MXC -- Funny and Silly TV
72MXC, 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
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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.
Typical Commentary, Competition
Most Painful Eliminations
Are You an Extremist Like Me?
Do You Watch MXC?
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OMG, Rockinjoe, you could sooo write for this show! It's lowbrow and highbrow all jumbled together. The humor is what makes it -- and there just aren't that many comedy shows I like.
I have been having a horrible time getting video clips onto the hub today -- am going to keep trying. Worth seeing in action! MM
I love this show! Big surprise, eh? Sinkers and floaters is my favorite event. Lots of gut wrenching wipeouts, there (or, as they call them, painful eliminations)!
I would have guessed you as a fan, Mr. Evilpants. I think perhaps we could do some personality analysis based on which of the events we like the best. Personally, I like the Log Drop (shows off the contestants' double-jointed backs) and Surf rider of Death. But it's hard to pick just one, because they're all pretty crazy!!!
I love the show but I rarely get to see it anymore. Thanks for the reminder so I can set up the DVR to record. My favorite parts of the show are the facial expressions and the over acting of the hosts but you can never get enough of the extremely painful eliminations.
I know. It's on at some random times, hunh? Those eliminations are definitely painful. As in, can you picture the release of liability forms those contestants would have to sign???
WOW!! Nice videos. I never tried pole vault and now it seems like far more fun to watch than do it myself. I will look out for this program. Which channel(you mentioned spike does it come in that) and at what timings does it come. Thanks for this entertaining hub.
I have seen this before, and all I could think was, "God, people gotta be getting hurt!" I mean, it LOOKS painful, and I'm sure it is. It also struck me that you can get the Japanese to do anything! I, for one, cannot imagine doing this stuff! I didn't realise it was on these days. I'll have to look for it. Thanks!
I'm not sure if Spike TV is a standard station on most packages (Comcast, Direct TV, Dish Network or whatever services you happen to subscribe to). I know we (hubby, son and I) got hooked on MXC a couple of years back. Check the Spike TV website for schedule -- or look on your own TV guide and Tivo it if it's on in the middle of the night. Or -- help make a fellow hubber some moola and order it from Amazon.com!! LOL
I have comcast cable and DVR so I don't need Tivo. I will check out if they carry Spike TV. I am with Christoph on this. It seems much too painful and maybe the Japanese sushi makes them endure anything...lol
Btw I am not sure when was the last time I bought anything from Amazon (least of all videos when they are mostly available free within a few searches on youtube or google videos but I did click on a google ad hope that helps)..hehe
You're a true pal, CW. But I agree. You can watch MXC anytime you want on YouTube or on the Spike TV site:-).
I seriously would like to have an insight into the Japanese psyche of entertainment. What motivates people to be in such shows? Obviously you are going to get wet, slimed, muddy, and very, very black and blue -- not to mention totally humiliated. Hey, maybe that's it!!! Mass masochism! LOL.
What a funny show, thanks for introducing this to me.
I love this show!! I haven't caught it in a while, but I remember watching it with my wife and her brother. My favorite part is when they play the the eliminations over and over in super slow motion. Classic!
As far as the Japanese psyche goes, it's anyone's guess. This is the same culture that eats live scorpions for bragging rights and fresh sushi off the bodies of naked virgins! Cold sake' anyone?
Great hub! DONT. GET. ELIMINATED!!
Hi Mighty Mom. I don't think our DSTV pavkage covers that one so I'll have to try Utube. We have a local program called Clipz which picks up clips from the internet and features some spectacular wipe outs (shateboarders missing the rail, or jumping into instead over the car). It also features it's own version of Darin awards (guys who try to moutain bike or skateboard off a curved roof and miss the board). all very painful, funny and dangerous. thnks for the insight and the video clips.
Hi All, thanks for stopping by my not-so-private little humor corner. Seems I'm NOT the only fan of MXC. Shoulda known -- we Hubbers are a sick bunch:-). Sixty -- the shows you mention sound interesting. However, (IMO) the novelty of MXC is the combination of the physical feats and flubs combined with the verbal commentary. The audio is even funnier than watching the wipeouts. Definitely go check it out on Youtube. Or watch the coupla clips I've put here. Enjoy.
SP -- I'm so glad I could turn you on to something so cultural. LOL!
Paradigm Shift -- Now that I think about it. the people who DON'T get eliminated are kinda the losers. The ones who get the glory are the ones who DO get eliminated. Hmm. Another mystery of the Japanese psyche. And sure, cold sake/hot sake. Sake is all good (and probably helps make the pain of being painfully eliminated go away).
Caught a double dose of MXC last night at 11pm and 11:30pm Pacific Time. Nice to go to sleep with a smile on my face!
lol. I friggin love this show. I havent seen it on in awhile!!! It used to air at like 1am... thanks for the update on the times though, I can now catch it before bed. ; )
See? While you and I are busy watching exciting TV shows like MXC, other people are writing boring hubs about tomatoes and boogers. I wish more people would suddenly catch an interest in my top TV shows:-). Thanks for visting, MV. MM
Not my cuppa but, by all means, enjoy to your hearts’ content.
Hi CWB. Guess we all have our guilty little pleasures. MXC is my TV vice:-).
I'm addicted to docu/edu programming myself. It's really all I'll turn the TV on for. I hope I'll be lucky enough to find something on PBS so I won't have to deal with commercials. If I have to watch NatGeo or History or whatever, I try to find two on at the same time so that I can jump from one to the other when the ads come on.
CWB, that is obviously how you stay so attuned to current events and are able to bring such scholarly commentary to HP. My husband is much the same way. Although more forgiving on the NatGeo, History, Biography channels. He HATES commercials and will pick a movie or show -- seemingly any movie or show -- on a noncommercial site just to avoid the overly loud commercials.
This jumping from one to another is a typical male behavior, too. But we womens luvs ya!
Typical male behavior? That smacks of sexism!
Really though, I only do it to avoid as many commercials as possible.
Thanks Mom
Guilty as charged, CWB! I will have to look up the clinical definition of "sexist" but I stand behind my comment that hogging the remote is TMB (typical male behavior). Multichannel surfing is the male equivalent of female multitasking. It's an interesting sociological phenomenon.
BTW, I would never, ever, use the word "typical" to describe you!
I'll take that as a compliment of the highest order!
I worked in corporate amerika for seven years. It was the only time I ever wore a white collar. I ended up as admin/office manager for a contract sales branch in Albuquerque and I know all about "multitasking". As the production manager for a three plant dry cleaning operation in Connecticut around twenty years ago, my responsibilities and actual work load gave the word multitask (if it is in fact a word) a whole new meaning. Six days a week, ten to fourteen hours a day.
Ah, those were the days!
Groan. I'm cringing just thinking about corporate jobs. Glad I left all that behind, too. All I can think to say about your Connecticut gig is this: Dry cleaning, it's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it!
Seriously, I don't think I knew you were a fellow transplanted East Coaster. I still have relatives in Connecticut -- Brookfield Center, just north of Danbury.
-Hmm... Is there something wrong with me? I just can't seem to appreciate Japanese game shows... or American game shows (except for Cash Cab). I've tried, really I have! I watched the videos on this hub... as much as I could tolerate, but it's just not funny to me.
...Don't hate me 'cause I didn't laugh!
Oh dear, CW. I am crushed. This does not bode well for our proposed living arrangement with Goldentoad, Cris A and me coming to live with you in our "divorcee commune." That's ok. I appreciate your honesty. I think a lot of MXC's appeal for me is watching it with someone who also thinks it's funny. I would not seek it out on my own.
Have not heard of Cash Cab. Game shows that I do like include Jeopardy, Who Wants to be a Millionaire and some of the old classics from my childhood (Password, Concentration, To Tell the Truth, Hollywood Squares, Newlywed Game, Dating Game...) If there's no brain stretch or double entendres I can't stomach is (examples: The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune).
bahaha, I love this show, the dubbing is priceless.
rockinjoe Level 2 Commenter 3 years ago
I have not seen it, but it sounds like it's up my alley for sure. Thanks for the heads up. I'll look for it. Thanks:)