Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Yeah, Wipeout is dumb. But it makes me laugh. Check out this tidbit from the Asheville School website:
Now that Asheville School alumnus Gary Shields 2002 has competed on ABC’s popular game show Wipeout, the Los Angeles resident can claim he’s worn a Tina Turner wig in front of millions.
A former Asheville School prefect, Shields, 26, is no stranger to being in the limelight. While at Asheville School, he was involved in Cross Country, Track, Orchestra, Hand Bells, Chapel Choir, was the chair of the Honor Council and President of his senior class.
“Wipeout truly isn’t for the faint of heart, but hey…I got to make a fool of myself on national television and that is worth it,” said Shields, who teaches piano and composition at Cornerstone Music Conservatory. This summer, Shields is also working for the Grammy Foundation in LA where he serves as a Student Life Coordinator for Grammy Camp.
Wipeout combines obstacle courses, physical humor, and a chance to win $50,000. The show was voted Reality TV’s Guiltiest Pleasure by Entertainment Weekly’s readers, according to the show’s webpage on abc.com.
In the first round, sporting the Tina Turner wig, Shields jumped on topple towers, climbed across a punching wall, and made it through to the next round (even with his concerns about momentarily losing his wig). Only 12 contestants moved on to the 2nd round – a spinning obstacle course covered in slippery foam. The first six contestants to complete this level moved on to round three.
In the third obstacle course, each contestant competes individually (while being hit with vegetables), and the top four move on the final course: the Wipeout Zone. Shields, only being referred to as ‘Tina Turner’ by this point, completed the 3rd level in a little over 11 minutes.
That show makes me laugh.