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Tough as Nails

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For the most recent season, see Tough as Nails season 5.
Not to be confused with Hard as Nails.

Tough as Nails
GenreReality competition
Created by
Presented byPhil Keoghan
Theme music composerAndrew Keoghan
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes50 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Phil Keoghan
  • Louise Keoghan
  • Anthony Carbone
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseJuly 8, 2020 (2020-07-08) –
present

Tough as Nails is an American reality competition television series that premiered on CBS on July 8, 2020. The show is hosted by Phil Keoghan and features contestants competing in challenges at job sites that test their toughness, with one participant eliminated in each episode. In March 2022, the series was renewed for a fifth season, which premiered in July 2023.

Format

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Twelve contestants are tested in competitions at real-world job sites with tasks that test their strength, endurance, life skills and mental toughness. Contestants compete in 6-on-6 team challenges, individual competitions, and elimination battles, referred to as 'Overtime'. Unlike other reality competitions, contestants who lose elimination challenges do not leave the game and still have the opportunity to win additional prizes during team competitions. Each team competition gives the winning team $12,000 ($2,000 per member) and earns the team that challenge's Badge of Honor. The team that has collected the most Badges of Honor by the end of the season receives an additional cash bonus of $60,000 ($10,000 per member). If both teams have the same number of Badges of Honor, then they will hold a tiebreaker.

In each episode, contestants compete in individual challenges in order to stay in the running for the grand prize. The lowest performers in each individual challenge are sent to Overtime, with the loser of the Overtime challenge eliminated from the individual competition (referred to in the show as 'punching out'). At the end of the season, one contestant is crowned the Tough as Nails champion and wins the grand prize of $200,000 and a Ford Super Duty truck.[1][2]

Production

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On October 3, 2019, it was announced that CBS had ordered Tough as Nails with a 10-episode order. Phil Keoghan hosts the series and serves as executive producer alongside his wife, Louise.[3] In early November, a nationwide casting search took place in the cities of St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, New York City, Cincinnati, and Las Vegas.[4] On April 29, 2020, it was announced that the series would premiere on July 8, 2020,[5][6][7] later making it a two-hour premiere.[8][9]

On August 12, 2020, the series was renewed for a second season,[10][11] which premiered on February 10, 2021.[12][13] On April 14, 2021, it was announced that the series was renewed for an additional two seasons,[14] with the third season premiering on October 6, 2021.[15][16] The series was later renewed for a fifth season on March 9, 2022.[17][18] Starting with the fifth season, Canadians were eligible to apply for Tough as Nails.[19][20] The fourth season premiered on January 4, 2023.[21] The first four seasons filmed in Southern California, and the fifth season filmed in Hamilton, Ontario.[22] On June 13, 2023, it was announced that the fifth season would premiere on July 2, 2023 with a two-hour premiere.[23]

Episodes

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Main article: List of Tough as Nails episodes
SeasonContestantsEpisodesOriginally airedWinnerRunner-up
First airedLast aired
11210July 8, 2020 (2020-07-08)September 2, 2020 (2020-09-02)Kelly "Murph" MurphyDanny Moody
21210February 10, 2021 (2021-02-10)April 14, 2021 (2021-04-14)Scott HenryCyril "Zeus" Ontai III
31210October 6, 2021 (2021-10-06)December 8, 2021 (2021-12-08)Lia MortDequincey "Quincey" Walker
41210January 4, 2023 (2023-01-04)February 22, 2023 (2023-02-22)Jorge ZavalaMister Frost
51210July 2, 2023 (2023-07-02)July 30, 2023 (2023-07-30)Ben DempseyTodd Anderson

Reception

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Critical response

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Joel Keller from Decider said that the team challenges were more intriguing despite the individual challenges having more at stake.[24]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2021 Critics' Choice Real TV Awards Best Competition Series Tough as Nails Nominated [25]

International versions

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Country Name Host Network Ref.
Australia TBA TBA TBA [26]
Belgium De Sterkste Handen Natalia & Sergio Quisquater VTM [27][28]
Denmark Danmarks Stærkeste Hænder Mette Bluhme Rieck DR1 [29]
Netherlands Tough as Nails Nederland Jelka van Houten & Edson da Graça Veronica TV & Amazon Prime Video [30]

References

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  1. ^ Mike Bloom (May 28, 2020). "Meet the Cast of the New Reality Show Tough as Nails". Parade. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  2. ^ Dalton Ross (July 6, 2020). "Pint-size ticket agent inspires fear in Tough as Nails premiere". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  3. ^ "CBS Orders New Competition Series Tough as Nails, From Emmy Award-Winning Executive Producer Phil Keoghan and Louise Keoghan" (Press release). CBS. October 3, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
  4. ^ "Nationwide Casting Search Begins For Tough As Nails, Hosted By Phil Keoghan On CBS". CBS. October 24, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  5. ^ Joe Otterson (April 29, 2020). "Amazing Race Season 32 Premiere Pushed Back as CBS Sets Game On, Tough as Nails Dates". Variety. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  6. ^ Peter White (May 5, 2020). "CBS Pushes The Amazing Race To Later In 2020, Sets Premieres For Reality Series Game On! & Tough As Nails". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  7. ^ "CBS Announces Premiere Dates for Two New Reality Series, Game On! and Tough as Nails" (Press release). CBS. April 29, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
  8. ^ "Tough as Nails Premiere Moves to 8:00-9:00 PM, Wednesday, July 8" (Press release). CBS. June 15, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
  9. ^ "CBS Program Advisory - Tough as Nails Will Now Have a Two-Hour Series Premiere on Wednesday, July 8" (Press release). CBS. July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
  10. ^ Peter White (August 12, 2020). "Tough As Nails Renewed At CBS For Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  11. ^ "CBS Renews Competition Series Tough as Nails for a Second Season" (Press release). CBS. August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
  12. ^ Tough As Nails [@ToughAsNailsCBS] (November 16, 2020). "It's official! @PhilKeoghan has blown the whistle on #ToughAsNails Season 2, coming to your screens in 2021! Drop a 💪 if you'll be watching!" (Tweet). Retrieved November 16, 2020 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ "CBS Announces Highly Anticipated New Drama Clarice from Acclaimed Executive Producers Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet to Debut Thursday, Feb. 11 at 10:00 PM" (Press release). CBS. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020 – via The Futon Critic.
  14. ^ Peter White (April 14, 2021). "Tough As Nails Handed Two-Season Renewal At CBS". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  15. ^ "CBS Announces Fall 2021-2022 Primetime Premiere Dates" (Press release). CBS. July 12, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2021 – via The Futon Critic.
  16. ^ Erik Pedersen (July 12, 2021). "CBS Fall Premiere Dates: New NCIS, CSI, FBI Series Plus Returning Comedies, Dramas & Reality Fare". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  17. ^ Peter White (March 9, 2022). "Survivor, The Amazing Race, Tough As Nails & Secret Celebrity Renovation Renewed At CBS". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  18. ^ Tough As Nails [@ToughAsNailsCBS] (March 9, 2022). "#ToughAsNails is getting to work!💪🏽 With season 4 on the way, we're so excited to announce we'll also be back for season 5!🎉" (Tweet). Retrieved April 3, 2022 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ Brioux, Bill (March 15, 2022). "Canadians get to prove that we're also Tough as Nails". brioux.tv. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  20. ^ Powell, John (March 15, 2022). "Phil Keoghan Invites Canadians To Get 'Tough'". Global Television Network. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  21. ^ Ryan Schwartz (November 14, 2022). "CBS Midseason Schedule: True Lies Reboot, RuPaul Game Show Lingo Set Premieres; The Equalizer Return TBD". TVLine. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  22. ^ Andy Dehnart (February 28, 2023). "Tough As Nails 4 ends with its closest finish ever and a season 5 surprise". reality blurred. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  23. ^ Matt Webb Mitovich (June 13, 2023). "Tough as Nails Season 5 Joins CBS' Summer Schedule". TVLine. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  24. ^ "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Tough As Nails' On CBS, A Phil Keoghan-Hosted Reality Competition Where Blue Collar Workers Do Extremely Demanding Jobs". Decider. July 8, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  25. ^ Matt Grobar (June 2, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race & Netflix Lead Critics Choice Real TV Award Nominations; Alex Trebek Set For Impact Award". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
  26. ^ "Auditions: Tough as Nails". TV Tonight. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  27. ^ "Natalia en Sergio Quisquater onderwerpen 10 hardwerkende Vlamingen aan een ongeziene krachtproef in De Sterkste Handen" [Natalia and Sergio Quisquater subject 10 hardworking Flemish people to an unprecedented test of strength in The Strongest Hands]. Frontview Magazine. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  28. ^ Franks, Nico (October 26, 2021). "VTM in Belgium feeling Tough As Nails after securing US competition format". C21 Media. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  29. ^ "Mette Bluhme Rieck gør det selv" [Mette Bluhme Rieck does it herself]. Avisen.dk. October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  30. ^ "Realitycompetitieserie Tough as Nails vanaf 9 januari bij Veronica en Prime Video" on YouTube
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