''Full Metal Jousting'' is an American

reality Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary. The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence. In physical terms, rea ...

game show A game show is a genre of broadcast viewing entertainment (radio, television, internet, stage or other) where contestants compete for a reward. These programs can either be participatory or demonstrative and are typically directed by a host, sh ...

that debuted on the

History Channel History (formerly The History Channel from January 1, 1995 to February 15, 2008, stylized as HISTORY) is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between Hearst Communications and the Disne ...

on February 12, 2012. The show featured 16 contestants, split into two teams of eight, competing in full-contact competitive jousting, a

combat sport A combat sport, or fighting sport, is a competitive contact sport that usually involves one-on-one combat. In many combat sports, a contestant wins by scoring more points than the opponent, submitting the opponent with a hold, disabling the oppo ...

developed by host

Shane Adams Shane Adams is a Canadian Equestrian Team athlete in modern competitive jousting. He is currently the Captain and owner of North America's Premier Full Contact Jousting Team, The Knights of Valour. He is the former president of the World Champion ...

since the late 1990s. One by one, the contestants were eliminated tournament-style until only one remained. That contestant received a $100,000 grand prize.

Gameplay

Each episode features full-contact jousts in which competitors charge each other on horseback and collide at around 30 miles per hour. Unlike choreographed jousting familiar to many from dinner theater entertainment, the show featured authentic competitive jousting.

Show

''Full Metal Jousting'' aired its first season (10 episodes) from February to April 2012. The first season was filmed over 38 days in October and November 2011 at Providence Hill Farm in Jackson, Mississippi. A grand prize of $100,000 was awarded to the tournament winner. However, in Season 1, Episode 4 it was revealed that a $25,000 prize would be awarded as well. In the finale, each team chose one of its eliminated members to compete head-to-head for this additional prize.

Casting

Casting for the show began in the summer of 2011 with a casting deadline of July 20, 2011. Candidates were required to be at least 21 years of age, proficient in horseback riding, and a resident or citizen of the United States of America. Around 600 people, including both men and women, applied. 30 applicants were accepted to a week-long boot camp led by the host,

, at the end of which the producers and host eventually settled on the final 16 competitors, aged between 23 and 43. Out of those 16 competitors, five were theatrical jousters working at Medieval Times and another six were professional horsemen (trainers or sportsmen). Full Metal Jousting is produced by

Pilgrim Studios Pilgrim Media Group (also known as Pilgrim Studios) is a television production company based in North Hollywood, California. It was founded in 1997 by Craig Piligian. It is best known for producing reality television shows for the Discovery Channe ...

, which conducted a casting search via its website.

Contestants

Episodes

Preliminary jousts

Tournament bracket

After the preliminary jousting completed, three players from the Black team and five players from the Red team advanced into the quarterfinals. The host and coaches decided the quarterfinal match-up, and the rest of the season continued as a single-elimination tournament. Since both players were from the Black team, for visual clarity during this match Knowles' score was designated as Gold.
Since both players were from the Red team, for visual clarity during this match Nodar's score was designated as Silver.

$25,000 joust

In Season 1, Episode 4 it was revealed there would also be a $25,000 prize awarded. Each team was asked to nominate one member of their team, not already in the finals, who would compete prior to the final joust. The Black team decided on two players they felt deserved to be in the $25,000 joust, Rope Meyers and Jack Mathis. For their final decision they had a

coin toss A coin is a small, flat (usually depending on the country or value), round piece of metal or plastic used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order to ...

. The coach for the Black Team, Rod Walker, was asked to flip a coin, and prior to the coin toss Jack Mathis was asked to call it; he chose "tails". The toss was "heads", and Rope Meyers was in the $25,000 joust for the Black Team. The Red team decided to hold a secret ballot. There were two votes for David Prewitt, two votes for Josh Avery, and three votes for John Stikes who would now face Rope Meyes in the $25,000 joust for the Red Team. Rope Meyers won the $25,000 joust with a score of 6 to 2.

Reception

The show premiered on February 12, 2012 to a total of 1.9 million viewers. The numbers since the premiere have been stable, ranging from 1.2 million viewers to 1.7 million viewers. The finale was reported to have drawn 1.44M viewers for a .5 share.TV by the Numbers
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References

External links

*{{official website, https://web.archive.org/web/20120604055743/http://www.history.com/shows/full-metal-jousting%7D%7D
Providence Hill Farms - Season 1 Filming Location
*{{IMDb title, 2166861 {{History shows History (American TV channel) original programming 2012 American television series debuts 2010s American reality television series Jousting 2012 American television series endings