History Series / Wipeout2008

''Wipeout'' was silently cancelled after the 2014 season; although there was a casting call for an apparent SpinOff titled ''Wipeout Extreme'' seeking people with interest in "crossfit, parkour, iron competitions, triathlons, [and] Spartan races", the show never entered production. The show currently airs on truTV as part of their late-night lineup; its sister channel Creator/{{TBS}} later announced that it was reviving the series, and named Creator/JohnCena as host on September 10, 2020.

''Wipeout'' was silently cancelled after the 2014 season; although there was a casting call for an apparent SpinOff titled ''Wipeout Extreme'' seeking people with interest in "crossfit, parkour, iron competitions, triathlons, [and] Spartan races", the show never entered production. The show currently airs on truTV as part of their late-night lineup; its sister channel Creator/{{TBS}} later announced that it was reviving the series, and named Wrestling/JohnCena as host on September 10, 2020.

** Don't forget the Qualifier that featured ''WesternAnimation/IceAge3DawnOfTheDinosaurs'' at the end!

** Don't forget the one that featured ''WesternAnimation/IceAge3DawnOfTheDinosaurs'' at the end!

** A Wipeout Zone obstacle called the Spinner featured in early episodes and was basically a cone with a flat top that rotated quickly. It was extremely hard to stay on, let alone dismount, and the obstacle only became realistically difficult when it slowed down after several failed attempts. Sadly for UK contestants, it got shipped over for ''Total Wipeout''.

[[caption-width-right:350:The episode competition begins now to see who will emerge victorious, and who will wipeout.]]

** Which came after she became the first contestant to successfully cross the Big Balls without wiping out.

* RunningGag: The hosts tend to stick to one running gag per contestant and run with it for the whole show.

* DeathOfAThousandCuts[=/=]MyDefenseNeedNotProtectMeForever[=/=]VictoryByEndurance: Most obstacles aren't that hard on their own, especially ones like the Spinner that only involve having to jump over a rotating bar without falling off the platform. What makes them so grueling is that people will eventually become exhausted after several minutes of tensing themselves and jumping in place. At a certain point, their reaction time is going to delay enough to eventually get hit.

* DeathByAThousandCuts[=/=]MyDefenseNeedNotProtectMeForever[=/=]VictoryByEndurance: Most obstacles aren't that hard on their own, especially ones like the Spinner that only involve having to jump over a rotating bar without falling off the platform. What makes them so grueling is that people will eventually become exhausted after several minutes of tensing themselves and jumping in place. At a certain point, their reaction time is going to delay enough to eventually get hit.

* DVDCommentary: The official Wipeout Twitter account provides a director's commentary of the night's episode. This commentary is also available while watching episodes on the official site.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness; In the first season, the obstacles are much less elaborate and the commentary from the Johns is much more sparse and straightforward than it would become in later seasons.

->''"It's that time, America. What goes up must wipe out."''

** "[[ThereCanOnlyBeOne One will become a champion,]] but all will wipe out."

** The Canadian version added sponsors to some obstacles. Motrin sponsored The Sweeper (causing the obstacle to be renamed “The Motrin Spinner”) and SpongeTowels sponsored the Wipeout Zone (including a blatantly modified “spinner” that resembles their signature paper towels). While not technically “product placement”, Carstar sponsored a short segment where the hosts would show the best fail (in their opinion) during The Qualifier.

* FiveManBand: You watch enough of the recent 2010 season of Wipeout, you realize that the on-air crew actually fits this quite well (though the "ranking" may be shuffled around)…

''Wipeout'' was silently cancelled after the 2014 season; although there was a casting call for an apparent SpinOff titled ''Wipeout Extreme'' seeking people with interest in "crossfit, parkour, iron competitions, triathlons, [and] Spartan races", the show never surfaced. The show currently airs on truTV as part of their late-night lineup; its sister channel Creator/{{TBS}} later announced that it was reviving the series, and named Wrestling/JohnCena as host on September 10, 2020.

!!This show provides examples of:

* ActionMom: 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 [[BadassFamily teamed up with her son]]).

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

Not to be confused with the [[Series/{{Wipeout1988}} 1988-89 game show of the same name]]; there was also a UK version that ran for much longer than the US version (which is why the UK version had ''Total'' added to the name). Or the [[VideoGame/{{Wipeout}} futuristic racing game series]]; coincidentally, this ''Wipeout'' also has a video game of it.

* LovelyAssistant: Jill Wagner, who ironically plays more of a host role than either of the Johns. She replaces her replacement, Vanessa Minnillo, for the 2013 season.

** TheSmartGuy: John Anderson, the [[OnlySaneMan sensible]] third of the show's speaking-role PowerTrio. Generally considered serious and uptight, though he's not above making [[IncrediblyLamePun Incredibly Lame Puns]] when a good wipeout happens.
** TheLancer: John Henson, the [[LargeHam constantly jokey]] third of the show's speaking-role PowerTrio. The color commentator (being a comedian, after all) of the show, who will take any opportunity to deliver a HurricaneOfPuns, which makes him and Anderson's interactions with each other basically an extended BokeAndTsukkomiRoutine.
** TheChick: Jill Wagner, the interviewer third of the show's speaking-role PowerTrio. 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…

!!GameShowTropes present:

* CarriedByTheHost: The commentary of and banter between the Johns and Jill/Vanessa is part of what makes the show enjoyable.
-->'''John H.:''' If I fall down... I want you to commentate on it!
-->'''John A.:''' I'm touched... and sort of can't wait. [smirk]
* CoveredInGunge or maybe just CoveredInMud.
* GoldenSnitch: Rankings in any given round have no effect on the next round, though you won't see the next round if you don't place high enough. Also, in the Wipeout Zone final round, the Gauntlet (when it appears) is often the match-decider, as it is a series of obstacles, often with a particularly hard one last, and wiping out anywhere on it forces you to start the entire set from the beginning.
** Appropriately enough, this trope comes up by name when a Harry Potter-themed contestant appears.
* HomeGame: There are video game versions on the Kinect, Wii, and DS. Don't get those confused with the sci-fi racing game series of the same name.
* Personnel:
** GameShowHost: Two of them: John Anderson and John Henson, although their role is closer to that of a commentator. (Unsurprisingly, Anderson's day job is ''Series/SportsCenter'' anchor and John Henson was a former [[Series/TheSoup Talk Soup]] host.)
** LovelyAssistant: Jill Wagner, who ironically plays more of a host role than either of the Johns. She replaces her replacement, Vanessa Minnillo, for the 2013 season.
** ReplacementGoldfish: Vanessa Minnillo, who replaced Jill for season 5 (2012 season).
** The Black & Blue Crew: As of 2012, Kenny, Drew, Kevin, Bonnie, and Abner. They test obstacles, help contestants, throw stuff at contestants and otherwise ensure that the low level things get done. Viewers will be most familiar with Kenny and Bonnie as they're the ones most likely to show up on the round 2 or 3 obstacle dressed up as whatever matches the theme.

----

* FunWithSubtitles: "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.... :)"

* HideYourPregnancy: Averted since it doesn't really matter. Plus, it usually results in a couple of jokes per episode.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: With the show's trademark obstacle called the Big Balls, [[BallsGag this can be expected.]]
** A mechanical bull round was dubbed "bucking nuts"; how more blatant can you get, aside from the obvious pun?
** The censors quite literally couldn't do anything about the abuse Funke Ho got. Yes, that was her actual name.
*** Followed up with a, unfortunately non-qualifying, contestant Amy Hooker, which John shortens to A. Hooker. Though at least she lasts long enough for them to get in a quick joke about A. Hooker really holding on to a dangler.
** The Shake-a-Lator obstacle in the Qualifier Round tended to get this, mostly with the female contestants, and ''especially'' when they began to add velvet club ropes to it (the "V.I.P. Shake-a-Lator").
** In one episode, Henson makes a joke about (what else) the bouncy balls being thrown at the contestants during a Spinner Challenge. Anderson quickly responds with: "Ah Johnny, you and your [[CasualKink ball gags]]."
** [[ItMakesSenseInContext Mmm]][[{{Beat}} ...]]MOIST.
** "Nothing like a good ol' [BLEEP] whoopin' here on ''Wipeout''."
** Played with in "John Henson, Zombie Hunter" where they call attention to and censor the hands of a contestant who constantly holds up her ring fingers.
** In the US version:
-->'''John:''' That match is remembered for being very cold... and having lots of ''points.''
** During the North vs South Special in the UK version, Richard describes the Dodgeball obstacle where the contestants have to climb over two foam towers and run over two logs while being pelted by Dodgeballs. At the end, he remarks that there appears to be an unlimited supply of said balls. [[ExplosiveBreeder Cue a flashback of two of the Big Red Balls being zoomed in on with a heart iris and a kissing noise.]]
** Henson comments on a lingerie football game.
** One episode of the UK version had this gem:
-->'''Amanda:''' Adrian, the coolest cucumber in town... (Adrian falls into water) Oh!
-->'''(RepeatCut of fall)'''
-->'''Richard:''' Yeah, [[TeenyWeenie I think his cucumber just got a bit cooler.]]
** Also in the British version, a woman who taught pole dancing and cancan dancing finished with the fastest time of the day. Hammond's response?
-->'''Richard:''' 1 minute 51! [[ThatCameOutWrong I think you'll be seeing a lot more of her!]] I mean- yeah, I know, I- you... [[LampshadedDoubleEntendre You know what I mean.]]
** Henson talking about a ball-oriented obstacle course ends up getting his words jumbled. He goes from balls to his eyes to tears to his balls and everywhere in-between before turning to John for help. Explaining, that is.

A British version, titled ''Total Wipeout'' and hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram, was produced by Creator/TheBBC and ran for 5 series and one Christmas themed series titled ''Winter Wipeout''. The original American version also aired in the UK under the title ''Total Wipeout USA''.

** Creator/TheBBC shows a UK version, hosted by Richard Hammond of ''Series/{{Top Gear|UK}}'' fame.

''Wipeout'' was silently cancelled after the 2014 season; although there was a casting call for an apparent SpinOff titled ''Wipeout Extreme'' seeking people with interest in "crossfit, parkour, iron competitions, triathlons, [and] Spartan races", the show never surfaced. The show currently airs on truTV as part of their late-night lineup; it's sister channel Creator/{{TBS}} later announced that it was reviving the series, and named Wrestling/JohnCena as host on September 10, 2020.

''Wipeout'' was silently cancelled after the 2014 season; although there was a casting call for an apparent SpinOff titled ''Wipeout Extreme'' seeking people with interest in "crossfit, parkour, iron competitions, triathlons, [and] Spartan races", the show never surfaced. The show currently airs on truTV as part of their late-night lineup.

-->John H.: If I fall down... I want you to commentate on it!
-->John A.: I'm touched... and sort of can't wait. [smirk]

** LovelyAssistant: JillWagner, who ironically plays more of a host role than either of the Johns. She replaces her replacement, VanessaMinnillo, for the 2013 season.
** ReplacementGoldfish: Vanessa Minnillo who replaced Jill for season 5 (2012 season).

** The general rule of thumb seems to be that if a contestant must finish it or the contestant quitting over it would take away from the element of competition (both true in the Wipeout Zone where most of these features are found), then some form of anti-frustration will be built in. Pure elimination or where the contestant can keep going even after wiping out... no such protections are afforded (Qualifier Round for instance).

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

* BookEnds: Aside from the obstacles and the need to restart, the Qualifer and Wipeout Zone are fairly identical: each player goes one at a time, tries to get past a series of obstacles in order to each the finish spot, and tries to get the best time amongst them.

** "HEY NOW!" - Usually said after a DoubleEntendre.
** "Exercising their first amendment rights" - Almost always said after a particularly frustrated contestant lets loose with a ClusterFBomb.
* CensorBox: Through no fault of the show, this usually has to be deployed (with gag) when a contestant decides that shorts are a good idea to wear (men and women alike). Considering how often it happens, you'd think people would start to realize to wear something more conducive to getting slimed and thrown around without ending up, uh... hanging out there.

* CerebusSyndrome: The Wipeout Zone ramps up the suspense. It takes place at night, the music is more dramatic, and the Johns are considerably less snarky than they are the rest of the show. Oh, and there's fire everywhere in the background.

** On the other hand, some of the newer obstacles are designed specifically with cherry tapping in mind. It's never ''ever'' the big obvious hazard that's going to pummel you and the obstacle never ''ever'' will work the way it seems to set up to be. Those are all distractions so they can smack you with something smaller that will throw you in the water.
** Season 5 Winter Wipeout seems to have 'speed and motion' as the general theme, with a lot of obstacles that move or require some element of speed to complete successfully. Which makes the occasional obstacle that doesn't seem like a nice respite... except making you stop is what they ''want'' you to do, because it puts you in position long enough for a hidden obstacle to smack you into the water.

* ComedicSociopathy: Half the fun of the show is seeing people get beat up by giant waterproof beanbags and fall into mud. The other half is a dedication to the power of the human spirit... to endure wipeouts that make you think someone should have died on that one.
* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: If the spiked whackers are the first obstacle on the Gauntlet, the first time the contestant gets there, it will ''always'' wait until the contestant actually tries to cross until the first wall pops out. ''Every. Time.'' [[spoiler:Except for the one time when the first wall would intentionally miss the contestant... and then it's the ''second'' wall that nails them as soon as they try to cross it.]]

** Also done by the Door Knock obstacle, which uses three mystery doors. While the contestants were told to just pick a door and see what happens, nobody told them all three doors would have a giant pendulum hammer activated right when they open it - however, this has been conquered by, among others, the aforementioned Frank Beasley, who was able to move to the side upon seeing the hammer. The ironic thing is that that obstacle was designed to prevent "ding-dong ditching". Other contestants have survived the Door Knock by absorbing the hit, somehow staying on that tiny beam.

* CoveredInMud: Sometimes there'll be mud instead of water under the obstacles for the contestants to land in. So not only do they suffer an embarrassing fall, but they also have to be coated in mud. Some newer obstacles are covered in foam or slime... though only partially to cover the contestant in foam or slime. The other reason is... well, see CherryTapping.
* DeliberatelyMonochrome: Rico Andino, whose mustache resembles ones of a DastardlyWhiplash, got an 'old-timey villain' nickname, and had the qualifier run in grayscale and played like an old-time movie. The black-and-white theme carried over to his contestant portrait.

** 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.

* EverythingsBetterWithSpinning: The Spin Cycle, the Dizzy Dummy, the various other spinners that have appeared in every season so far...

** Those metal bases on the Big Balls seem almost impossible to reach, yet...

* FiveManBand: You watch enough of the recent 2010 season of Wipeout, you realize that the on-air crew actually fits this quite well (though the "ranking" may be shuffled around)...

** TheChick: Jill Wagner, the interviewer third of the show's speaking-role PowerTrio. 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...
** TheBigGuy (sort of): Kenny Shackleford, a member of Wipeout's "Black-and-Blue Crew", a group of current and former Marines who test-run the obstacles before the contestants go. Kenny also plays the Referee during the Bruiseball 3rd game and is one of the two people throwing stuff at contestants during either the "Jump over the spinning bar on the rotating platform" 3rd game or the "Go around all 4 stations without falling in the water" 3rd game. He's joined by...

** The stick figures used to demonstrate each course as well as to telestrate various contestants wipeouts may also count as they're all unique.

** A mechanical bull round was dubbed "bucking nuts", how more blatant can you get, aside from the obvious pun?

*** Followed up with a, unfortunately non-qualifying, contestant Amy Hooker which John shortens to A. Hooker. Though at least she lasts long enough for them to get in a quick joke about A. Hooker really holding on to a dangler.
** The Shake-a-Lator obstacle in the Qualifier Round tended get this, mostly with the female contestants, and ''especially'' when they began to add velvet club ropes to it (the "V.I.P. Shake-a-Lator").

-->'''John''': That match is remembered for being very cold... and having lots of ''points.''
** During the North vs South Special in the UK version, Richard describes the Dodgeball obstacle where the contestants have to climb over two foam towers and run over two logs while being pelted by Dodgeballs. At the end, he remarks that there appears to be an unlimited supply of said balls. [[ExplosiveBreeder Cue a flashback of two of the Big Red Balls being zoomed in on with a heart iris and a kissing noise]].

-->'''Amanda''': Adrian, the coolest cucumber in town... (Adrian falls into water) Oh!

-->'''Richard''': Yeah, [[TeenyWeenie I think his cucumber just got a bit cooler.]]

-->'''Richard''': 1 minute 51! [[ThatCameOutWrong I think you'll be seeing a lot more of her!]] I mean- yeah, I know, I- you... [[LampshadedDoubleEntendre You know what I mean.]]

** Henson talking about a ball-oriented obstacle course ends up getting his words jumbled. He goes from balls to his eyes to tears to his balls and everywhere in-between before turning to John for help. Explaining that is.

** Jacob "[[ItMakesSenseInContext Crunch Time]]" Mann had it twice in the Qualifier - the first from the aforementioned Sucker Punch, and the second from doing the splits on the Big Balls.

* HopelessAuditionees: ZigZagged. In the first round, ''everyone'' is made to look like Hopeless Auditionees since it is almost impossible to complete without wiping out multiple times. The contestants who make it past the initial rounds make it because they're actually capable of passing the courses in reasonable time, and are given proper recognition for their accomplishments. The best of those are then put through the second round where skill, balance and stamina are actually tested. However, at the end of every episode, there is a montage of the most spectacular failures and hilariously bad falls (not in a mocking manner, but because it's [[RuleOfFunny genuinely funny]]).

** Similarly in the same season we had the One Ring Circus, which was re-done in medieval and pirate themes too among other things.
** It goes without saying that the Big Balls have been around since the first season. Aside from minor adjustments to make them safer they haven't changed at all.
** Many of the props that appear in a season of Wipeout will reappear on the next year's season of Total Wipeout, the UK variant.

* 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 openning/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.
* 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.

* JumpingTheShark: Parodied InUniverse as a VisualPun for a Sweeper variant ... which literally involves jumping over a shark.

* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: John refered Frank Beasly as a Heavy Metal Ninja.
* NintendoHard: Some of the obstacles are very difficult to pass, especially in the Qualifier since contestants don't have to repeat them. Probably the best example is the Sucker Punch with spray paint.

** Taken to another level in the fifth episode of ''Winter Wipeout''. The six-person qualifier introduced in this episode includes the Crankshaft (now with ''moving'' platform) and a vertically-rotating platform...as the first two obstacles.
** A Wipeout Zone obstacle called the Spinner featured in early episodes and was basically a cone with a flat top that rotated quickly. It was extremely hard to stay on, let alone dismount, and the obstacle only became realistically difficult when it slowed down after several failed attempts. Sadly for UK contestants, it got shipped over for Total Wipeout.

** And lampshaded by the Johns when a contestant wipes out... while climbing a ladder to an obstacle platform.
* NominalImportance: Each episode there are a few contestants who make it past the qualifier '''without''' getting a nickname. [[YourDaysAreNumbered Guess what their chances are of surviving Round 2.]] Lampshaded a few times:
-->'''John Henson''': Who's it gonna be? [[ItMakesSenseInContext Smelly's Boyfriend]], or the contestant we've never met before... [[ForegoneConclusion It's Smelly's Boyfriend!]]

*** Admittedly the rules eventually did forbid unusual strategies, like hanging on to a sweeper and riding it around. Intentionally pushing contestants off an obstacle is also forbidden, and intentionally failing in a way that minimizes time loss (doing a running leap into the mud) warrants a time penalty.

* RealityShowGenreBlindness: 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 NintendoHard 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.)

* 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 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 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.
** 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.

** 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 DoubleSubversion, one girl, a professed {{Anime}} fan, referred to herself as [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} 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.

* TheStinger: After the credits, there's usually a funny scene with Jill and a contestant, usually a non-nicknamed one. Occasionally goes into brick joke territory. Other times, it's simply a NoodleIncident or Jill veering into {{Cloudcuckoolander}} territory.

** Another overdrive one is "Enter on red, exit on green, don't let the sweeper bar nail you in-between"

* TakeThat: After the first Shark Jump obstacle, John notes that someone should do a whole week worth's of shark-related shows. Other John dismisses the idea as something that will never work.
** There was also a Twilight fan on, the two Johns comment that real vampires don't sparkle. Or even exist. But don't tell them that, they have good hearing.

** 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.

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