Wipeout (2008 game show): Difference between revisions

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{{quote| ''"It's that time, America. What goes up must wipe out."''}}
{{quote| ''"It's that time, America. What goes up must wipe out."''}}


An American [[Game Show]] on [[ABC]] in which 24 contestants compete in a series of events seemingly designed to humiliate and otherwise annoy them. The last contestant standing wins $50,000. Inspired by [[Widget Series|crazy Japanese stunt game shows]] like ''[[Takeshis Castle]]'' (although older viewers may also find it not dissimilar to ''Jeux Sans Frontieres'').
An American [[Game Show]] on [[ABC]] in which 24 contestants compete in a series of events seemingly designed to humiliate and otherwise annoy them. The last contestant standing wins $50,000. Inspired by [[Widget Series|crazy Japanese stunt game shows]] like ''[[Takeshi's Castle]]'' (although older viewers may also find it not dissimilar to ''Jeux Sans Frontieres'').


Not to be confused with the [[Wipeout 1988 (TV)|1988-89 game show of the same name]]. Or the [[Wipeout (Video Game)|futuristic racing game series]]; coincidentally, this ''Wipeout'' also has a video game of it.
Not to be confused with the [[Wipeout 1988|1988-89 game show of the same name]]. Or the [[Wipeout|futuristic racing game series]]; coincidentally, this ''Wipeout'' also has a video game of it.


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=== [[Game Show Tropes]] present: ===
=== [[Game Show Tropes]] present: ===


* [[Carried By the Host]]: The commentary of and banter between the Johns and Jill/Vanessa is part of what makes the show enjoyable.
* [[Carried by the Host]]: The commentary of and banter between the Johns and Jill/Vanessa is part of what makes the show enjoyable.
{{quote| John H.: If I fall down... I want you to commentate on it!<br />
{{quote| John H.: If I fall down... I want you to commentate on it!<br />
John A.: I'm touched... and sort of can't wait. [smirk] }}
John A.: I'm touched... and sort of can't wait. [smirk] }}
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* [[Action Mom]]: Many of the contestants on the show are mothers, including one who referred to herself with the Trope name, and at least three winners (one of whom while [[Badass Family|teamed up with her son]]).
* [[Action Mom]]: Many of the contestants on the show are mothers, including one who referred to herself with the Trope name, and at least three winners (one of whom while [[Badass Family|teamed up with her son]]).
* [[All There in the Manual]]: Averted on air during a Winter Family edition. If one family finishes and the others quit on the penultimate round, the family that finished is guaranteed half the prize money right then and there, and must compete in the Wipeout Zone against the team that quit last for the rest of the cash. {{spoiler|Considering its ending, it ended up being irrelevant: the one family that didn't quit won the whole cash anyway.}}
* [[All There in the Manual]]: Averted on air during a Winter Family edition. If one family finishes and the others quit on the penultimate round, the family that finished is guaranteed half the prize money right then and there, and must compete in the Wipeout Zone against the team that quit last for the rest of the cash. {{spoiler|Considering its ending, it ended up being irrelevant: the one family that didn't quit won the whole cash anyway.}}
* [[Anti Frustration Features]]: Some of the obstacles slow down the longer it takes contestants to cross them, making the obstacle easier. Particularly noted for Season 3's Spin Cycle.
* [[Anti-Frustration Features]]: Some of the obstacles slow down the longer it takes contestants to cross them, making the obstacle easier. Particularly noted for Season 3's Spin Cycle.
** [[Justified Trope|Justified]] with the Spin Cycle. It wasn't designed to create funny wipeouts. Its purpose was to disorient the contestant inside it, and it worked.
** [[Justified Trope|Justified]] with the Spin Cycle. It wasn't designed to create funny wipeouts. Its purpose was to disorient the contestant inside it, and it worked.
** Also apparent with the Coin Flip obstacle, where the rotating coins change direction after the contestant [[Foregone Conclusion|wipes out]].
** Also apparent with the Coin Flip obstacle, where the rotating coins change direction after the contestant [[Foregone Conclusion|wipes out]].
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* [[Dynamic Difficulty]]: In the Wipeout Zone, it appears that the longer you spend on an obstacle, the slower it becomes.
* [[Dynamic Difficulty]]: In the Wipeout Zone, it appears that the longer you spend on an obstacle, the slower it becomes.
* [[Epic Fail]]: In one second-season episode, a contestant reached the very first corner of the qualifier, slipped and fell, and promptly yelled "I'm done!" She lasted less than ten seconds.
* [[Epic Fail]]: In one second-season episode, a contestant reached the very first corner of the qualifier, slipped and fell, and promptly yelled "I'm done!" She lasted less than ten seconds.
* [[Everything's Better With Spinning]]: The Spin Cycle, the Dizzy Dummy, the various other spinners that have appeared in every season so far...
* [[Everything's Better with Spinning]]: The Spin Cycle, the Dizzy Dummy, the various other spinners that have appeared in every season so far...
** Also, depending on how the obstacles smack them around, the contestants can go into some pretty crazy spins themselves.
** Also, depending on how the obstacles smack them around, the contestants can go into some pretty crazy spins themselves.
** Those metal bases on the Big Balls seem almost impossible to reach, yet...
** Those metal bases on the Big Balls seem almost impossible to reach, yet...
** [[Justified Trope|Justified]] since the spinning is intended to hinder the contestants.
** [[Justified Trope|Justified]] since the spinning is intended to hinder the contestants.
** In the Spring 2011 Wipeout Zone ''every'' obstacle spins (two vertically, one horizontally and requiring timing). Contrast this to previous zones where it was usually just one or two and usually just hazards rather than the obstacle itself. {{spoiler|Unfortunately for the viewers, this new course seems to be quite a bit easier since the contestants take 4 to 7 minutes to complete the course which is several minutes faster than even the fastest times of previous courses.}}
** In the Spring 2011 Wipeout Zone ''every'' obstacle spins (two vertically, one horizontally and requiring timing). Contrast this to previous zones where it was usually just one or two and usually just hazards rather than the obstacle itself. {{spoiler|Unfortunately for the viewers, this new course seems to be quite a bit easier since the contestants take 4 to 7 minutes to complete the course which is several minutes faster than even the fastest times of previous courses.}}
* [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin]]: Several of the obstacles, including the trademark Big Balls (which are giant rubber red balls).
* [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin]]: Several of the obstacles, including the trademark Big Balls (which are giant rubber red balls).
* [[Failed a Spot Check]]: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cslbz3X2mQE Where's the pole?]
* [[Failed a Spot Check]]: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cslbz3X2mQE Where's the pole?]
* [[Fan Nickname]]: During one episode, Anderson mentions they've gotten a number of 'scorpion' wipeouts which apparently refers to the occasional instances where a contestant's feet touch their head.
* [[Fan Nickname]]: During one episode, Anderson mentions they've gotten a number of 'scorpion' wipeouts which apparently refers to the occasional instances where a contestant's feet touch their head.
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** [[Cute Bruiser]] (again, sort of): Megan Stiner, another member of the "Black-and-Blue Crew", who bears a more than passing resemblance to Playboy model Summer Altice.
** [[Cute Bruiser]] (again, sort of): Megan Stiner, another member of the "Black-and-Blue Crew", who bears a more than passing resemblance to Playboy model Summer Altice.
* [[Flanderization]]: When you make it to Round 2, one thing said during your interview will be the basis for all of the commentators' jokes about you.
* [[Flanderization]]: When you make it to Round 2, one thing said during your interview will be the basis for all of the commentators' jokes about you.
* [[Fun With Subtitles]]: "Due to hard economic times we don't have the money to buy the rights to this song, but let's just say her FOOT... is LOOSE.... :)"
* [[Fun with Subtitles]]: "Due to hard economic times we don't have the money to buy the rights to this song, but let's just say her FOOT... is LOOSE.... :)"
** The stick figures used to demostrate each course as well as to telestrate various contestants wipeouts may also count as they're all unique.
** The stick figures used to demostrate each course as well as to telestrate various contestants wipeouts may also count as they're all unique.
* [[Genre Blind]]: Some of the contestants seem this way. "Hey, how come there's mud on one of several wall panels that might pop out and smack me into the mud puddle below? [[Too Dumb to Live|Probably a coincidence.]]"
* [[Genre Blind]]: Some of the contestants seem this way. "Hey, how come there's mud on one of several wall panels that might pop out and smack me into the mud puddle below? [[Too Dumb to Live|Probably a coincidence.]]"
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* [[Mercy Mode]]: In the final round of Wipeout, if a contestant is struggling or wipes out at the same obstacle several times, the obstacle is gradually made easier, such as a spinner spinning slower, so that the contestant can get past the roadblock. However, this can work against them if the contestant has to ride the obstacle to the other side since they will lose more time if the machine is going slow.
* [[Mercy Mode]]: In the final round of Wipeout, if a contestant is struggling or wipes out at the same obstacle several times, the obstacle is gradually made easier, such as a spinner spinning slower, so that the contestant can get past the roadblock. However, this can work against them if the contestant has to ride the obstacle to the other side since they will lose more time if the machine is going slow.
* [[Mood Whiplash]]: Crosses over with [[Shoo Out the Clowns]], the final round, even down to the theme song they use, is many times more professional and serious than the overall mood of the first three rounds.
* [[Mood Whiplash]]: Crosses over with [[Shoo Out the Clowns]], the final round, even down to the theme song they use, is many times more professional and serious than the overall mood of the first three rounds.
* [[Jumping the Shark]]: Parodied [[In Universe]] as a [[Visual Pun]] for a Sweeper variant ... which literally involves jumping over a shark.
* [[Jumping the Shark]]: Parodied [[In-Universe]] as a [[Visual Pun]] for a Sweeper variant ... which literally involves jumping over a shark.
* [[Moon Logic Puzzle]]: The Shapeshifter is something like this. How the hosts describe the obstacle, it sounds like you have to jump ''through'' one of the shapes onto the final platform (via trampoline, swingset, zipline, slide, or the like)...except that, if you imagine that the Shapeshifter itself wasn't there, that jump is way too far for a human to reach. A grand total of ''three'' contestants have crossed it so far...two of them by landing ''in'' one of the shapes and riding it around until they could jump out, and the third by pushing against the contraption once through the hole to give himself the extra force needed to get through.
* [[Moon Logic Puzzle]]: The Shapeshifter is something like this. How the hosts describe the obstacle, it sounds like you have to jump ''through'' one of the shapes onto the final platform (via trampoline, swingset, zipline, slide, or the like)...except that, if you imagine that the Shapeshifter itself wasn't there, that jump is way too far for a human to reach. A grand total of ''three'' contestants have crossed it so far...two of them by landing ''in'' one of the shapes and riding it around until they could jump out, and the third by pushing against the contraption once through the hole to give himself the extra force needed to get through.
** There are those moments of disbelief. In September 2010, Rico "Rolling Thunder" Curtis actually [[Moment of Awesome|horizontally dived]] through the hole and landed on the platform with a tummy slide.
** There are those moments of disbelief. In September 2010, Rico "Rolling Thunder" Curtis actually [[Moment of Awesome|horizontally dived]] through the hole and landed on the platform with a tummy slide.
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* [[Reality Show Genre Blindness]]: An astoundingly large number of the contestants are horribly out of shape, and an even more astoundingly large number of contestants have ''no'' idea how to get past the obstacles, especially in the Qualifier (which is [[Nintendo Hard]] enough ''without'' taking contestant incompetence into account!) Though, this makes the ones who ''can'' figure out a way past the tougher obstacles and then pull it off especially impressive (such as the girl who got through the Big Balls by leaping onto each one belly-first and clinging on for dear life until she was stable before getting up and leaping to the next one.)
* [[Reality Show Genre Blindness]]: An astoundingly large number of the contestants are horribly out of shape, and an even more astoundingly large number of contestants have ''no'' idea how to get past the obstacles, especially in the Qualifier (which is [[Nintendo Hard]] enough ''without'' taking contestant incompetence into account!) Though, this makes the ones who ''can'' figure out a way past the tougher obstacles and then pull it off especially impressive (such as the girl who got through the Big Balls by leaping onto each one belly-first and clinging on for dear life until she was stable before getting up and leaping to the next one.)
** Lampshaded by the Johns in a recent episode. "No matter how many times contestants watch the show, they all start the day thinking they'll do great!"
** Lampshaded by the Johns in a recent episode. "No matter how many times contestants watch the show, they all start the day thinking they'll do great!"
* [[Recycled in Space|Recycled IN SPACE]] / [[Difficulty Spike]]: Many of the obstacles from season to season, usually by adding paint spraying (the Sucker Punch), foam (too many obstacles to name, but especially the Spin Cycle in the Wipeout Zone), and/or water cannons (the Overdrive and Double Cross). Then there's just those obstacles whose upgrades just seem silly, like when the Sweeper Bar from the first episode got largely superficial changes as the first season progressed (like "foam rubber teeth" to become the Sweeper Toothbrush, (which Henson called the [[Spikes of Doom]] in an awesome voice), or adding a MOBILE MADE OF CROWS). However, the silliness of the "upgrades" is probably intentional, given the nature of the show.
* [[Recycled in Space]] / [[Difficulty Spike]]: Many of the obstacles from season to season, usually by adding paint spraying (the Sucker Punch), foam (too many obstacles to name, but especially the Spin Cycle in the Wipeout Zone), and/or water cannons (the Overdrive and Double Cross). Then there's just those obstacles whose upgrades just seem silly, like when the Sweeper Bar from the first episode got largely superficial changes as the first season progressed (like "foam rubber teeth" to become the Sweeper Toothbrush, (which Henson called the [[Spikes of Doom]] in an awesome voice), or adding a MOBILE MADE OF CROWS). However, the silliness of the "upgrades" is probably intentional, given the nature of the show.
** Other obstacles get moved from phase to phase in addition to modifiers. Crankshaft, always good for a wipeout or three, started off in the Wipeout zone, got moved to a third phase qualifier with moving platform, and then by 2011, is now a second phase qualifier where the Crankshaft has a more unique shape (crooked instead of straight) and has been put on an axle arm that spins.
** Other obstacles get moved from phase to phase in addition to modifiers. Crankshaft, always good for a wipeout or three, started off in the Wipeout zone, got moved to a third phase qualifier with moving platform, and then by 2011, is now a second phase qualifier where the Crankshaft has a more unique shape (crooked instead of straight) and has been put on an axle arm that spins.
* [[Running Gag]]: The hosts tend to stick to one running gag per contestant and run with it for the whole show.
* [[Running Gag]]: The hosts tend to stick to one running gag per contestant and run with it for the whole show.
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** When a contestant that happens to be a geologist wins the game, Henson says "If you smell what the rock star is cooking?", a reference to WWE wrestler, the Rock.
** When a contestant that happens to be a geologist wins the game, Henson says "If you smell what the rock star is cooking?", a reference to WWE wrestler, the Rock.
** A mention is made for an air traffic controller about Oceania airplanes i.e. the stock airline used in pretty much every movie made. In the same episode when the contestant splashes down onto another in Double Cross, one of the Johns wonders where Captain Sully is, the airline pilot who did a waterlanding.
** A mention is made for an air traffic controller about Oceania airplanes i.e. the stock airline used in pretty much every movie made. In the same episode when the contestant splashes down onto another in Double Cross, one of the Johns wonders where Captain Sully is, the airline pilot who did a waterlanding.
** In something of a [[Double Subversion]], one girl, a professed [[Anime]] fan, referred to herself as [[Pokémon (Franchise)|Mikachu]]. At first, the hosts seem confused as to what the name refers to, which makes one think they're unaware of (or trying to avoid) the reference... and then in the third round, one of the Johns randomly throws out a Jigglypuff reference.
** In something of a [[Double Subversion]], one girl, a professed [[Anime]] fan, referred to herself as [[Pokémon|Mikachu]]. At first, the hosts seem confused as to what the name refers to, which makes one think they're unaware of (or trying to avoid) the reference... and then in the third round, one of the Johns randomly throws out a Jigglypuff reference.
** The first episode of spring 2011 has a blink-and-you-miss-it [[Shout-Out]] to Bert and Ernie.
** The first episode of spring 2011 has a blink-and-you-miss-it [[Shout-Out]] to Bert and Ernie.
** In "John Henson, Zombie Hunter", John puts out the classic "I'm here to kick butt and chew bubblegum and I'm all out of bubblegum."
** In "John Henson, Zombie Hunter", John puts out the classic "I'm here to kick butt and chew bubblegum and I'm all out of bubblegum."
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* [[Those Two Guys]]: John Henson and John Anderson.
* [[Those Two Guys]]: John Henson and John Anderson.
* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: Well, more like "too dumb to make it to the next round," but some contestants do some stupid things.
* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: Well, more like "too dumb to make it to the next round," but some contestants do some stupid things.
* [[Trans Atlantic Equivalent|Trans Pacific Equivalent]]: The show is similar enough to ''[[Takeshis Castle]]'' that the Tokyo Broadcasting System is suing [[ABC]] over copyright infringement.
* [[Trans Atlantic Equivalent|Trans Pacific Equivalent]]: The show is similar enough to ''[[Takeshi's Castle]]'' that the Tokyo Broadcasting System is suing [[ABC]] over copyright infringement.
** Of course, the Johns don't seem worried about this as Henson tosses out a "Let's get it on!" plus hand gesture combo as seen on the MXC version of the show.
** Of course, the Johns don't seem worried about this as Henson tosses out a "Let's get it on!" plus hand gesture combo as seen on the MXC version of the show.
** [[The BBC]] shows a UK version.
** [[The BBC]] shows a UK version.
* [[Up to Eleven]]: The [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|Overdrive]], compared to the Double Cross.
* [[Up to Eleven]]: The [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Overdrive]], compared to the Double Cross.


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