Photo Courtesy of CBS
Tonight’s Million Dollar Mile, the premiere episode featuring top OCR and parkour athletes, cashed out at $25,000. Nikki managed two obstacles and the wall without getting caught by Emma. Before the show, I asked Nikki a question and had no idea about her person or cause. So I felt good about her win and why she worked so hard to earn it.
As for the rest of the show, here’s my take:
TECHNICAL
Most of the obstacles were very good–they showed difficulty, viewability, and variety. They challenged grip, upper body, core, balance, speed, and guts. Some of these obstacles were very high off the ground, others submerged in water, others spinning or unstable. The contenders chose what order to do the obstacles. What I liked most about the obstacles was mandatory completion. Any failure meant a re-start.
I give this portion of the show 5 for 5 stars.
PRODUCTION
The backstory for Defenders and Contenders was kept short in order to focus on the competition. As I said, I really appreciated Nikki’s post-race story because of the pre-show interview. No matter how much adversity or struggle they have to overcome, athletes of all ages and abilities can come back and compete. Unfortunately, Tim’s preparation did not include cold weather and water which led him to cramp up after just one obstacle. The camera time on the course was good and in my opinion, can always be more. Just show me the race.
I give this portion of the show 4 for 5 stars.
COMMENTARY
Tim Tebow led the show and he looked and felt out of his element. Maybe I’m just too close to OCR and the athletes, but he just didn’t feel personal, like he didn’t care about the Defenders or the Contenders. Instead, he played to the audience to keep them excited and to keep the pace of the show moving. The two color commentators were completely unnecessary.
I agree with most of the feedback I saw on social media that the commentary needs some work so I give this portion of the show just 2 for 5 stars.
DEFENDERS
I know most of the contenders either by reputation or personal interaction. So I, along with most of social media in the know, could tell that the deck was heavily stacked in favor of the Defenders. Tonight we saw Robert Killian, Faye Stenning, Isaiah Vidal, and Emma Chapman. The races hardly got started before these thoroughbreds were finished. I saw the looks on their faces that they had plenty of gas left, wanted some stronger competition, and for the most part, enjoyed the experience on the show.
Men's elite #1 Isaiah Vidal
Steve and I with Spartan Pro Robert Killian
Faye Stenning
like on Broken Skull Ranch Challenge, I would like to see the opportunity for everyone, Defender and Contender, to finish the entire course instead of getting tapped out. I want to see the struggle all the way. While the ticking clock is a great tension-building device for the viewers to stay interested as the gap closes between racers, I think a TMX-like format would be better. Finish the course. Race side-by-side. Winner takes all.
How else would we know if TMX champion Emma Chapman can be bested by an unknown?
I give CBS 5 stars for 5 on their brilliant selection of Defenders.
CONTENDERS
I know a lot of AG-level competitors out there who would love a shot at this course, going up against the Elites. Instead, we got four regular competitors off the street. This is a message to the OCR community wannabes. If you want to get on the show, it’s not about your desire or ability. It’s all about your story. This is TV. So hopefully next week the caliber of contender will move way up because although the stories were great, the gap between Defender and Contender ability was infinite. Some people on social media complained about this. Give the underdog a chance. I’m in the camp where the underdog gets a lesson in what it takes besides heart to be world class. You can be world class and have a great story. While I’m happy for the Contenders to walk away with some cash for about ten minutes of work on one or two obstacles way short of a mile, keep this in mind:
TMX is a one-mile course loaded with ten obstacles that the winners completed in well under twenty minutes.
Some of the Contenders told me they came into this show not knowing what to expect. If the show makes it to season two, hopefully future Contenders will do their homework. Know the competition. Train like crazy. Come out of nowhere like Rebecca Hammond (another Defender) and start to dominate.
I’d like to see some Contenders who make those Defenders work hard. I want to see it down to the wire through the entire course, not the zip line and a sprint just 40% of the way through. For that shortfall, I give the Contenders 3 of 5 stars.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT
The rope climb at the end of the course was ridiculous. We already know from American Ninja Warrior’s Mt. Midoriyama that competitors must climb a 75-foot rope at the end of the course – unassisted. Isaac Caldeiro’s Season 7 epic climb is still firmly etched in my mind. Based on that, I’m convinced that viewers will continue to watch Million Dollar Mile even though nobody wins the million, perhaps for years. But they’ll only watch if the competition, the course, and the credibility is real.
Zero for 5 stars on that final rope climb MDM. Let’s make it real.
See Isaac Caldeiro for rope climbing tips
The rope climb at the side of the building seemed way too easy. What was up with that. That was no normal rope climb?
Why does the rope climb look so easy?
I loved every frame of The Million Dollar Mile! The entertainment factor was spectacular. I knew the contenders were going to get devoured the moment they stepped up against their defender, but I found so much pleasure in watching them run for their lives.
The beauty of the show is that the contenders are normal(ish) people rather than paid athletes. Nearly all viewers had no idea who the defenders were, nor did most viewers even know that (a hand full of) people actually make a living from obstacle races.
In the viewers mind it is incredible to see how proficient and athletic these defenders actually are, and It can only be demonstrated if Isaiah Vidal crushes someone that a viewer could agree is in terrific shape.
Don’t forget that this is not a sporting event; rather it is an amazing TV series. All first episodes introduce the characters before they start killing them off. The producers are building suspense by letting their audience understand how heroic and unstoppable they truly are.
Tim Tebow did an amazing job for a first episode of a TV show that has never existed before. Tebow does in fact have an incredible amount of charisma, and energy, and he looked like he was having fun. I like Tim better as a host, than a Bronco.
5 out of 5 I can’t wait for the next episode.
I loved the show, but found myself hoping for a higher caliber of contenders. I was hoping the police officer could have really given the defender a workout to catch him since he actually increased the margin between the two in his first obstacle; but he obviously wasn’t as prepared as he thought he was. I hear the contenders talk trash but they don’t seem to be able to walk the walk.
After watching the first episode; I found myself questioning whether I could give the audience a significantly better challenge to entertain them. I kind of missed the very first part so I have to admit I don’t know if there are five or six obstacles. I think the running portion between obstacles is around 1/5 of a mile. So it seems like a contender would only need to complete 5 of the 6 obstacles and then the rope climb at the end to complete the “Mile”.
I’m not anywhere close to being a pro or world class athlete, so I intend no disrespect for the defenders with my comments. But this show isn’t about running a marathon or completing the Iron Man as the defenders have very convincingly shown they can. This is about running a mile in segments and completing the obstacles in an efficient and timely manner so as to able to try to maintain the 2 minute lead the contenders start out with or at least enough of a lead to finish before the defender.
I haven’t tried a workout to match the parameters of “Million Dollar Mile”; but I am 60 years old and still work a very demanding and highly physical job. I can still swim a mile in 32 min, then do a hour long, 8 station, 3 sets, upper body workout with weights and then run a 24 min 5K. I have been doing this for years to make sure I can maintain the physical requirements of my job. All of my training is for strength and endurance, since my job entails 11 to 13+ hours a day. I’m not in as good of shape now as a was 3 years ago when I was hit by a driver going the wrong way on the interstate. The accident left me with 8 broken ribs and both lungs perforated, which left me with only just over half of my previous lung capacity. But I am still pretty sure I could give a defender a challenge for considerably more than just one or two obstacles. I’d love to be able to test myself. Kind of like when I was down at “muscle beach” last summer with family and had to do the 25′ rope climb to see if I could get all the way to the top, just using my arms. It makes you feel good when you can still do something like that at 60.
The MDM is a race of sprints and physical strength/endurance. I’m sure other shows of this type wouldn’t have near the viewers if most of the athletes tanked after the first or second obstacle. Give us some real entertainment by finding non pro athletes who can challenge the defenders to be able to make them prove just how good and tough they are. The defenders have been on cake walks so far.
I’ve always liked watching American Ninja Warrior, but some of the athletes seem to be more pro than amateur. I liked MDM enough to continue to watch but hope for more of a challenge from the contenders.
I agree the Defenders are heavily stacked against the competitors. I am glad to see there are opportunities for OCR’s to generate an income from the sport we all love. I am confused by the two color commentators and Tim T. does not appear genuine. Unlike the Titan Games and Broken Skull, I think the MC and commentators will hurt the ratings.
That final rope climb is total BS and makes the show unwatchable. Watching the Defender pass the challenger on that assisted climb?? How do they determine how fast they are “pulled” up that wall.. what a crock of crap.