ICYMI, The Hit Game Show 'Wipeout' Is Back On Netflix Right Now
The hit game show Wipeout, which follows contestants as they hilariously try to navigate through a wet obstacle course, recently made a comeback on Netflix. And it's raising a lot of questions from curious fans who want to know what happened to the show after it originally aired.
ICYDK, the series launched in the early 2000s, and now, the first season is available to watch once again on Netflix. There are 30 episodes total on the streamer, with each running about 43 minutes.
And while the show is supposed to be funny and fun, there have been a few scary incidents in the past where contestants have made headlines. Unfortunately, two contestants have also died in the years since Wipeout first aired.
Here’s what you need to know about Wipeout, and what happened to the contestants who died.
What is Wipeout?
Wipeout is a game show where contestants try to make their way through a watery obstacle course in hopes of winning a $50,000 cash prize. The course is filled with comically large roadblocks for the contestants to beat, and the last person standing gets to take home that big bundle of cash.
Naturally, there are plenty of slips and falls along the way, and the show’s hosts are there to crack jokes during the process. It makes for great, easy TV watching.
When did it first air?
Wipeout first aired in 2008, and ran until 2014, per IMDB. During that time, seven seasons aired.
It was later rebooted in 2020 (with episodes airing in 2021), complete with 20 new episodes. For the reboot, the network brought in John Cena and Nicole Byer to be the co-hosts.
Has anyone died on the show?
No one has died while competing, but sadly, two people have died after competing on Wipeout.
Tom Sparks, a 33-year-old TV show host from California, passed away after competing during the second season in 2009. Then, in 2020, 38-year-old contestant Michael Paredes died. He and his fianceé were both competing on the show, per EW.
How did Tom Sparks die?
Sparks was hospitalized after competing in the first segment of an obstacle course on the show, according to CBS News. He was examined by medical personnel on set after complaining of knee pain, but medics noticed he was short of breath and took him to a local hospital for an evaluation.
He died two weeks later of a stroke caused by a rare pre-existing health condition. Sparks' father said that his condition "causes unnatural blood clotting" which led to the stroke, per a statement released to the Idaho Mountain Express. He and his wife would have celebrated their two-month wedding anniversary just after his death.
How did Michael Paredes die?
In 2020, Paredes died from a heart attack after competing on the show. Paredes, who was 38 at the time, went into cardiac arrest after completing the course, was treated on set, and was taken to a local hospital, where he died. He had undetected coronary artery disease, according to an L.A. County coroner's office obtained by EW.
Paredes had completed two of the Wipeout obstacles, but fell on the third, according to EW. He had trouble swimming to the side of the pool and was lifted into a wheelchair before he quickly lost consciousness.
In order to go on the show, Paredes and the other contestants had to undergo a drug screen, an EKG, and a COVID-19 test, and he passed all the tests, per EW.
"We are devastated to have learned of his passing and our deepest sympathy goes out to the family," a spokesperson for TBS said, per the outlet.
Has anyone been hurt during filming?
It's not totally clear. Producers told The New York Times in 2009 that there were people who dislocated shoulders, but that that was the extent of the "worst" injuries.
There's is also a Quora thread that claims there have been some minor injuries, like sprained ankles and broken bones, on the show, but no one can confirm these statements.
Was Wipeout cancelled?
Yes, the show was originally canceled after its seventh season due to low ratings. However, it was brought back in 2020 and is still being filmed now.
You can catch the first season, streaming now on Netflix. And for other seasons, you can check in on Max, Spectrum TV, TBS or Sling TV.
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