Comments on: ‘Wipeout’: Josh Wolk’s Pop Culture Club wonders, Are pratfalls funny if they’re premeditated?

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:52:23 +0000

How can you say it’s more premeditated than any football game? Of course the point of the show is people falling, but there’s a chance with luck and skill that the people won’t fall. I love the show and watch it every week!

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:25:18 +0000

Josh you could not be more out of touch with the audience and your readers. As you can see from the vast majority of comments, WE LOVE WIPEOUT. It is hilarious. It is perhaps the most fun on TV. I watch it with my entire family. There are far too few family shows on TV.

By: Matt2

Matt2 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:17:39 +0000

If ABC is smart they’ll realize they just found their spinoff hit from the original show- Wipeout at 8pm followed by Wipeout: The Couples Edition at 9pm.

By: Matt2

Matt2 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:11:36 +0000

The sad reality is there are no scripted tv sitcoms as funny as Wipeout or Japanese Game Show for that matter. We laugh so hard we’re falling over each other. It’s basically one out of three shows we absolutely do not miss each week. The couples version of the competition was even more hilarious than the individual competition. And for me the biggest thrill has become watching for the individual that is actually coordinated enough to get through an obstacle unscathed. The “moose” couple and the muscle couple were outstanding competitors. There’s two types of individuals that perform solidly on these difficult challenges; stick figure boys and total jocks (both male and female). And two of the most compelling reasons to watch the show besides “the big red balls” are the wonderful and fun loving eccentrics they find to compete in this farce of a competition and the co-hosts. They have the funniest comebacks for each contestant I’ve ever heard. Congrats to the writers!

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:59:59 +0000

C’mon! This isn’t Shakespeare we’re talking about, it’s Wipeout. It’s funny, and the contestants know what they’re in for from the start. Rather than complain about the show, just don’t watch it. My TV has nearly 500 channels of meaningless drivel – everything from Hitler to Popeye. I also watch the Food Network even though you couldn’t get me to eat some of those concotions for any amount of money. To each is own. Don’t like what’s on? Read a book, play with the kids, snuggle with the wife, take the dog for a walk–the possibilities are endless. As fir me, I’ll be watching Wipeout.

By: Al

Al — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:21:47 +0000

All I know is watching people bounce off the big balls makes me belly laugh- what more do you need out of a mindless tv show?

By: Scooter

Scooter — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:21:31 +0000

I really enjoy Wipeout and often find myself literally LOLing (impressive considering I usually watch alone). While the wipeouts themselves can get repetitive, I really get a kick out of John Henson’s mocking humor. It is most effective when it involves contestants who are athletic and cocky. Another strength is the show’s ability to stay fresh by regularly rotating innovative obstacles in with the old stand-bys. One thing that disappoints me, however, how the show has become increasingly reliant on heavy-set contestants who have no realistic chance against the obstacles. It is less fun when contestants are timid, winded, and slow.

By: Brad

Brad — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:00:29 +0000

I feel the EXACT same way. In promos, they show people falling in the water or mud–and then the next week, and the next and the next. So far, summer is nothing but people getting knocked off. I turn the sound down and it’s the exact same thing. I figure it is some kind of test the government is running. How long can you watch something before your brain actually starts losing brain cells?

By: bird

bird — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:19:46 +0000

I know “Wipeout” is as low-brow as TV gets, but the first 40 minutes of the show makes me laugh out loud every week.

By: Mandarella

Mandarella — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:00:27 +0000

I don’t tend to like pratfall shows, and never watch Wipeout or AFV, but my 8-year-old LOVES both shows, and will stop whatever he is doing to watch either one. That should tell you something.