UC Davis students reflect on “Wipeout” and how the game show shaped humor and childhood memories
By JALAN TEHRANIFAR — features@theaggie.org
There are a lot of things that seem to define Gen Z — existential dread, an obsession with saying “slay” and an ability to diagnose obscure psychological conditions based on one TikTok video, to name a few. But if there’s one thing that truly unites them, it’s growing up watching people get absolutely wrecked by giant rubber balls.
Enter “Wipeout,” the game show that turned slipping, tripping and face-planting into a competitive sport, shaping Gen Z humor for eternity, according to UC Davis students and beyond.
Sure, Wipeout was just a show where people willingly launched themselves onto unstable platforms while two hosts made dad jokes about their misfortune. But for Gen Z? It was so much more. This wasn’t just television — it was an art form in the hearts of many. It was survival of the goofiest. It was the backbone of their childhood entertainment. And, quite frankly, it taught some valuable life lessons.
For many, “Wipeout” was a core memory. It was considered a perfect after-school show — mindless, hilarious and requiring absolutely zero emotional investment. Whether Gen Z kids were eating Goldfish crackers on the couch or avoiding homework, “Wipeout” was there for them.
To Nava Regev, a fourth-year political science major, “Wipeout” wasn’t just a silly show, it was a lifelong dream.
“When everyone still had cable TV and ‘Wipeout’ was at its peak, my brother and I would sit and watch episodes for hours and we would make fun of everyone who wiped,” Regev said. “All I wanted to do growing up was be on the show — the obstacle courses looked so fun. I even had the ‘Wipeout’ game on my Wii — I think I still do, actually.”
Regev recently began rewatching “Wipeout” with her college roommates, hoping to relive the joy it brought her as a child. As she watched contestants wipe out in spectacular fashion, she couldn’t help but reflect on her younger self’s confidence.
“I used to be so high and mighty about it; I swore that if I were on the show I would complete the obstacle courses with no problem,” Regev said. “Rewatching it now, I probably would’ve been eliminated in the first round.”
Midway through Regev’s nostalgic binge, curiosity struck — did the iconic obstacle courses still exist? A quick search revealed that not only were they still standing, but the show itself had been revived in 2021, now hosted by none other than John Cena.
“When I found out the show was still running, I forced my friends to fill out a casting application for the 2025 cycle with me,” Regev said. “I am determined to make this dream come true; I don’t care if I embarrass myself on national television, this needs to be done.”
After learning that TBS announced the cancellation of the “Wipeout” revival earlier just this month, Regev was devastated. The news may have even hit harder than a contestant getting launched off the Big Red Balls.
“My heart is broken,” Regev said. “I have class in 15 minutes, but now I have to just go home and sit in my bed and mourn the loss of this momentous show. No wonder I haven’t been contacted for my casting call, this sucks. I was waiting to see what my king, John Cena, would nickname me on the show. How could they do this to me?”
Gen Z grew up on the internet, and their humor reflects that. They send each other videos of people falling down and call it bonding. Wipeout was essentially the live-action version of that. The show walked so TikTok fails could eventually run.
Even though the show technically ended in 2014 (before making a comeback in 2021), its influence never really died. Why? Because, according to students, it was tailor-made for meme culture. The exaggerated sound effects, the slow-motion replays, the contestants getting absolutely destroyed — it seemed to be the perfect recipe for internet gold.
Anna Bronstein, a fourth-year psychology major, said that “Wipeout” played a large role in shaping her sense of humor. Growing up, she found endless entertainment in watching contestants get smacked off platforms and sent flying into water, all while the hosts delivered hilariously unfiltered commentary.
“That show was so funny,” Bronstein said. “The hosts would say the most out-of-pocket things and the contestants’ reactions just made it even better. Nothing was funnier than watching them swim back to the start of the obstacles so they could get knocked off again. I swear I think that’s why I’m so funny now, it’s because of that show.”
Emily Tyryshkin, a fourth-year biological sciences major, said that watching “Wipeout” with her family makes up a lot of her core memories. Even though the show was full of ridiculous crash-outs and stunts, it was the shared excitement and laughter that made it unforgettable for her.
“I remember watching ‘Wipeout’ with my family all the time when I was younger,” Tyryshkin said. “It was like our thing after dinner. We would always try to guess who would wipe out next, and we’d be dying laughing when someone fell into the water. We would get really competitive about it too. When the [episode] started, we would all pick a person to root for, and I would get so hyped when the person I chose would win.”
At the end of the day, to Gen Z, “Wipeout” wasn’t just a game show, it was a cultural event. It was a right of passage. It was a reminder that sometimes life will smack you in the face with a giant foam mallet, and you just have to get up and keep going.
So here’s to “Wipeout” — seemingly one of the greatest shows ever made about falling down and getting back up. Who knows? Maybe one day it will get revived again; Until then, members of Gen Z at UC Davis and beyond await the day.
“[Rest in peace], ‘Wipeout’ — a fallen soldier,” Regev said.
Written by: Jalan Tehranifar — features@theaggie.org
