Tough As Nails - General Discussion

[TVbitch]

Phil Keoghan hosts as hard working Americans fight for a chance to win money competing in individual and team challenges. 

um... I mean... I just... why?

But to be fair, I fell asleep after the first hour, so maybe it gets better. Still love you, Phil! 

[Taeolas]

I fast forwarded through most of the stories since I'm only interested in the challenges. And I will say, the challenges were interesting, having a "real job" vibe to them instead of how fake most challenges on shows tend to be. 

They did spoil who was in the final overtime challenge in the promos as the promomonkeys are want to do. 

Hopefully they cut down on the story breaks as things go on, but I doubt it so my FF button will get a workout I'm sure. 

I wonder how much reediting they are doing to adjust the Sheriff's story in light of current events. She seems to be more of a prison warden so she's tangential to most of the police story stuff in general; but I suspect production isn't all that happy to have a big SHERIFF on the screen nowadays when she has that particular top on. 

[mertensia]

I adore the gate agent. She knows her strengths and how to work. Plus she did a lot to win them that challenge.

[gsnrocks92]

This show has a specific audience it caters to and it’s a different one from the one that watches Amazing Race. If FOX Nation made a competition show it would probably look like this.

But aside from the pro America rhetoric it’s a decent show. It’s mostly physical challenges but they seem to have figured out a way to make sure it isn’t just the strong men winning everything. They are certainly more interesting to watch then most of the challenges on the other CBS reality shows nowadays. And keeping the team challenges the whole time is a good way to get to know everyone and build the interpersonal relationships that make those other shows work.

[Taeolas]

23 minutes ago, mertensia said:

I adore the gate agent. She knows her strengths and how to work. Plus she did a lot to win them that challenge.

I agree, the Gate Agent is my favorite right now, both for her age and her attitude. She's got the experience to know how to work with everyone's strengths and to keep everyone busy in the team challenge. Her decision to preload the spikes on the rails was probably an important factor in her team winning.

And she did a great job on the wall as well; not quite perfect but pretty close it seemed. 

I'll keep watching in any case, but as I said, my FF button will get a workout to skip past the stories.  (granted AGT gives it a bigger workout, compressing a 2 hour show into ~30 minutes 🙂 )

[TVbitch]

I will give it another chance. I guess I just don't enjoy watching people shovel stuff or move a wheelbarrow. (Unless they are at a wild animal refuge in Africa!) The show is trying to be 100% positive and while I totally appreciate a show without FORCED drama, I do think natural tension and drama between people competing is interesting on the Amazing Race and would be interesting here too. The slo motion hugging was just a bit much. 

Since it seems to be totally his baby, I am wondering if Phil used to work a manual labor job? Is there a personal reason he has such admiration for it? 

[lb60]

Phil!!!!!

I actually liked it. 

Phil's running commentary > Probst's running commentary.

1 hour ago, mertensia said:

I adore the gate agent.

 

1 hour ago, Taeolas said:

I agree, the Gate Agent is my favorite right now.....

She was my least favorite. lol

If this was The Amazing Race, I would have wanted her Philiminated, asap!

[mlp]

I liked this show and I liked the personal stories because the contestants are real people with real jobs, not actors playing such on TV.  I could do without the hyped up camaraderie and hugging though.  And the crying.  So far I like the Marine with the ugly beard, the guy who works for the forest service and the woman who farms.  I also like the gate agent but I can't imagine she'll get much farther.  Her age is going to work against her because the challenges are so physical and she's a small female.  That's just reality.

[Browncoat]

It was fine, but those men need to knock off the sexist attitudes.  I forget who it was, but one of them got all annoyed when he was beaten by one of the women in the wheelbarrow challenge, and then when the guys went to "help" Linnett with the pushcart, I cheered when she told them to back off.  She didn't need saving by any of them.  That was a brutal day, though.  I feel confident that I would have wilted like the gentle hothouse flower that I am.  LOL

I also like the gate agent, and I like the roofer for now.  

[Taeolas]

The offer to help Linette finish didn't feel sexist. Most of her team had run down the tracks to offer at that point; Yong was just the first to get there. It was basically an offer of physical support to help her complete the challenge one way or another; or just spiritual support to escort her to the end while she still physically did the challenge. Considering her talking head segments mentioned shoulder pain, getting physical help from the rest of her team would have been acceptable with the setup we had. 

Some of the other comments were quite sexist; somewhat to be expected I guess given the players, but sad to hear regardless. (I'd also count Phil's surprise comment at the women of the first coal round all finishing before the men). Still, in this day and age, it can be difficult to make any comments that touch on someone's sex when in a competition. 

As for the Gate worker, I know she's going to be Individually Philiminated relatively early on just due to her age and size; but I still love her attitude and how she approaches things, so I'm looking forward to her being a key factor in the team challenges. 

[NYGirl]

I really enjoyed this.  I always enjoy the summer temporary competitive shows.  My son and I were trying to figure out just what we could do well if we were contestants and came up with nothing...lol.  I love the Sheriff...she's badass!   I also love the ex-Marine and the Forest Tech.  

I kind of picked Linnette to be the winner of the whole thing.  I was sure she could beat Young.  I'm glad she's still in it and can collect money each week if her team wins.  I like that concept.

Most of all I love Phil

[eelpout]

3 hours ago, TVbitch said:

Since it seems to be totally his baby, I am wondering if Phil used to work a manual labor job? Is there a personal reason he has such admiration for it? 

it must be Phil's (if memory serves he did some motivational like show years ago along the same lines) because of it was a CBS idea, they probably would have tried to get Mike Rowe to host. 😉

[Pepper the Cat]

I really liked it. Those challenges were tough! I like that everyone stays to the end, so they can still win money in the team challenges.

[lb60]

10 hours ago, TVbitch said:

Since it seems to be totally his baby, I am wondering if Phil used to work a manual labor job? Is there a personal reason he has such admiration for it? 

He was on The Talk yesterday and mentioned that he comes from a long line of working class people. He said it was his grandfather who taught him how to use his hands as tools and how proud he was of what he accomplished with little education. 

[SVNBob]

10 hours ago, Taeolas said:

The offer to help Linette finish didn't feel sexist. Most of her team had run down the tracks to offer at that point; Yong was just the first to get there. It was basically an offer of physical support to help her complete the challenge one way or another; or just spiritual support to escort her to the end while she still physically did the challenge. Considering her talking head segments mentioned shoulder pain, getting physical help from the rest of her team would have been acceptable with the setup we had. 

Agreed.  Given the tiny scene of the two of them chatting in a friendly manner at the final tool, just before Young released it, the offer of assistance was made out of respect for a competitor and teammate, not out of any gender biases.  I think if the roles had been reversed, Linette would have done the same for Young, and for the same reasons. 

The teammate thing is actually a big factor.  Linette may be out of the running for the individual prize, but she's still part of the Savage Crew for the team challenges.  The offer of assistance might also have been part of a mindset of "let my teammate reduce some pain and save some strength so she can continue to be an asset for the team in the future."

The fact that the entire cast will be around for the entire show does give things a different vibe to the usual reality show.  There's not a lot of trash-talk, even between the teams.  And when it switches to the individual challenges, the THs are more about building up themselves, and not knocking the others down.  I hope that kind of thing lasts.

[Browncoat]

That all may be, but it just rubbed me the wrong way to see a boy run to help the girl.  It looked like he was about to jump on the pushcart and physically help before she told him not to.  And that’s when the rest of them ran over for moral support.

If she had asked for help it would have been different. 

[AncientNewbie]

I’ll watch basically anything for Phil, but this suffered a bit from my take on current events where hardworking essential workers are getting celebrated instead of paid. 

It felt a bit stretched and replicative at times and I dread the moment we get the crying scenes teased about teamwork issues. But overall...not the worst thing I’ve ever watched and the cast generally interests me for the moment. 

[Pepper Mostly]

I enjoyed it also and will hope that the early episode focus on crying and high fiving will dissipate soon. I don't mind the odd tear but Jesus Christ. I like Phil and I hope he tones down the Jeff Probst-esque commentary. I love Michelle the gate agent and Myles, the very handsome forestry worker (fanning self). I like Luis, the scaffolder, Tara, the scrappy little ironworker, and Callie, the badass fisherman.

I like the fact that eliminated players stick around and still have a chance to take part in the game and win some $$$. The challenges are interesting for the most part. Sure, watching people shovel things isn't ideal, but its not all drawn out. I enjoyed the bricklaying a lot more than I thought I would. I'm blue collar all the way, dad was a machinist, brother an electrician. I'm appreciating the respect shown to trades.  

[Suzysite]

21 hours ago, lb60 said:

22 hours ago, Taeolas said:

I agree, the Gate Agent is my favorite right now.....

She was my least favorite. lol

My least favorite, too.  I must have told that woman to shut it a dozen times.   She's exhausting. 

[Door County Cherry]

I don't know if I'll keep watching but it wasn't as bad as I feared.  

I liked the gate agent as well but I tend to root for underdogs at times and in my respects, she's probably not expected to last long. 

I didn't mind everyone running to help Linnette.  I don't think the support was there because she was a woman but rather, I think it was clear she was suffering.  She mentioned her shoulder hurting which makes me wonder if she had aggravated an old injury. 

[Lantern7]

Finally got around to watching this today. Not bad. I can see Phil Keoghan wishing for viewers to see "working-class Americans" spotlighted. Another part of me thinks that Phil made this because there would be little overlap between people who would watch this and those who'd watch TAR. As Lisa Simpson put it, "I'll fill those people so full of sap, they'll be blowing their noses in pancakes!"*

*TBH, I don't know if that's the precise quote.

[Maggie Mae]

I really liked the show. My Phil love may have influenced it ! No one is on my Philiminatipn list yet so that is good. My only question was in the coal shoveling challenge. I thought it was seriously skewed toward the women in general. A 250 lb man had to shovel 750 lbs of coal while a 120 lb woman only needed to do 360lbs. The shovel only holds so much regardless of who was shoveling so if you filled the shovel and AIMED (I'm looking at you Young and Linette...), the women had the advantage. IMO

[Taeolas]

I'm sure they did some careful analysis on the challenge to come up with the 3x body weight equalizer. Sure a shovel can only hold so much; but the amount you practically shovel (and accurately aim when throwing) can vary a lot depending on your body strength. A strong person can and will often load more on the shovel at once, but if its too close to their strength limit, they won't have much control at where all that mass goes. 

A smart shoveler will probably load up about half to 3/4s their strength limit, so they aren't struggling to lift the load and have more control of where it goes. They'll also often move the load faster, burning less energy and helping recover faster. (Spoken as someone who has shoveled snow off my decks and staircases for many years, and long ago realized that trying to lift a maximum shovel of snow is a recipe for disaster. 🙂 )

[kaygeeret]

I really enjoyed this show.

It reminded me that I have never, in my long life, performed actual manual labor.  SO perhaps, I have overlooked the strength and determination, not to mention the smarts (gotta figure out how to do a physical task efficiently and quickly, not easy for all).  A humbling realization for me.

These folks are determined, strong both mentally and physically, as well as entertaining (and quite cute in more than a few cases).

Plus the contestants seem like real people, not the usual 'reality' contestant, most of whom seem to be acting or creating characters.  Yes, even on my beloved Amazing Race.

I am in for the long haul and hope that the show is a success - I do plan on talking it up to friends as chance permits.

These folks deserve better pay for sure.

[lb60]

Phil's Personal Connection

[mtlchick]

I need my fill of Phil and until TAR returns (now with Survivor's slot!) this is it.  

Overall I liked it, and I love the idea that when you're eliminated from the individual challenges, you can still earn money as a team player.  I know I'll tire of the sob stories quick, but at least the contestants aren't in the position of being caricatures or edited to be "eeeeevil." It's literally hard work will pay off.

[mertensia]

Why do I get the feeling that Young is going to be in the bottom two every time until he gets Philiminated?

[Browncoat]

I was really worried about Lee, after all his big talk.  But he definitely was the man when it came to putting the car in the box.

I was also really rooting hard for Farm Girl in the showcase showdown.  

[mlp]

I didn't know who to root for during the final competition.  I liked the farm woman from the start and I also like Young.  His comment while they were taking apart the car about not knowing what to do next unless the car caught on fire made me laugh.

I like the Marine but I can't understand why he thinks his beard looks good.  Ick.  It makes him look like some odd combination of biker and creep.

The host and editors are doing a good job IMO.  Watching a bunch of people removing alternators from engines sounds pretty dull but it was actually interesting.  

[Pepper Mostly]

I'm enjoying this show a lot. I like everyone. No one is acting like a jerk. The "take a car apart" challenge was really interesting! I love the idea of eliminated contestants being able to stick around, compete, and make some money. I still like scrappy little Michelle, and Young is so good natured--I hope he gets a chance to shine soon. Phil could be a little less Jeff Probst-esque in his play by play, but that's a quibble. A great summer show. I think Lee could win it all. He's steady and focused, and has a lot of skills. 

[Taeolas]

I think I'll have to watch this again since I was busy while it was on. But one thing that got to me;  the car challenge reminded me of a game I've been playing a lot lately (Shipbreaker, on Steam) where you have to tear apart ships. Just watching them pick off the easy parts first then go in with the heavy tools for the bigger stuff felt like what i do when I tackle new ships in the game. 🙂

[Grizzly]

Why didn't the winner from the first individual challenge get an advantage? Nothing against Murph but that win was pure luck. And it really tugged at my heartstrings when Linda said that was the most support she'd received on a job. Unfortunately the comment won't make her life at home any better. Disappointed that the first 2 out are women.

[Browncoat]

If I were on this show (which I would never be -- I am not tough as nails), I think I might kind of want to be eliminated.  You get to hang out with Phil during the individual challenge, which is not a bad thing.

[lb60]

Another enjoyable, fast-paced episode.

Not that I didn't realize this last week, but I would last approximately one second, if that, on this show before I Philiminated myself. Tough, I am not!

13 hours ago, Browncoat said:

I was really worried about Lee, after all his big talk.  But he definitely was the man when it came to putting the car in the box.

I was worried about him, too. He's high on my list of favorites.

3 hours ago, Browncoat said:

If I were on this show (which I would never be -- I am not tough as nails), I think I might kind of want to be eliminated.  You get to hang out with Phil during the individual challenge, which is not a bad thing.

I like how you think. Hangin' with Phil sounds like an awesome consolation prize.

[Maverick]

 Hangin with Phil would be cool, but those tasks are hard.  That's a lot to stick around and stay motivated to do for a chance a lice of the team money without the possibility for the big pay day.   Even though she stepped up and lead the challenge, I couldn't Linette's was over it, and I can't blame her.

 I like the concept of the show.  I don't think it's some political rah rah  America thing; I think it's highlighting people you do difficult, demanding jobs that are necessary for our world to function.  Despite what modern culture would say, there is nothing wrong with being a tradesperson and I like that they show some good example of people in these roles.  

 I'm surprised to see comments about not liking how the contestants support each other.  A chief complaint of many reality shows is all the manufactured drama that often dominates the show.  Syfy used to have a show called Face Off without all the contestant drama and people loved it.   For those not loving the supportivness, the previews show that own't last forever.   And it makes sense; these professions draw independent, determined people.  Put them together in a team challenge and you'll get conflict soon enough.

 Have to agree on the Marine's beard.  Hella creepy.  But some people really go for that look.  

[Babalu]

I liked this show well enough last week. This week, it took two words (“previously on... “) in Phil’s voice, and I’m captivated.

[Pepper Mostly]

16 hours ago, Grizzly said:

 Disappointed that the first 2 out are women.

SAME. I will be very disappointed if the women go out one by one before a single man is eliminated. 

[mlp]

6 hours ago, Pepper Mostly said:

I will be very disappointed if the women go out one by one before a single man is eliminated. 

I will be surprised if a woman makes it to the end.  Some women are stronger than some men but, as a whole, men are stronger than women and more suited to the kinds of tasks we're seeing.  That's not sexist (I'm female); it's anatomy.  The little iron worker is probably more fit than most females because of the kind of work she does but, in the end, I doubt she can out-muscle an equally fit male of any size.  It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

[Taeolas]

It all depends on what the challenges are and how they are equalized (like the coal shoveling one). Remember, in both the bricklaying and the coal shovelling tasks, the women did very well. I suspect at least a couple of women will go far in the end. 

[DEL901]

3 hours ago, Taeolas said:

It all depends on what the challenges are and how they are equalized (like the coal shoveling one). Remember, in both the bricklaying and the coal shovelling tasks, the women did very well. I suspect at least a couple of women will go far in the end. 

I’m glad there is money along the way so everyone will go home with something.   

[PrincessPurrsALot]

I am enjoying the show and am always happy to see Phil.  While Young seems like a very nice guy and brings a great attitude to the show, I was hoping for the woman to win in the final challenge.  She was tearing through the challenge, then fell apart on the last tire. 

Hey, did you know that short guy is short?  I don't even remember his name.  Every talking head with him seems to be about being short.  We get it it; you're short.  There are times when that is a disadvantage.  There are also times when that will be an advantage.  I wish they would give him another talking point. 

I like seeing people competing for whom $2K is still a significant win.  We get used to the million dollar prizes and forget how earning say $10K during this competition is a major boost for most Americans.   

[iMonrey]

Hmm, so far I'm not finding this very interesting. Maybe I'll be more invested as it goes on - Lord knows there's precious little else to watch on TV right now. But I can't help wonder if this might have been something the network shelved then dusted off and ended up running because they have nothing else to show right now. It's just kind of boring, as a concept. Hard not to compare to Amazing Race since Phil is the host, so you've got reality show challenges without the scenery of Amazing Race or Survivor (or even the goofiness of Big Brother). Shoveling coal? Shredding tires? Dismantling cars? I don't know, it's not really holding my attention.

[AncientNewbie]

I would probably second every reservation I've seen above (except Murph's beard. I wish I'd grown up to look like that.)

Yet...I still like it. And I don't. I grew up blue collar and somehow ended up in the white collar world, so I enjoy the attention on people who work jobs like my family. And yet I'm a cynical viewer and this "work ethic porn" never sets well with me because I always feel there is an undercurrent of billion dollar companies telling us not to look behind the curtain but shovel our sixteen tons and be happy with our lot. Clearly I'm projecting a lot.

[Pepper the Cat]

Thoughts as I am watching it.

I love like the teams will always be even because no one goes home. No one gets to “sit out a challenge” and therefore conserve their energy.

I love that they have adjusted things in overtime some that they are even. They are both lifting 1/2 their body weight and have adjusted the height of the bell for their actual height.

 

[mtlchick]

4 minutes ago, Pepper the Cat said:

 

I love that they have adjusted things in overtime some that they are even. They are both lifting 1/2 their body weight and have adjusted the height of the bell for their actual height.

 

YES!  My sister and I were just saying that height and weight are considered for Overtime.  Most of the time shows don't do that and some people get screwed by default.  Like half the obstacles on Ninja Warrior. 

Surprised that Lee is cut but I had a feeling Michelle would win this. 

Also, Phil in Plaid needs to happen more often.  

Edited July 23, 2020 by mtlchick

[Browncoat]

Man, I am torn about that showcase showdown!  I hate to see Lee have to punch out, but I'm glad that it wasn't a third woman to go.  Mostly I just hated that it was these two, of all the possible pairs.

 

[lb60]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Not Lee!

Damn you, Michelle! Still can't stand her.

Damn you, Murph! For pairing them up. Btw, did you know he's a Marine?

Ugh, now I need to pick a new favorite.

I just might need to use my reverse psychology Jeopardy strategy.

Michelle for the win. ;-)

Edited July 23, 2020 by lb60

[mlp]

Once again, I couldn't pick one in the final competition.  I like Michelle and give her credit for her gumption but I really, really like Lee and I just hated to see him get beat.  He handled it very well.

I think the contestants must get far more instructions than we see and maybe even demonstrations before the main challenges.  Everyone seemed to know what to do when the barbed wire fence challenge began.  It seems unlikely to me that most of them would have had the foggiest idea how to do it based on their occupations.  The pipes were a little more obvious but still...................

[Lamb18]

That last challenge was one I could have done! I have lugged rectangular bales like that around before. The big round ones--no one can lift those. Anyone notice that Lee had hay bales but Marie had straw bales? I'm trying to remember which is heavier. The bales were the same size, I think hay is heavier.

If they had a lead 50 lambs out to pasture with a bucket of grain--I could win that!

[mertensia]

Man, why couldn't Young have been last?

I love the twist that everyone still competes on the team challenge.

still liking Michelle.

Edited July 23, 2020 by mertensia