Reality death match

Wipeout USA and American Ninja Warrior will leave you bruised, battered and begging for the buzzer.

Wipeout’s Big Balls send contestants flying without too much injury. Season 7 Saturdays e.tv (*194) 18:05 Season 4 Saturdays SABC2 (*192) 19:00

Weekends aren’t for resting – they’re for bruising and breaking bones… from the comfort of your lounge. The goal in Wipeout USA (20082014) and American Ninja Warrior (ANW, 2009- current) is staying alive, and ANW host and former doctor Matt Iseman says that “this show is the most challenging, physical and mental obstacle course I’ve ever seen!” It’s the US version of Japanese reality obstacle series Sasuke (1997- current) and contestants make their way through physical obstacles. For Wipeout co-hosts John Henson and John Anderson, it’s less serious: “We were looking at a physical series with humour – it’s Fear Factor (2001- current) meets America’s Funniest Videos (1990- current).”

SPILLS & THRILLS

The biggest difference is that ANW will leave viewers cringing when racers are battered, while Wipeout will leave fans crying tears of laughter when the stars American Ninja Warrior’s final test: Mount Midoriyama.

are wiped out by oversized obstacles. “We’ve got huge balls,” brags Wipeout executive producer Matt Kunitz. “But they are probably the safest obstacle we have.” Everything on Wipeout is designed to send contestants tumbling without serious injury.

ANW meanwhile is all about physicality, says Matt. “We change obstacles in every city – we bring brand-new ones that no one has ever seen! There is very The obstacle course on American Ninja Warrior is physically demanding. little motorisation on our show. It’s all about using your body and generating movement, so contestants who do gymnastics and parkour [freestyle obstacle training] are always equipped to be hanging by their fingertips.”

PAID FOR PAIN

Taking a battering might be worth it through. The quickest person through Wipeout’s four or five obstacles (they vary per episode) takes home $50 000 (R680 000), while the season winner on ANW gets $1 million (R13.5 million) if they summit the infamous final test of Mount Midoriyama in Las Vegas. But it’s not just survival of the fittest on either show. “A lot of people rely on [athletic] talent,” warns Matt. “We’ve seen ex NFL stars, Olympic gold medallists and even Navy SEALs think they’re going to crush the course – and they’ve failed!” The Johns meanwhile just laugh – “No one is above being wiped out here!”

THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU

Wipeout’s third co-host Jill Wagner says that the worst injury has been “cuts from running between obstacles and slipping – especially in the cold”. The show was filmed in LA’s Canyon County with an average temperature of 14°C. Jill adds, “We use a lot of padding on our machines, sometimes up to 50cm.” The worst on ANW were mostly joint injuries, “With a few ACL [knee ligaments] being torn,” explains Matt. It was a lot worse on Sasuke’s predecessor show Kinniku Banzuke (1995-2002) – two contestants were paralysed after sustaining back injuries. Remember, kids: do not try this at home!