The 15 Most Intense Physical Challenges on Reality TV Competitions
You think jogging a mile is bad.
Image via Complex Original
For some people, a triathlon is a joyous event. These super-humans can run faster than you, swim faster than you, bike faster than you. They're fit in a way you can't imagine, as you sit on your couch, remote control in hand, ready to surf the channels. You like watching these people. Of course, television recognized this long ago and started pitting the fit against each other in competitions like American Ninja Warrior.
Because everyone likes to watch, we've found The 15 Most Intense Physical Challenges on Reality TV Show Competitions. There's mud, electricity, rabid dogs, and models ahead—don't hurt yourself adjusting the settings on the computer.
Written by Valeriya Safronova (@vsaffron)
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15. High Rollers
Show: Takeshi's Castle
Watch It Here
In Takeshi's Castle, a Japanese show that was later picked up by countries all around the world, contestants competed to find and "disarm" Count Takeshi using water guns and later lasers. The winner would take home about $8,000 dollars, but during the show's run, only 9 players actually won.
One of the toughest challenges was High Rollers, which had nothing to do with blowing cash at a casino and getting a free room. Contestants had to run over seven large, spinning drums without falling off. Now, just imagine that special face-meets-spinning-drum sensation.
14. Buck Off!
Show: Most Extreme Elimination Challenge
Watch It Here
MXC took the footage from Takeshi's Castle, dubbed it with goofy American voices, and aired the entire thing on Spike. Buck Off! was one of the challenges that was renamed but still looked just as difficult.
During this game, players had to climb onto a mechanical bull (that was dressed as a giant dinosaur, natch) and try to use a water gun to shoot a pink bat. Sometimes, the contestants were sprayed with white powder, like from a fire extinguisher, if they failed.
13. The Dreadmill
Show: Wipeout
Watch It Here
Wipeout bills itself as having “the world‘s largest obstacle course.” That may or may not be true, but what is definitely true is that the folks behind Takeshi's Castle sued the Wipeout creators for copying their show.
That didn't change anything about the Dreadmill, though. A 40-foot long, crazy-fast treadmill filled with obstacle, the Dreadmill knocked many a contestant to their ass.
12. Super Vault
Show: Kunoichi
Watch It Here
Super Vault was part of the all-female version of Sasuke, a Japanese show with striking similarities to Takeshi's Castle. In this challenge, competitors must pole vault over two bodies of water. Thing is, the landing platform is inclined, making it very difficult for the participant to land on her feet without falling back into the water.
This is all great for the viewer, though, as one of the joys of Sasuke and Kunoichi comes from watching players take the plunge.
11. Kidnapping
Show: Special Mission
Instead of doing something stupid like sending its citizens to a remote island to dick around, Russia trains its citizens via TV shows. On a new series called Special Mission, Russian actors, models, and dilettantes are trained as soldiers. They have a screaming commander, official uniforms, guns, and heavy packs. It's really really real.
In one episode, the contestants are kidnapped and tortured for information as a test of their ability to retain secrets. The model did fairly well. Fun times.
10. Bite Club
Show: Killer Karaoke
Watch It Here
Jackass's own Steve-O hosts Killer Karaoke, though this time around he's not the one doing dumb shit. The premise is simple: participants sing while being put through degrading ordeals. If they stop singing, they lose.
Taking a page from Jackass, Bite Club has contestants donning padded suits and being attacked by dogs. While singing, of course.
9. 24-Hour Tag
Show: Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!
Watch It Here
Leave it to the Japanese to create shows built around punishment. On this show, which has a name we don't feel comfortable trying to pronounce, participants win if they don't get punished.
The worst of these "batsu" competitions came in the spring of 2000, when four players were locked in an arena and chased around by "demons" for 24 hours. If the victims were tagged, they would have to suffer some form of punishment that was written on their suit. Classic.
8. The Gliding Ring
Show: Sasuke
Watch It Here
Sasuke is a Japanese obstacle course show that inspired American Ninja Warrior, among 27 other incarnations.
Famously tough, the Gliding Ring requires contestant to grasp two rings that are hung on parallel bars with notches. As the rings get stuck in the different notches, the contestant must use his body strength to bring them back out and continue surging forward. All while suspended above the ground, of course.
7. Log Grip
Show: American Ninja Warrior
Watch It Here
American challengers compete in American Ninja Warrior as a preliminary round before heading to Japan for Sasuke, the main event. Unfortunately, the obstacle course presented on this show is so insanely difficult that no American has yet to complete it.
The Log Grip is one of many reasons why no one can get to Japan. During this challenge, the contestant must hang off of a fake log as it swings over muddy water. Simple, but effective.
6. Shock Therapy
Show: Killer Karaoke
Watch It Here
How's this for demeaning? As part of Steve-O's little game of horrors, contestants wear shock collars and bracelets while serving the game show host a meal. All of the containers that the participants carry are open, making it incredibly easy for them to spill. But truly, the worst part is the high-grade embarrassment born from having to serve Steve-O.
5. Fire Walker
Show: Tough Mudders
Watch It Here
Tough Mudders is a day-long competition held in the US in which men and women try to complete a muddy obstacle course. All of the challenges are pretty gruesome (anyone up for the Ball Shrinker?), but Fire Walker takes the cake.
Contestants must walk through a field of burning straw, with flames rising to four feet. The site warns that if contestants can't hold their breath, they will inhale carcinogens. Remember, people volunteer for this,
4. Steady Voyage
Show: Viking: The Ultimate Obstacle Course
On this fun game show, contestants must complete three stages—marine, adventure, and fantasy—to reach the final level and be crowned the Ultimate Viking. Surprise, surprise: So far, no contestant has succeeded in passing through all of the levels.
Steady Voyage can claim lots of the credit for that. Here, contestants must balance a metal pole on their hands and pass it through an electrified metal maze. If sparks fly from accidental contact, the player is instantly eliminated.
3. The Globe Grasp
Show: Sasuke
Watch It Here
Imagine a ceiling slanted downward that you must traverse by swinging from little globe-shaped handholds. You move from knob to knob, but you can't let your speed overtake you, or else you'll fall. And you can't slow down too much, or the strain on your hands and upper body will become too intense.
Perfect for the elementary school playground, right?
2. Electroshock Therapy
Show: Tough Mudders
Watch It Here
If you thought Fire Walker sounded bad, welcome to Tough Mudders' most horrible nightmare. The last event, Electroshock Therapy asks contestants to run through a field of live wires carrying as much as 10,000 volts of electricity. They can attempt to wiggle their way through or just run straight into the electricity and hope for the best. Either way, every participant will get zapped.
1. The Cliffhanger
Show: American Ninja Warrior
Sly Stallone would love this. During the Cliffhanger, contestants climb up a crooked wall using ledges so narrow that they only have enough space for finger tips.
The wall appears similar to a climbing wall at a gym, with some parts that go straight up and others that are tilted in a way that forces players into a more horizontal position. Climbing a regular rock wall is difficult enough; now try doing it without gear and with only a few tiny ledges to support you. You'd need the vein-popping muscles of an action star.
Really though, when can we get Celebrity American Ninja Warrior?