Full Metal Jousting is an American reality game show that debuted on the History Channel on February 12, 2012. The show featured 16 contestants, split into two teams of eight, competing in full-contact competitive jousting, a combat sport developed by host Shane Adams 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 featured full-contact jousts in which competitors charged each other on horseback and collided at around 30 miles per hour. Unlike choreographed jousting familiar to many from dinner theater entertainment, the show featured authentic competitive jousting. The season-long competition was structured as a single-elimination tournament.

Two competitors were chosen to take part in each joust, selecting horses from an available stable and having separate practice sessions ahead of time. They wore full plate armor, with an extra plate bolted to one shoulder that served as a scoring target, and were armed with wooden lances. Points were scored by hitting the target with the lance tip, striking hard enough to break the lance, and unhorsing the opponent. A joust could be won on points after eight complete charges ("passes"), or by knockout at any time if a competitor was unhorsed and could not remount and be ready to continue within two minutes. If a competitor withdrew or was disqualified for any reason, a previously defeated opponent was reinstated in their place. Competitors who became injured during a practice session were allowed to return to their teams once they had been medically cleared, if they chose to do so.

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, Shane Adams, 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).history.com website

Full Metal Jousting is produced by Pilgrim Studios, which conducted a casting search via its website.

Contestants Contestant Occupation / background TeamIn the first episode, the 2 coaches drafted their teams, with black picking 1st and alternating with red. Eliminated 27, Ft. Lauderdale, FL AuctioneerBlack Team, drafted 9th DisqualifiedLandon Morris was forced to leave the competition in episode five for breaching the show's "zero tolerance to animal cruelty" policy by punching a horse during practice and then denying what he did was wrong. Joe McKinley was reinstated to the competition in his place. Firefighter and paramedicBlack Team, drafted 13th InjuredBrian Tulk injured his groin muscle in episode six and voluntarily left the competition. United States Marine Corps veteran, bartender, stuntmanRedTeam,drafted 2ndBlackTeam 1st & 7thPreliminary Jousts 31, Dallas, TX Theatrical jousterBlack Team, drafted 15th 2nd Preliminary Joust 29, Woodland Hills, CA Professional horseman and horse trainerBlack Team, drafted 11th 3rd & 8thPreliminary Jousts 28, Atlanta, GA Theatrical jousterRed Team, drafted 6th 4th Preliminary Joust 25, Klamath Falls, OR United States Marine Corps veteran, MMA fighterRed Team, drafted 12th 5th Preliminary Joust 25, Hilmar, CA Professional horse trainer and polo playerBlack Team, drafted 3rd 6th Preliminary Joust 26, Los Angeles, CA Professional horse traineralso appeared as "18th-century weapons expert" in Deadliest Warrior, season 3 episode 23 (2011)Red Team, drafted 14th Quarterfinals 41, Van, TX World champion steer wrestler, 2002 Olympic gold medalist"Olympics rodeo is back! February 9–11, 2002 at Salt Lake City, rodeo enters the Olympic arena again in an event called the Cultural Olympiad Rodeo." "Steer Wrestling: Trav Cadwell, Oakdale, Calif.; Jason Lahr, Emporia, Kan.; Jeff Babek, Granite, Okla.; Rope Myers, Van, Texas, and Bryan Fields, Conroe, Texas." (2002 Salt Lake City Olympics To Include Rodeo)Black Team, drafted 1st Quarterfinals$25,000 Winner 25, Newton, NJ Professional show jumperRed Team, drafted 4th Quarterfinals 33, Broken Arrow, OK Professional bull rider and horse trainerRed Team, drafted 8th Quarterfinals 33, West Hollywood, CA Professional horse trainerRed Team, drafted 16th Semifinals 23, Myrtle Beach, SC Theatrical jousterRed Team, drafted 10th Semifinals 24, Atlanta, GA Theatrical jousterBlack Team, drafted 5th Finals 28, Myrtle Beach, SC Theatrical jousterBlack Team, drafted 7th $100,000 Winner

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. 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 after the premiere were 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

References

External links

Providence Hill Farms - Season 1 Filming Location