Top Shot
| Top Shot | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Also known as | Top Shot Reloaded |
| Genre | Reality TV |
| Directed by | Adam Vetri |
| Presented by | Colby Donaldson |
| Starring | see contestants below |
| Composer(s) | David Vanacore Music |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 36 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Craig Pilgrim Ralph Wikke Mitch Rosa (co-exec prod.) |
| Producer(s) | Ben Beatie Clark Bernstein Megan Gibson Michael Matsumoto Eric Mazer John McLaughlin (host prod.) |
| Editor(s) | John Wolfenden Andrew Pierce |
| Location(s) | Santa Clarita, California |
| Cinematography | Matthew Novello |
| Camera setup | multiple-camera setup |
| Production company(s) | Pilgrim Films & Television |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | History Channel |
| Original run | June 6, 2010 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Top Shot is an American reality television show that debuted on the History Channel on June 6, 2010. The show features 16 contestants, split into two teams of eight, competing in various types of shooting challenges. One by one, the contestants are eliminated until only one remains. That contestant receives a $100,000 grand prize and the title of "Top Shot." Survivor contestant Colby Donaldson is the host.[1][2][3][4][5]
Contents |
[edit] Gameplay
The teams are given separate chances to practice with the weapons to be used in a team challenge, under the guidance of an experienced trainer, after which the challenge itself is played the following day. Everyone on the winning team is safe for the day, while the losing team must nominate two members for elimination after a two-hour break. A group of targets is set up for this purpose, each marked with one player's name. One by one, the team members must shoot the target of the person they want to nominate. No one is allowed to vote for himself/herself. If two or more players tie for one nomination, Donaldson typically draws one team member's name at random from an ammunition box to cast a tiebreaking vote. The tied players, and any who have already clinched a nomination, are not eligible to be chosen. (There have been exceptions to this practice, as noted under the episode entries for each season.)
The morning after this decision, the two players who receive the most votes take a practice session with the weapons to be used in an elimination challenge, which is held later in the day with the rest of the team watching. Whoever wins the challenge remains in the game, while the loser is immediately dismissed.
Whenever the teams are of unequal size, enough players on the larger one must sit out the team challenge to even out the two groups. The smaller team decides who will be benched, with the condition that no player may sit out two challenges in a row. Benched players are eligible to be nominated for elimination.
[edit] Seasons
[edit] Season 1 (2010)
- First aired June 6 – August 15, 2010
Season 1 of Top Shot was filmed over a period of 33 days in the spring of 2010 in Santa Clarita, California.[6]
In episodes 7 and 8, the larger team (Blue) decided for itself who would participate or be benched. The teams were dissolved in episode 9, with all players competing directly against each other from this point on and one or more players being eliminated after every challenge.
Every time a player was eliminated, the remaining group hung one of that player's shirts, marked with his/her name, from the railing of the staircase in the house where they were living.
[edit] Season 2 (2011)
- First aired February 8 – April 26, 2011
In this season (referred to in promotional spots as Top Shot Reloaded), a preliminary head-to-head challenge was played in Episode 1, with the two winners being allowed to choose the teams. In addition, the winner of every elimination challenge received a $2,000 gift card to Bass Pro Shops. Instead of hanging each eliminated player's shirt from the house's staircase railing, the others nailed a target-shaped plaque to the dining room wall, with his/her name and team color.
Similar to Season 1, the teams were dissolved in episode 9, and all challenges were head-to-head. The remaining players were given green shirts to wear for the rest of the competition. Unlike Season 1, the winner of the individual challenge in episodes 9-11 won immunity from elimination for the day; the others participated in an elimination round as before. Only the three challenges in episode 12 resulted in immediate elimination of the loser.
Chris Reed won the season's competition
[edit] Season 3 (2011)
- First aired August 9 – October 25, 2011
Season 3 of Top Shot premiered on August 9, 2011.[7] In Episode 1, a preliminary challenge was played between pairs of contestants, with the winner and loser of each pair joining the Blue and Red Teams, respectively. As in Season 2, the winner of each elimination challenge received a $2,000 gift card to Bass Pro Shops, and plaques were nailed to the wall in honor of the eliminated contestants.
[edit] Season 4 (2012)
- First aired February 14, 2012
The new season premiered on February 14, 2012 at 10pm EST.[8] In addition to receiving the $100,000 cash prize as in past seasons, the winner will have the opportunity to become a professional shooter sponsored by Bass Pro Shops. Elimination challenge winners receive a $2,000 gift card from the company, as in Seasons 2 and 3.
The season began with 18 contestants rather than 16. A preliminary challenge was played in Episode 1; the two worst performers were eliminated immediately, while the others were assigned to teams based on their results. Plaques are hung up to honor eliminated team members, as in Seasons 2 and 3.
[edit] Reception
The show drew 2.1 million total viewers in its debut episode. The viewers were categorized as adults 25–54 (1.3 million) and adults 18–49 (1.1 million).[9] In August 2010, History Channel released an ad inviting people to audition for the second season of the show.[10] Advertising began in late December for Top Shot Reloaded as the name for the second season.[11]
Episode 1 of Season 2 premiered on February 8, 2011.[12] The second season premiere drew 2.8 million total viewers, categorized as adults 18–49 (1.4 million) and adults 25–54 (1.4 million). It was the series' most-watched episode ever and compared to the previous series debut last June, it grew 33% in total viewers.[13]
Season 4 premiered on February 14, 2012 capturing 1.8 million total viewers. This represented a growth of 19% over the Season 3 premiere.[14]
[edit] References
- ^ Episode guide at History.com
- ^ Lloyd, Robert. "Television review: 'Top Shot' on the History Channel" The Los Angeles Times June 5, 2010
- ^ Good, Gina B. "Local shooter makes the cut on History Channel show" Pahrump Valley Times; June 11, 2010
- ^ Holmes, Linda. "History's 'Top Shot' Proves You Can't Cast A Game Show Entirely With Stoics" NPR; June 7, 2010
- ^ Heldenfels, Rich. "History's 'Top Shot' Proves You Can't Cast A Game Show Entirely With Stoics" Ohio.com; June 6, 2010
- ^ Top Shot host Colby Donaldson: “I certainly don’t want to rip Probst off”
- ^ "'Top Shot' Season Three of the Competition Series from History(R) Returns on Tuesday, August 9 at 10pm ET."
- ^ http://www.history.com/shows/top-shot
- ^ Gorman, Bill. History Kicks Off June With Ratings Success Of American Pickers, Ice Road Truckers, Pawn Stars & Top Shot TV by the Numbers; June 8, 2010
- ^ Top shot casting call
- ^ History Channel advertisement
- ^ Top Shot Reloaded at History Channel
- ^ Top Shot S2 Premieres to 2.8 million
- ^ History Premieres: 'Top Gear' Draws 2.1 Million Viewers, 'Top Shot' Captures 1.8 Million
[edit] External links
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