Full Metal Jousting
{{Convert to Episode table}}{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Full Metal Jousting ad from History Channel.jpg
| genre = Reality
| director = Adam Vetri
| presenter = Shane Adams
| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 10
| executive_producer = Craig Piligian
Ralph Wikke
Mitch Rosa
| producer = Johnny Bell
Rita Doumar
| location = Jackson, Mississippi
| camera = multiple-camera setup
| runtime = 44:22
| company = Pilgrim Films & Television
| network = History Channel
| first_aired = {{Start date|2012|2|12}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2012|4|15}}
}}
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.
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120219/NEWS/202190321/History-Channel-s-new-Full-Metal-Jousting-filmed-Miss- |title=History Channel's new 'Full Metal Jousting' filmed in Miss |last1=Kiesewetter |first1=John |date=February 17, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |publisher=Clarion Ledger}}{{cite web |url=http://www.medievalarchives.com/2012/02/15/full-metal-jousting-episode-recap/ |title=Full Metal Jousting: Episode 1 Recap |date=February 15, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2012 |publisher=MedievalArchives.com}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bridleandbit.com/artman/publish/article_32863.shtml |title=ProRodeo cowboys sign on for Full Metal Jousting |last1=Partain |first1=Kyle |date=March 3, 2012 |access-date=April 6, 2012 |publisher=Bridle & Bit }}
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.{{cite web |url=http://theequestriannews.com/2011/06/22/now-warrior/ |title=Now, Warrior! |last1=Parisi |first1=Paula |date=June 22, 2011 |access-date=April 6, 2012 |publisher=The Equestrian News}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://pilgrimstudios.com/casting/jousting/ |title=History casting horseback riders to JOUST for $100,000 |access-date=April 6, 2012 |publisher=Pilgrim Studios |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120719233902/http://pilgrimstudios.com/casting/jousting/ |archive-date=July 19, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
Around 600 people, including both men and women,{{cite web |url=http://www.therecord.com/whatson/artsentertainment/article/699722--full-metal-jousting-marks-renaissance-of-extreme-sport |title=Full Metal Jousting marks renaissance of extreme sport |last1=Abraham |first1=Lois |date=April 6, 2012 |access-date=April 6, 2012 |publisher=TheRecord.com}}{{cite web |url=http://www.toromagazine.com/culture/radar/eafc96e8-60b8-37e4-2d09-778a8c7ad52a/Full-Metal-Jousting-/ |title=Full Metal Jousting |last1=Skinner |first1=Jess |date=April 12, 2012 |access-date=April 12, 2012 |publisher=Toro Magazine}} 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,{{cite web |url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/artslife/80899-living-dream-being-knight-shining-armour
|title=Living the dream of being knight in shining armour |last1=Abraham |first1=Lois |date=April 4, 2012 |access-date=April 6, 2012 |publisher=The Chronicle Herald}}{{cite web |url=http://www.equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/sports/going-full-tilt-with-full-metal-jousting-contestant-jake-nodar/ |title=Going Full Tilt with Full Metal Jousting Contestant Jake Nodar |date=7 February 2012 |access-date=April 6, 2012 |publisher=EquiSearch}}
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).[http://www.history.com/shows/full-metal-jousting/bios/meet-the-jousters history.com website]
Full Metal Jousting is produced by Pilgrim Studios, which conducted a casting search via its website.
=Contestants=
| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" |
| Contestant || Occupation / background || colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | TeamIn the first episode, the 2 coaches drafted their teams, with black picking 1st and alternating with red. ||Eliminated |
|---|
| {{nowrap|Landon Morris}} 27, Ft. Lauderdale, FL | Auctioneer | colspan="2" bgcolor="black" align="center"|Black Team, drafted 9th |
| {{nowrap|Brian Tulk}} {{nowrap|43, San Tan Valley, AZ}} | Firefighter and paramedic | colspan="2" bgcolor="black" align="center"|Black Team, drafted 13th |align="center"| InjuredBrian Tulk injured his groin muscle in episode six and voluntarily left the competition. |
| {{nowrap|Mike EdwardsMike Edwards was initially on the Red Team but switched to the Black Team in episode six to replace Brian Tulk, who left due to injury.}} {{nowrap|40, Las Vegas, NV}} | United States Marine Corps veteran, bartender, stuntman | bgcolor="red" align="center"|Red | bgcolor="black" align="center"|Black |align="center"| 1st & 7th |
| {{nowrap|Jack Mathis}} 31, Dallas, TX | Theatrical jouster | colspan="2" bgcolor="black" align="center"|Black Team, drafted 15th |align="center"| 2nd Preliminary Joust |
| {{nowrap|Joseph McKinley}} 29, Woodland Hills, CA | Professional horseman and horse trainer | colspan="2" bgcolor="black" align="center"|Black Team, drafted 11th |align="center"| 3rd & 8th |
| {{nowrap|John Stikes}} 28, Atlanta, GA | Theatrical jouster | colspan="2" bgcolor="red" align="center"|Red Team, drafted 6th |align="center"| 4th Preliminary Joust |
| {{nowrap|David Prewitt}} 25, Klamath Falls, OR | United States Marine Corps veteran, MMA fighter | colspan="2" bgcolor="red" align="center"|Red Team, drafted 12th |align="center"| 5th Preliminary Joust |
| {{nowrap|Tom Conant}} 25, Hilmar, CA | Professional horse trainer and polo player | colspan="2" bgcolor="black" align="center"|Black Team, drafted 3rd |align="center"| 6th Preliminary Joust |
| {{nowrap|Paul Suda}} 26, Los Angeles, CA | Professional horse traineralso appeared as "18th-century weapons expert" in Deadliest Warrior, season 3 episode 23 (2011) | colspan="2" bgcolor="red" align="center"|Red Team, drafted 14th |align="center"| Quarterfinals |
| {{nowrap|Rope Myers}} 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." ([http://www.midsouthhorsereview.com/news.php?id=2197 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics To Include Rodeo]) | colspan="2" bgcolor="black" align="center"|Black Team, drafted 1st |align="center"| Quarterfinals |
| {{nowrap|James Fairclough}} 25, Newton, NJ | Professional show jumper | colspan="2" bgcolor="red" align="center"|Red Team, drafted 4th |align="center"| Quarterfinals |
| {{nowrap|Nathan Klassen}} 33, Broken Arrow, OK | Professional bull rider and horse trainer | colspan="2" bgcolor="red" align="center"|Red Team, drafted 8th |align="center"| Quarterfinals |
| {{nowrap|Jake Nodar}} 33, West Hollywood, CA | Professional horse trainer | colspan="2" bgcolor="red" align="center"|Red Team, drafted 16th |align="center"| Semifinals |
| {{nowrap|Josh Avery}} 23, Myrtle Beach, SC | Theatrical jouster | colspan="2" bgcolor="red" align="center"|Red Team, drafted 10th |align="center"| Semifinals |
| {{nowrap|Matt Hiltman}} 24, Atlanta, GA | Theatrical jouster | colspan="2" bgcolor="black" align="center"|Black Team, drafted 5th |align="center"| Finals |
| {{nowrap|Joshua Knowles}} 28, Myrtle Beach, SC | Theatrical jouster | colspan="2" bgcolor="black" align="center"|Black Team, drafted 7th |align="center"| $100,000 Winner |
{{Reflist|group=note}}
=Episodes=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" | ||
| style="background-color: #DBDBDB; color:black;" width=3% |No. | style="background-color: #DBDBDB; color:black;" width=12% |Title | style="background-color: #DBDBDB; color:black;" width=8% |Original air date
{{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 1 |Title = The Ultimate Extreme Sport |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|2|12}} |ShortSummary = The 16 contestants are divided into two teams, and begin joust training. Red Team's Mike is chosen to go up against Black Team's Josh, losing 8-5. |LineColor = DBDBDB }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 2 |Title = Unhorsed |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|2|19}} |LineColor = DBDBDB }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 3 |Title = Death Sticks & a Coffin |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|2|26}}. |LineColor = DBDBDB }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 4 |Title = Blood and Guts |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|3|4}} |ShortSummary = The $25,000 joust is announced, prompting teams to figure out which members will compete. |LineColor = DBDBDB }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 5 |Title = Hits Like a Truck |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|3|11}} |ShortSummary = Landon is disqualified for animal cruelty, and Joe is reinstated to replace him. |LineColor = DBDBDB }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 6 |Title = Ready to Rock |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|3|18}} |ShortSummary = After leaving due to injury, Black Team's Brian is replaced by Red Team's Mike. |LineColor = DBDBDB }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 7 |Title = A Killing Machine |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|3|25}} |LineColor = DBDBDB }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 8 |Title = Go to War |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|4|1}} |LineColor = DBDBDB }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 9 |Title = Charge On |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|4|8}} |LineColor = DBDBDB }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 10 |Title = The Championship Joust |OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|4|15}} |LineColor = DBDBDB }} |
|---|
=Preliminary jousts=
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=First Preliminary
| RD1-seed1= Black
| RD1-team1= Knowles
| RD1-score1= 8
| RD1-seed2= Red
| RD1-team2= Edwards
| RD1-score2= 5
}}
{{Col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=Second Preliminary
| RD1-seed1= Black
| RD1-team1= Mathis
| RD1-score1= 1
| RD1-seed2= Red
| RD1-team2= Nodar
| RD1-score2= 11
}}
{{Col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=Third Preliminary
| RD1-seed1= Black
| RD1-team1= McKinley
| RD1-score1= 19
| RD1-seed2= Red
| RD1-team2= Avery
| RD1-score2= 23
}}
{{Col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=Fourth Preliminary
| RD1-seed1= Black
| RD1-team1= Hiltman
| RD1-score1=21
| RD1-seed2= Red
| RD1-team2= Stikes
| RD1-score2= -4
}}
{{col-end}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=Fifth Preliminary
| RD1-seed1= Black
| RD1-team1= Myers
| RD1-score1= 20
| RD1-seed2= Red
| RD1-team2= Prewitt
| RD1-score2= 2
}}
{{Col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=Sixth Preliminary
| RD1-seed1= Black
| RD1-team1= Conant
| RD1-score1= 7
| RD1-seed2= Red
| RD1-team2= Suda
| RD1-score2= 13
}}
{{Col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=Seventh Preliminary
| RD1-seed1= Black
| RD1-team1= EdwardsMike Edwards replaced Brian Tulk who left the competition due to injury. As Tulk was from the Black team, Edwards was required to switch from the Red to the Black team.
| RD1-score1= 3
| RD1-seed2= Red
| RD1-team2= Klassen
| RD1-score2= 17
}}
{{Col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=Eighth Preliminary
| RD1-seed1= Black
| RD1-team1= McKinleyJoe McKinley replaced Landon Morris who was disqualified for mistreatment of his horse.
| RD1-score1= 12
| RD1-seed2= Red
| RD1-team2= Fairclough
| RD1-score2= 17
}}
{{col-end}}
{{Reflist|group=note}}
=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.
{{8TeamBracket
| RD1-seed1= Black
| RD1-team1=Myers
| RD1-score1=18
| RD1-seed2=Red
| RD1-team2=Avery
| RD1-score2=19
| RD1-seed3=Black
| RD1-team3=Knowles
| RD1-score3=25
| RD1-seed4=Red
| RD1-team4=Suda
| RD1-score4=14
| RD1-seed5=Red
| RD1-team5=Fairclough
| RD1-score5=7
| RD1-seed6=Red{{ref|2}}
| RD1-team6=Nodar
| RD1-score6=11
| RD1-seed7=Black
| RD1-team7=Hiltman
| RD1-score7=3
| RD1-seed8=Red
| RD1-team8=Klassen
| RD1-score8=2
| RD2-seed1=Red
| RD2-team1=Avery
| RD2-score1=22
| RD2-seed2=Black
| RD2-team2=Knowles
| RD2-score2=23
| RD2-seed3=Red
| RD2-team3=Nodar
| RD2-score3=1
| RD2-seed4= Black
| RD2-team4=Hiltman
| RD2-score4=22
| RD3-seed1=Black{{ref|1}}
| RD3-team1=Knowles
| RD3-score1=17
| RD3-seed2= Black
| RD3-team2=Hiltman
| RD3-score2=16
}}
{{refbegin}}
{{note|1|1}} Since both players were from the Black team, for visual clarity during this match Knowles' score was designated as Gold.
{{note|2|2}} Since both players were from the Red team, for visual clarity during this match Nodar's score was designated as Silver.
{{refend}}
=$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.
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=$25,000 Joust
| RD1-seed1= Black
| RD1-team1= Meyers
| RD1-score1= 6
| RD1-seed2= Red
| RD1-team2= Stikes
| RD1-score2= 2
}}
Reception
The show premiered on February 12, 2012 to a total of 1.9 million viewers.{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/13/full-metal-jousting-premieres-to-1-9-million-total-viewers/119714/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217030039/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/13/full-metal-jousting-premieres-to-1-9-million-total-viewers/119714/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 17, 2012 |title=Full Metal Jousting Premieres to 1.9 Million Total Viewers |access-date=March 22, 2012 |publisher=TV by the Numbers}} The numbers after the premiere were stable, ranging from 1.2 million viewers{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/28/sunday-cable-ratings-the-walking-dead-rises-nba-all-star-game-ax-men-oscars-red-carpet-more/122220/ |title=Sunday Cable Ratings |access-date=March 22, 2012 |publisher=TV by the Numbers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301173258/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/28/sunday-cable-ratings-the-walking-dead-rises-nba-all-star-game-ax-men-oscars-red-carpet-more/122220/ |archive-date=March 1, 2012 }} to 1.7 million viewers.{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/03/13/sunday-cable-ratings-the-walking-dead-dominates-oprahs-next-chapter-sees-series-high/124189/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313195555/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/03/13/sunday-cable-ratings-the-walking-dead-dominates-oprahs-next-chapter-sees-series-high/124189/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 13, 2012 |title=Sunday Cable Ratings |access-date=March 22, 2012 |publisher=TV by the Numbers}} The finale was reported to have drawn 1.44M viewers for a .5 share.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120419102713/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/04/17/sunday-cable-ratings-game-of-thrones-real-housewives-atl-mad-men-khloe-lamar-the-client-list-more/129431/ TV by the Numbers]
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20121226191108/http://www.history.com/shows/full-metal-jousting}}
- [http://www.providencehillfarm.com/ Providence Hill Farms - Season 1 Filming Location]
- {{IMDb title|2166861}}
{{History shows}}
Category:History (American TV channel) original programming
Category:2012 American television series debuts