I like to think that I’ve proven my love for brainy, intellectual television. I did a virgin diary for The Wire and I’m currently doing one for Six Feet Under. I write about the ultra-brainy Lost on a weekly basis. I’ve also made clear my love for Deadwood, along with other high art programs. Why am I pushing my resume? Well, I’m about to take a huge hit to my cred with my fellow TV snobs.
I have something that I have to admit: I love Wipeout.
What can I say in my defense? Honestly, not much. You’re either the type of person who loves to watch people injure themselves for a chance to win 50,000 dollars (but really, they just want to get on television), or you’re not. After watching the season premiere of the show, there is no doubt in my mind that I am one of those base individuals that can’t get enough of watching people fall on their faces.
The new season featured a couple new twists to the show, just to make sure that they kept the insanely cruel obstacle course fresh. After all, who would want to see people break their faces the exact same way every week? Fear not, though, your favorites are all still there, including the big balls and my personal favorite, the sucker punch wall. There is just something about watching someone get punched in the face by a robotic wall of boxing gloves that makes my soul smile. I am evil.
The cruelest new addition to the course appears to be the hurdles (or as they call them, “hurtles”), which consist of large foam hurdles that piston up and down. Like so many of the things on this show, they appear designed solely to beat the crap out of people, and I love them for it. I’m not sure how I feel about the new “wipeout zone” at the end of the episode. While the catapult is pretty awesome, I miss the rolling barrels and spinner from the old course, they seemed much, much nastier than anything in this year’s course.
Am I alone in my love of this hilarious show? Have you lost all respect for me? Or, like me, are you excited for a summer full of people hurting themselves?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on May 28, 2009 @ 09:00 EST5EDT
I’m with you. Love the show. It reminds me of Most Extreme Elimination Challenge – though not as cheesey (don’t get me wrong there is still a tonne of cheese on Wipeout).
I don’t think I laugh at anything on TV as hard as I do with Wipeout. The “hurtles” were a great new addition. I was a bit surprised they changed the big balls to make them all a uniform size. The catapult is awesome but, you’re right, the Wipeout Zone doesn’t seem as treacherous as last season. I’m sure they’ll make some changes as the season progresses. Wipeout reminds me of an old 70s show, Almost Anything Goes. TV Land should dig that up and air it!
I’d rather watch re-runs of “Takeshi’s Castle”. Or “Battle Royale” :-D