Wipeout Is The New Hilarious Hit TV Show

Wipeout is an American game 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 (formerly of E! Entertainment's Talk Soup) and John Anderson (ESPN's SportsCenter). Jill Wagner co-hosts, and acts as the "on-location" presenter (Henson and Anderson presenting from a broadcast booth inside a studio). The executive producers are Matt Kunitz (Fear Factor) and Scott Larsen, and the co-executive producers are Trice Barto, Shye Sutherland, J. Rupert Thompson and Kevin Wehrenberg. Distribution of the show is handled by Endemol USA.

The show is taped at a ranch in Canyon Country, Santa Clarita, California. However, due to ABC's policy of not revealing where its reality shows are taped, the location is never mentioned in the program itself; by contrast, the British version makes a point of talking about the show's Argentine connections. On July 22, 2009, Wipeout was renewed for a third season. Pre-production for Season 3 is underway and a new set is being erected during August 2009 in preparation to begin shooting in September 2009.[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006331.html?categoryid=1417&cs=1 ABC renews 'Wipeout' for third season to begin in the Summer of 2010]

The concept and style of the show has been compared to several Japanese game shows, most notably Sasuke and Takeshis Castle. Wipeout creator and executive producer Matt Kunitz, who also executive produced NBCs Fear Factor, states Wipeout is "90% Fear Factor-inspired, 10% Japanese game show." Kunitz claimed, in the Los Angeles Times, that Wipeout was born from a desire to do a funny stunt series. He wanted to sell the show as Fear Factor meets Americas Funniest Home Videos.

On December 8, 2008, ABC announced plans to counter-program NBCs 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.

In January 2009, several international versions of Wipeout debuted in countries including the UK (known as Total Wipeout) and Argentina. Also that month, ABC began running repeats from the first season over most affiliates on weekend afternoons.