MXC -- Funny and Silly TV
MXC, formerly "Most Extreme Elimination Challenge" is the stupidest, slyest, dirtiest, zaniest, absolutely best reality show on TV. Bold statement? Yes, and I fully expect some backlash. But since MXC is really one-of-a-kind, you can't reasonably compare it with American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Lost, The Bachelor, The Biggest Loser -- or really any other show.
MXC never fails to lift my mood. In fact, my husband recently challenged each other to watch an entire episode without laughing. I made it all of 10 seconds.
It's that funny!!!
Own It and Watch When YOU Want To
MXC -- There's Nothing Quite Like It
If you've never seen MXC, you owe it to yourself to check it out -- although it's not always easy to find (2009 episodes are slated for 3 a.m. timeslots). It airs on Spike TV, whose website, www.spike.com dubs itself as "the premiere online destination for Men."
Now, the fact that I am not even remotely in Spike TV's demo, but am still a big fan of MXC, is testament to its superiority to other comedy or challenge shows.
Basically, MXC is a competition between two (sometimes three) cleverly named teams, with equally cleverly named competitors. The teams compete in ridiculous, physically challenging (read: more or less impossible), suggestively named feats. Ninety percent of the time competitors end up slathered in mud as well as bonking their tailbones and/or helmeted heads. And cheerfully getting up to face the next ridiculous challenge. With any luck (or perhaps I should say "without" any luck) they'll end up in the "Top 10 Most Painful Eliminations of the Day" countdown.
Two kimono-clad male hosts narrate the play-by-play in a Mystery Science Theatre meets
Harry Caray www.baseball-almanac.com/quotes/quocaray.shtml
style that's big on innuendo, off-color jokes and pop culture reference. There's nothing particularly funny about the narrators' names: Kenny Blankenship and Vic Romano. Except that they are both Japanese -- as are all the contestants.
Who Thinks of These Things?
Yep. Kenny, Vic, Captain Tenneal, Guy Le Douche -- the entire cast of wacky characters is Japanese.
That's because the video footage is taken from a popular 1980s Japanese game show. I can only assume the original was this funny (if you happen to be a fan of Japanese game shows, that is).
Clearly the English voiceovers add an over-the-top dimension. There's an obvious disconnect between what you're seeing vs. what you're hearing, but somehow it all works!
MXC Scores on Writing
What exactly is so hysterical about MXC? For me, it's the witty, rapid-fire narration, full of double entendres, rhymes, alliteration and puns. It goes by so quickly that I often find myself saying, "Wait? Did he just say what I think he said?" And by the time it sinks in, there's three more lines just as funny.
Contestants also make noises and comments -- all dubbed in English while they're obviously speaking Japanese.
The overall audience experience is one of constant:
Wincing ("Ow -- that's gotta hurt!"),
Groaning, ("Oh, that was low!") and
Chuckling, ("Hey, that was clever!").
Jackass or Fear Factor, It's Not
Why do I find MXC so appealing compared to, say, "Jackass"? "Jackass" is just dumb (in my opinion). It's crass and not clever in the least. But MXC is slapstick comedy merged with adult humor. It's like "I Love Lucy" meets "The Gong Show" meets "The Newlywed Game" meets "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"
We have no idea whether the contestants are serious or are in on the joke. Considering the silly costumes they wear, I have to assume they're in it for the kitsch. In fact, there's never any mention of prizes -- so what, exactly, they're competing for is a mystery. And that's another thing I like about MXC. It's so very non-American (read: plastic and fueled by greed). Awhile back there was a show called "Fear Factor." Contestants endured some pretty crazy tests designed to overcome their base fears (lots of snakes and bugs. Ew.). The winner's payoff for surviving the torment? You guessed it: a big chunk of change.
But MXC isn't about the bling, it's all about the bonk!
A Few Sample Episodes
Superheroes vs. MySpace It's crime fighters and kilobiters as world famous Superheroes take on the world of MySpace. It's the classic battle of Heroes and Freaks vs. emailing geeks.
The Amusement Park Industry vs. The World's Oldest Profession
MXC is back with the battle between the family fun parks vs. naughty body parts. Vic and Kenny try out some of the latest games offered by the amusement park industry. Games Include: HOSIN' THE HO'S, EAT SHITAKE, BRASS BALLS, and SINKERS AND FLOATERS.
Postal Industry vs. Motor Sports
This installment of MXC features a classic battle between the Mail bags and checkered flags as The Postal Industry takes on Motor Sports. Witness our first MXC Impact replay in Spanish. Games include: DEAD LETTER ZONE, FOUL BALLS, IRRITABLE BOWL SYNDROME and LOG DROP.
