Expedition Impossible is a 2011 American reality television series. The series follows thirteen teams of three competitors as they "solve problems while racing across deserts, over mountains and through rivers" across the nation of Morocco.'Expedition Impossible' sounds like an amazing race The first team to cross the finish line after completing the ten stages of the competition was to receive US$150,000. In addition, each team member won a new Ford Explorer.About the Show at official site
Created by producer Mark Burnett and hosted by wildlife expert Dave Salmoni, the series premiered on ABC on June 23, 2011, to mild critical response. The show was canceled following its first and only season.
Game Expedition Impossible is run in ten stages, each of which has a series of checkpoints. At each checkpoint, teams receive instructions on how to reach the next checkpoint and at some checkpoints they face challenges that must be completed before heading to the next checkpoint. The last team in each stage to reach the final checkpoint is eliminated. If any member of a team quits, the team is eliminated.
The competition began in Merzouga and concluded in Marrakesh, covering a course of around 2,000 miles including treks through the Sahara Desert and over the Atlas Mountains.
Production ABC and producer Mark Burnett announced the series on November 4, 2010, with Burnett describing Expedition Impossible as "high adventure television" and "an epic Indiana Jones-style experience".New Series Expedition Impossible Mixes Great Outdoors and Reality TV Open casting began later that month. Prospective contestants were required to demonstrate proficiency in several skills, including horseback riding, righting a boat that had been capsized, compass reading and rappelling.
After initially announcing a premiere date of June 21, 2011, ABC revised the date to June 23.ABC Revises Summer Schedule Premiere Date
International distribution and adaptations On May 9, 2011, CTV Television Network announced that it had acquired Expedition Impossible for Canadian broadcast and that it would debut the series on June 21.CTV Acquires Mark Burnett's Expedition Impossible CTV pushed back the premiere to the 23rd, corresponding with its American debut.Expedition Impossible Exclusive Preview: What To Expect In Tonight’s Season Premiere
On July 16, 2011, Australia's Network Ten started to broadcast the show in the 6:30pm – 7:30pm timeslot on its main channel - 10.
An adaptation of the series premiered on the channel Cuatro in Spain on January 23, 2013. Hosted by Raquel Sánchez-Silva, Expedición Imposible features ten pairs of celebrities racing through Morocco.Raquel Sánchez Silva y sus famosos comienzan su 'Expedición Imposible' en Cuatro (in Spanish)
Teams
The Gypsies John Post, 25, Pensacola Beach, FL. Sustainable Farmer Taylor Filasky, 31, San Diego, CA. Video Producer Eric Bach, 26, San Francisco, CA. Entrepreneur
Group of friends that, collectively, have traveled to over 40 countries.
No Limits Erik Weihenmayer, 42, Golden, CO. Motivational Speaker/Writer Jeff Evans, 41, Boulder, CO. Motivational Speaker/Physician Assistant Aaron "Ike" Isaacson, 33, Topeka, KS. Soldier
Jeff is Erik's climbing guide on mountaineering expeditions because Erik is blind. Ike is a soldier.
Fab 3 Ryan Allen Carrillo, 36, Los Angeles, CA. Unemployed Kari Gibson, 26, Los Angeles, CA. Model AJ Gibson, 30, Los Angeles, CA. Mortgage Consultant
Kari and AJ are siblings. Ryan and AJ used to be a couple, but are now friends. All three are roommates.Meet Team Fab 3 From ABC's "Expedition Impossible"
The Football Players Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, 31, Los Angeles, CA. Broadcaster Robert Ortiz, 27, Solana Beach, CA. Business Owner Ricky Sharpe, 31, Costa Mesa, CA. Health and Fitness Consultant
All three are former professional football players who first met while playing for San Diego State University.
The Cops Robert "Rob" Robillard, 43, Concord, MA. Police Lieutenant Dani Henderson, 34, Marlborough, MA. Police Officer James "Jim" Vaglica, 49, Billerica, MA. Police Sergeant
Cops who work together. In 2016, Jim Vaglica of The Cops would appear on the FOX reality show, American Grit.
California Girls Christina Chin, 24, Davis, CA. Corporate PR. Brittany Smith, 24, Rancho Murieta, CA. Aspiring Pro Golfer Natalie Smith, 25, Woodland, CA. Teacher/Coach
Friends who met while attending the University of California, Davis.
The Country Boys Nicholas Coughlin, 28, Clinton, MS. Internet Marketing/Entrepreneur Jason Cronin, 37, Pensacola Beach, FL. Business Owner/Entrepreneur Chad Robinson, 27, Bolton, MS. Real Estate Investor
Friends coming from Mississippi and nearby.
The Fishermen Gus Sanfilippo, 48, Gloucester, MA. Fisherman Nino Sanfilippo, 43, Gloucester, MA. Fisherman Joe Sanfilippo, 44, Gloucester, MA. Fisherman
Gus and Nino are brothers and Joe is their cousin. All three are crew on the fishing boat Captain Dominic.
New York Firemen Kevin "Fathead" Coursey, 39, Belle Harbor, NY. Firefighter Rob Keiley, 34, Rockaway Park, NY. Firefighter Mike Egan, 34, Rockaway Park, NY. Firefighter
Co-workers who are firefighters in New York
Team Kansas Lindsey Haymond, 27, Houston, TX. Teacher Kelsey Fuller, 22, Overland Park, KS. Student Mackenzie Fuller, 18, Overland Park, KS. Student
Three sisters who are originally from Kansas.
Grandpa's Warriors Dick Smith, 69, Normal, IL. Store Owner Steven Smith, 48, Savoy, IL. Store Owner Samantha Smith-Gibbs, 23, Thomasboro, IL. Store Manager
Samantha is Steven's daughter, Dick is Steven's father.
Mom's Army Eleanor "Ellie" Vanderbeck, 52, Reading, PA. Bookkeeper Ruthie Vanderbeck, 28, Reading, PA. Realtor Abbie Vanderbeck, 30, Norwalk, CT. Nanny
Ruthie and Abbie are Ellie's daughters. They were also in the military.
Latin Persuasion Dashia Imperiale, 44, New York, NY. Fitness Instructor Raven Garcia, 30, Bronx, NY. Freelance Writer Mai Reyes, 38, New York, NY. Manager
Friends and co-workers, all with Latino heritage.
Progress Team Relationships Contestants Position Finish1234567891011 The Gypsies Travel Friends John1st1st1st1st2nd1st1st1st1st1st Taylor Eric No Limits Friends Ike6th3rd2nd2nd5th3rd2nd5th4th3rd4th Jeff5th Erik6th Fab 3 Roommates Kari2nd5th5th8th1st2nd6th3rd2nd2nd7th AJ8th Ryan9th The Football Players Football Players Robert3rd4th4th3rd3rd4th4th2nd3rd10th Ricky11th Akbar12th The Cops Co-workers/Cops Rob R.10th11th8th5th4th6th5th4th13th Dani14th Jim15th California Girls College Friends Natalie9th9th7th7th8th7th3rd16th Brittany17th Christina18th The Country Boys Friends Jason7th2nd3rd9th7th5th19th Nicholas20th Chad21st The Fishermen Brothers & Cousin Gus5th6th10th6th6th22nd Joe23rd Nino24th New York Firemen Co-workers/Firefighters Rob K.8th10th6th4th25th "Fathead"26th Mike27th Team Kansas Sisters Kelsey4th7th9th28th Lindsey29th Mackenzie30th Grandpa's Warriors Family Steven12th8th31st Samantha32nd Dick33rd Mom's Army Mother & Daughters Abbie11th34th Ruthie35th Ellie36th Latin Persuasion Friends & Co-workers Raven37th Mai38th Dashia39th
A team placement means the team was eliminated. A team placement means the team won the expedition.
Stages
Reception Before its debut, Expedition Impossible drew comparisons to other reality television series, including The Amazing Race, Pirate Master, and Burnett's own adventure race series Eco-Challenge.'Expedition Impossible': EP Mark Burnett on Why This Isn't 'Amazing Race' Burnett has repudiated the comparisons to TAR, saying "There’s no taxis. There’s no hotels. This is very, very different. Here, you actually need to put yourself on the line, really be willing to cross the deserts and the mountains and use the camels and the horses. So, it’s a very, very much more difficult competition."
David Hinckley of The New York Daily News found the premiere to follow a familiar formula and wondered whether a "saturation point" for this style of entertainment had been reached. In saying so, he stressed that he in no way was diminishing the accomplishments of the participating teams.'Expedition Impossible' review: Teams hike through Moroccan desert in adventure competition show Similarly, Brian Lowry for Variety, while calling the series a "transparent knockoff of The Amazing Race", complimented Burnett on his ability to create "a sense of jeopardy in the challenges" while finding that the series as a whole "travels such a familiar course" that it was tantamount to "recycling" the concepts of other series.|News|LatestNews Expedition Impossible
Expedition Impossible was the top-rated program the night of its debut, pulling 2.4/7 in adults 18/49 and 7.18 million viewers. The premiere was the 8th most watched show that week.'Expedition Impossible' debuts in ratings top spot In the second episode, Expedition Impossible pulled a 1.8/6 in adults 18/49 and 6.16 million viewers. This drop was not unusual for a holiday weekend, as other shows also experienced a rating decline. Despite this, Expedition Impossible was the top rated program of the hour and the second top rated program of the night, as well as the 12th most watched show that week in the 18/49 demo.TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: 'The Voice' Finale, 'AGT,' 'The Bachelorette,' 'NCIS' Lead Week's Viewing Ratings however continued to slip when its fifth episode only garnered a rating of 1.3 for the 18/49 demo and 4.68 million in total viewers. The show hit a season low for its eighth episode, with a demo rating of 1.1 and only watched by 3.83 million viewers.Expedition Impossible: ABC Worldwide Competition; Cancel or Keep It? The show's ninth episode was watched by 4.45 million viewers, and the season finale ended with a rating of 1.3 for the 18/49 demo and 4.61 millions in total viewer number.Thursday Final Ratings: Numerous Adjustments Due to NFL and Irene Preemptions
International versions The TV format was exported in Spain with the title Expedición Imposible when it was aired on Cuatro and hosted by Raquel Sánchez Silva on 2013.
References
External links Official site