course designs across all platforms with obstacles and effects taken straight from the show's summer and winter seasons. Players must navigate around snow, ice, foam, and fan-favorite obstacles like the Sucker Punch Wall and Big Balls; which are making their triumphant returns alongside more than 50 others".

International versions

Endemol USA has sold the "Wipeout" format to more than 30 territories and has created two obstacle courses in Argentina for those international editions. Current and upcoming versions include:

Country	Name	Host	Channel	Premiere	Language
Arab World	وايب أوت Wipeout	Mustafa Alagha, Tamer Abd El-Monem, Karen Derkalostian	MBC 1	May 2009	Arabic
Argentina	Hombre al agua	Sebastián Weinbaum and Eugenio Weinbaum (Season 1, 3), Ivan de Pineda and Luli Fernendez (Season 2)	Canal 13	January 5, 2009	Spanish
Australia	Wipeout Australia	Kelly Landry, James Brayshaw and Josh Lawson	Nine Network/Go!	February 3, 2009	English
Belarus			ONT	Launch in 2011	Belarusian
Belgium	Wipeout	Walter Grootaers, Bob Peeters & Lynn Pelgroms (& Wytske Kenemans)	VTM	March 4, 2009	Dutch
Brazil	Maratoma	Fausto Silva	Rede Globo	July 19, 2009	Portuguese
Canada	Wipeout Canada	Jonathan Torrens, Enis Esmer,Jessica Phillips	TVtropolis	April 3, 2011	English
Canada Template:Fr	Wipeout Québec	Valérie Simard, Réal Béland and Alain Dumas (Credited as Jacques Brunet and Jacques Poitras respectively)	V	August 31, 2009	French
Chile	Hombre Al Agua	Martín Cárcamo and Álvaro Salas	TVN	March 6, 2009	Spanish
Croatia	Wipeout	Marina Jerkovic	RTL Televizija	April 12, 2009.	Croatian
Czech Republic	Wipeout - Souboj národů	Libor Bouček, Janka Hospodárová	Nova	June 29, 2011	Czech
Denmark	Wipeout	Uffe Holm, Martin Veltz and Maria Montell	Kanal 5	March 5, 2009	Danish
Finland	Wipeout		Nelonen		Finnish
France	Total Wipeout	Stéphane Rotenberg, Alex Goude, Sandrine Corman	M6	July 17, 2009	French
Germany	WipeOut – Heul nicht, lauf!	Charlotte Engelhardt, Matthias Opdenhövel and Werner Hansch	ProSieben	March 10, 2009	German
Greece	Wipeout	Christoforos Zaralikos, Dimitris Menounos and Eleni Karpontini	ANT1	February 6, 2010	Greek
Iceland	Wipeout Ísland	Sigmar Vilhjálmsson, Jóhannes Ásbjörnsson and Friðrika Hjördís Geirsdóttir	Stöð 2	December 11, 2009	Icelandic
India	Zor Ka Jhatka: Total Wipeout	Shahrukh Khan and Saumya Tandon	Imagine TV	February 1, 2011	Hindi
Italy	Wipeout - Pronti A Tutto	Lillo e Greg	K2	3 October 2010	Italian
Israel	וויפאאוט ישראל Wipeout Israel	Tal Berman and Aviad Kisos	Channel 10	May 10, 2011	Hebrew
Lithuania	Jokių kliūčių!	Džiugas Siaurusaitis	TV3	January 10, 2009	Lithuanian
Mexico	Resbalón	José Ramón San Cristóbal, Eduardo Videgaray	Televisa	August 29, 2009	Spanish
Netherlands	Wipeout	Wytske Kenemans, Dennis Weening, Klaas van der Eerden, Lynn Pelgroms	RTL 5	February 15, 2009	Dutch
Norway	Wipeout	Anders Hoff,Øyvind Rafto, Synnøve Skarbø	TVNorge	March 2, 2009	Norwegian
Pakistan	Wipeout Pakistan also known as Big Splash		Geo Entertainment		Urdu
Poland	Wipeout - Wymiatacze	Tomasz Zimoch, Krzysztof 'Jankes' Jankowski, Katarzyna Olubińska	TVN	February 13, 2011	Polish
Russia	Жестокие игры Zhestokiye Igry	Dmitry Dibrov, Kirill Nabutov, Yana Churikova	Channel One	7 March 2010	Russian
Serbia	Wipeout	Ivan Tešanović and Miljan Milićević	FOX Televizija	November 8, 2009	Serbian
Spain	¡Guaypaut!	Carmen Alcayde	Telecinco	December 24, 2008	Spanish
Slovakia	Wipeout - Súboj národov	Janka Hospodárová, Libor Bouček	Markíza	July 3, 2011	Slovak
Slovenia	Wipeout	Jernej Kuntner and Tomaž Cuder	TV 3	slovenian voice-over of the American version since season 3	Slovene
Sweden	Wipeout	Felix Herngren, Hans Wiklund, Sofia Wistam	Kanal 5 Template:Sv icon	March 8, 2009	Swedish
Turkey	Wipeout	Asuman Krause	Show TV	January 30, 2009	Turkish
Ukraine	БУМ, Битва українських міст BUM, Bytva Ukrayinskyh Mist	Stepan Kazanin, Valeria Ushakova, Alexander Krikun	Inter TV	March 7, 2010	Ukrainian, Russian
United Kingdom	Total Wipeout	Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram	BBC One (BBC One HD), BBC Three, CBBC Channel	January 3, 2009	English

Notes

• The Scandinavian countries Denmark, Norway, and Sweden produce separate versions of the show based on the same footage of contestants from the three countries competing against each other.
• The original United States series airs in Canada on GlobalTV (in English) and on V (in French); in New Zealand on TV3; in Australia on Nine Network; in the Philippines and India on AXN; in the Netherlands on RTL 5 (in English with Dutch subtitles); and in the United Kingdom on Watch, as Total Wipeout USA, to match the title of the British version.
• The Dutch version is a collaboration between the Netherlands and Belgium (only the first season).

See also

• American Gladiators (1989-1996)
• American Gladiators (2008)
• Dog Eat Dog (UK)
• Dog Eat Dog (US)
• Fear Factor
• I Survived a Japanese Game Show
• Brain Wall
• MXC / Takeshi's Castle
• Real World/Road Rules Challenge
• Sasuke (AKA Ninja Warrior)
• Jeux Sans Frontieres
• 101 Ways to Leave a Game Show (U.S. game show)

References

Further reading

• Stelter, Brian (July 21, 2009). "Gluttons for Punishment Are Balm for ABC". The New York Times.
• Lang, Derrik J (May 26, 2009). "'Wipeout' harder, much harder, than it looks on TV". Associated Press via Pantagraph.com. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)

External links

• Official website
• Wipeout on Facebook
• Wipeout at IMDb
• Filming location: 34.3761°N 118.4113°W / 34.3761; -118.4113 (Wipeout (U.S. game show))