★★★★★ 0/5

Wipeout: Australia

Expect to see the vain, deluded, and, um, bogan, declaring to conquer the world before falling flat on their face in a pool of mud. Wipeout is that kinda show.

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First a confession. I’ve never been one for Wipeout.

Ten minutes of the first episode and I felt like I’d seen it all. It was much the same with Hole in the Wall. I know Wipeout was a tad more self-ironic with its commentary than Hole, but if it’s not tubby lifesavers on It’s a Knockout (or even its predecessor Almost Anything Goes) then in my book it’s a genre best left to those crazy Japanese.

So I did the only fair thing. I watched the preview with a group of friends who adore Wipeout. I’d be able to judge how well this Australian version worked based on their reactions…

So what’s different in the Aussie version? Aside from the talent, nothing really. James Brayshaw and Josh Lawson commentate the show via the same distant green-screen as the American version. Similarly, Kelly Landry is on the ground to gain reactions from contestants. Naturally, they are all Aussies, sent to the international course in Argentina. It would take a lot to build this thing here, especially when there are no guarantees the show will succeed.

The contestants are all completely bonkers. They are collectively mental, vain, deluded, and, um, bogan. I guess you have to be to put your hand up for this gig. Expect to see them declaring to conquer the world before falling flat on their face in a pool of mud. Wipeout is that kinda show.

There’s also a lot of contestants. A LOT. Thankfully it’s edited at breakneck speed to cut to the humiliating chase. And they’re very Anglo-Saxon. For an Aussie Wipeout it’s very White Australian Wipeout.

But it’s also right on the money as a carbon copy of the US version. Brayshaw and Lawson cynically narrate the events, deriding all who foolishly tackle the course. They fit this bill rather well. Landry, in another role with little opportunity, doesn’t add much aside from adding the ‘cute factor’ plus several cases of stating the obvious.

As with the US edition, there are lots of replays, slow-mos, and scrawls across the screen that look like they have been graffitied by the texta of Perez Hilton.

My pals loved it.

Yet again, I felt like ten minutes was enough to experience the full extent of what the show has to offer, but that’s immaterial. The real point here is that Nine has come up with a faithful version of the show for its fans.

If you loved the US version, chances are you’ll love this one too.

Wipeout: Australia airs in a “Sneak Peek” 7:30pm Tuesday February 3rd on Nine.

67 Responses

  2. Partizan, it started out as a hit but then quickly fell from grace, it was pushed around the timetable and was eventually axed along with hole in the wall and motorway patrol and replaced with movies.

    which is why i am surprised the oz series kept the green light especially as they canceled plans for australian moment of truth after the US version failed.

  4. lee123, I dont think US Wipeout was a huge flop, I think demographically it did quiet well against younger viewers otherwise 9 wouldn’t have comissioned an Aussie version. Josh Lawson is an interesting element, he was always good on TGYH.

  5. Not for me. Prefer more substance in my TV.

    It’ll rate, but no more than 1 mil meaning it will move around timeslots. Probably best suited to Sat 7.30pm or afternoon weekends. Its a shame to see this sort of show being put forward as a 7.30pm weeknight idea. People will like it, but it’ll be last resort TV.

  12. lee’s prediction: it will flop just as embarrassingly as hole in the wall did. however i think it will capture the 2.5men crowd, people only watch it if there is nothing else on.

    i really think ch9 are beating a dead horse with all this trash tv. the flop of hole in the wall, gladiators, and US wipeout should have been indication enough that there is no market for these shows and aussies don’t like them. so why keep pushing it?

  14. I must admit i quite like this show. I dont watch every ep but i watch ill watch it every few weeks. Good compo on the hosts as well. I was wondering David do you know how many eps they intent to make / have made. Thanks

  17. well every show that is similar to this like gladiators, and fear factor have a huge level of interest at the beginning that quickly fades once people have seen one episode and think they have seen it all. it even happened with the US version of wipeout on australian TV.

    it stuns me why they still went ahead with it after the ratings of the original.

    Jerome’s predictions: episode1 – 1.6mil, ep2 -1.45mil, ep6 – 900k

  19. I’ll definitely be tuning in. Many of my friends said that the U.S. version was only good because of the commentators, so if James and Josh do a good job of making jokes (and those sketch things), i’ll be watching the whole season.

    The ads were also quite funny.

  22. Is it like “It’s A Knockout” in regards to states versus state?

    I saw the ad and it made out it was like that, which would be good but confusing too I think??

  23. Ch9 know originality, 1st with the Cricket Theme which is a direct ripoff of last years SuperBowl theme..

    Now with Wipeout, a direct ripoff of MXC..

    When the ratings comes in, you can bet.. this show will be Wiped Out before too long. Any one remember when ch9 axed a show called Clever?,

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