From Craig Takeuchi and Michelle da Silva of the Georgia Straight:
Crushing Dreams At Wipeout Canada Auditions
By Diane Wild
There was a swordfight. An ex-BC Lions player. A male model. A female wrestler. An Olympic medalist. A guy in diapers. Some nervousness. And a LOT of giant egos and tight Spandex.
Thursday, I was invited to be one of the guest judges at the Vancouver audition callbacks for Wipeout Canada. I’d never want to be a contestant, but crushing potential contestants’ dreams as a judge sounded like the perfect kind of fun for me.
With 44,000 applications received, the producers had already narrowed the field. Our job was to shortlist the short list. We had to suss out what kind of character the contestant would play on Wipeout, what their shout-out at the top of the course would be, their victory dance, and what they’d do with the $50,000 they’d get as winner (“Hookers and blow” said one woman. “Bigger boobs” said an already big-fake-breasted beauty queen.)
The dirty little “secret”, of course, is that contestants aren’t chosen just for whether they have a shot at winning. We were looking for personality, people who could provide drama, or fodder for ridicule, or who represented a type like normal guy, wacky grandma, etc. Some of those who walked away from our table seemed to think they’d failed, but some had failed in a way that guaranteed a callback. Some seemed sure they’d be selected, but it took more than being a freak to stand out. You had to be an entertaining freak. (Tip: when you’re auditioning and someone asks you what your victory dance would be? DO THE DANCE. Don’t talk us through it.)
My dream of crushing dreams was crushed when I discovered we weren’t making decisions in front of the contestants that day. We discussed our yes or no vote after each one, but producers will sort through the entire results to determine who to call back – so some of our yeses might not make the cut if we have too many goofy young guys (and believe me: we do) and some of our nos might get called if we don’t have enough goofy old guys. So: my lips are sealed. And this was a one-time gig for me — bribery will get you nowhere.
Co-hosts Anthony Marco and Diane Wild talk about the renewal of Rookie Blue, a new Flashpoint coming up, The Bridge tanking in the US, and the CTV lineup.
Plus, an interview with Paula Brancati, who plays Jane Vaughn on Degrassi: The Next Generation and Jenny on Being Erica. She’s featured in Friday’s Degrassi Takes Manhattan movie. The 10th season starts Monday – will she be back?
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From a media release:
WIPEOUT CANADA CONTESTANT APPLICATIONS SURPASS 44,000 IN JUST ONE MONTH
What do a walrus trainer, a professional bull rider, roller derby girls, beauty pageant participants, CFL/NHL players and Olympic medalists have in common? They are just a few of the astonishing 44,619 Canadians who completed the extensive online application form for the opportunity to appear on TVtropolis’ Wipeout Canada.
Between June 2 and July 1, almost one in every 750 Canadians answered the highly buzzed-about Wipeout Canada questionnaire. With questions ranging from the silly to the serious, applicants submitted their photos and video links, while sharing their stories of adventure and inspiration for an opportunity to win $50,000 and compete on the world’s largest obstacle course.
Continue reading Wipeout Canada applications closed
From a media release:
ATTENTION CANADIAN THRILL SEEKERS! WIPEOUT CANADA’S CONTESTANT APPLICATION CLOSES ON CANADA DAY – THURSDAY, JULY 1. JUST ONE WEEK LEFT!
This is it Canadian daredevils! Do you have what it takes to compete in the world’s largest obstacle course? Only one week remains to submit an application for a chance to be a contestant in the highly anticipated, international smash hit series, Wipeout Canada.
From carpenters to commercial pilots, embalmers to cowboys, firefighters to stay-at-home moms, applications have been steadily pouring in from across the country, since June 2, from potential contestants who want to be a part of the Wipeout phenomenon. Daring Canadians who believe they have the necessary competitive skills to compete in the world’s largest obstacle course have until Thursday, July 1 at 11:59pm EST to submit their application at www.WipeoutCanada.com.
Hosted by quick-witted Canadians, Jonathan Torrens (TV with TV’s Jonathan Torrens, Trailer Park Boys), Ennis Esmer (Young People Fucking; The Listener) and co-hosted by Jessica Phillips (Deal or No Deal Canada; Being Erica), 13, one-hour episodes will be taped on the iconic Wipeout set this October. On each Canadian episode, 20 lucky contestants will attempt this challenging course for a chance at winning a $50,000 grand prize. This hysterical hit series kicks off on TVTropolis in Spring 2011.
The Wipeout format is licensed to Lone Eagle Entertainment and is distributed in Canada by Disney and internationally by Endemol, a leading producer of television programming specializing in reality and non-scripted genres for network and cable television. The Canadian format will air on TVtropolis – joining an already robust line-up of hit reality shows including Hoarders, Parking Wars, Runaway Squad, and Wife Swap UK.
For exclusive news, interviews, contests and behind-the-scenes footage and photos, fans are encouraged to join the Official Wipeout Canada Facebook fan page at www.Facebook/WipeoutCanada.com.
