History Series / Wipeout2008

''Wipeout'' is an American GameShow on Creator/{{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 crazy Japanese stunt game shows like ''Series/TakeshisCastle'' (although older viewers may also find it not dissimilar to ''Jeux sans frontières'').

* MercyMode: 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. However, if the contestant reaches mercy mode to begin with, they most likely had already wasted enough time to begin with.
* MoodWhiplash: Crosses over with ShooOutTheClowns, 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.

* During a family edition of Wipeout, Marie Juarez took over ''twenty minutes'' to complete the Wipeout Zone. Granted while that's bad on it's own, both of the competing family members finished in less than five and ten minutes respectively, meaning that her own father couldn't even compete!

* AnythingThatMoves: "I'll Date Any-" Quan Pham.

''Wipeout'' is an American GameShow on Creator/{{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 [[WidgetSeries crazy Japanese stunt game shows]] like ''Series/TakeshisCastle'' (although older viewers may also find it not dissimilar to ''Jeux sans frontières'').

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* CatchPhrase: "Good night, and big balls."

* SublimeRhyme: "Enter on green, exit on red. Don't let the sweeper arms go over your head." (Overdrive)

* TakeThat: After the first Shark Jump obstacle, John notes that someone should do a whole week's worth of shark-related shows. Other John dismisses the idea as something that will never work.

--> "This is your announcer saying good night — and big balls."

'''''Wipeout''''' is an American GameShow on Creator/{{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 [[WidgetSeries crazy Japanese stunt game shows]] like ''Series/TakeshisCastle'' (although older viewers may also find it not dissimilar to ''Jeux sans frontières'').

** TheHeart: Jill Wagner, the interviewer third of the show's speaking-role three characters. You may recognize her from those Mercury car commercials and her [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute role]] in the TV adaptation of the ''Series/{{Blade}}'' movies. These three are joined by…

* InnocentInnuendo: Occasionally or at least, they try to make it seem that way. One particular example comes from "Blind Date 2012" where a Buddhist contestant and their blind date kept talking about opening/showing/whatever the third eye. While he was being genuine about it, the fact that it's a blind date themed episode instigated plenty of [[ReactionShot Reaction Shots]] from Vanessa.

* {{Slapstick}}: What makes it so much fun to watch.
* SlapstickKnowsNoGender: Doesn't matter if you're male or female. This show and these challenges will rough you up and set it all to silly sound effects.

** TheChick: Jill Wagner, the interviewer third of the show's speaking-role three characters. You may recognize her from those Mercury car commercials and her [[SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute role]] in the TV adaptation of the ''Series/{{Blade}}'' movies. These three are joined by…

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: 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.
** The Spinner from early seasons: a cone that rotates quickly.
** Those metal bases on the Big Balls seem almost impossible to reach, yet…
*** There was actually an early episode where a contestant managed to get stuck in the frame holding up a Big Ball. After that, they gave the frame a cover to prevent it from happening again.
** [[JustifiedTrope 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.]]

* SlapstickKnowsNoGender: Doesn't matter if you're male or female. This show and these challenges will rough you up, and set it all to silly sound effects.

* RecycledInSpace[=/=]DifficultySpike: 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 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 SpikesOfDoom 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.

* AwesomeMcCoolname: A pair of brothers on the show were named Vision and Gentle, with Winter being their last name. They mention other siblings named Liberty, Courage, Storm, Now, Amina, One, Pacific, and Loyal.

* ThemePairing: Non-shippy version with the "Winners and Losers" episode, which featured some winner/loser pairs with a similar theme that had been given to them in previous episodes.[[invoked]]

* UpToEleven: The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Overdrive]], compared to the Double Cross.