Wipeout Canada includes all of the action and hilarity of the U.S. version of the show, with contestants who are all Canadian residents. The format is nearly identical to the Wipeout program we all know and love.
- Network: TVtropolis
- Hosts: Jonathan Torrens, Ennis Esmer, and Jessica Phillips
- Series Premiere: April 3, 2011
- Airs: Sundays at 8pm Eastern
- Top Prize: $50,000
Wipeout Canada Overview
Wipeout Canada is filmed at the international Wipeout course located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This location is used for all foreign versions of the show, of which there are over 30 currently being made. Only the original U.S. Wipeout has its own dedicated course, located in California.
The format of the show is the almost the same as the American Wipeout. 20 contestants start out by completing the Qualifier obstacle course. The 12 contestants with the fastest times move on to the second round. From there, six contestants compete in the third round with the top three finishers moving on to The Wipeout Zone.
The Wipeout Zone is the most difficult of the obstacle courses on the show, and the winner of this fourth and final round wins the $50,000 prize.
Obstacles
Many of the beloved obstacles from the original Wipeout are included in Wipeout Canada, including:
- The Big Balls
- Dizzy Dummy
- Sucker Punch
- The Sweeper
- Barrel Run
Obstacles change in each episode, but the iconic Big Balls are always included in the Qualifier course.
Contestants and Themes
Like most other versions of the show, Wipeout Canada incorporates interesting, often offbeat contestants as well as theme weeks. Contestants are encouraged to wear uniforms or other unusual clothing that reflects part of their personalities.
Theme weeks include location-based battles such as East versus West, along with other themes like Beauties versus Geeks.
The Hosts
The hosts of Wipeout Canada are:
Jonathan Torrens
Jonathan Torrens was born on October 25, 1972, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He has been a part of Canadian television for many years, hosting shows such as Street Cents, Jonovision, and the comedy program TV With TV's Jonathan Torrens. He has also had recurring roles in popular Canadian shows like The Trailer Park Boys and DeGrassi: The Next Generation.
Ennis Esmer
Ennis Esmer was born on December 29, 1978, in Ankara, Turkey, moving to Toronto, Ontario with his family at the age of three. He has been part of many ensemble casts on television and made-for-TV movies. Esmer is also a comedy writer and performer, and hosted a late-night comedy program in 2003 called The Toronto Show. He is also part of the cast of the prime time show The Listener.
Jessica Phillips
Jessica Phillips was born in Etobicoke, Ontario. She has worked as a model and a motorcycle instructor, and was one of the briefcase models on the Canadian version of Deal or No Deal. She has appeared in a number of television programs including Being Erica and Billable Hours, and was also in the movie Repo Men. Phillips works as the on-site host on Wipeout Canada, interviewing contestants and providing commentary from the course.
Applying to Be a Contestant on Wipeout Canada
Wipeout Canada, like most prime time game shows, only conducts casting for new contestants when a new season is being planned. If you're watching original shows from a current season (as opposed to reruns), you may see a casting notice appearing when the season is nearing its end.
You can also keep an eye on the show's official website, where casting information will be posted along with the application. Of course we'll be keeping our eye out for new casting calls as well, so watch our Casting Calls page and the blog for details when they become available.
Keep in mind that casting is usually a fairly short process. If you really want to be a contestant on Wipeout Canada, check back often for casting news and, once it's posted, get working on your application and video submission!
