• reality shows
  • reality TV reviews
  • about
  • contact
  • reality TV schedule
  • best reality TV
  • send tips or feedback
  • support
  • subscribe
American Grit

This is the most satisfying ending to an episode of reality TV imaginable

American Grit, Chris Krueger and Tabatha Armour, Goldie Knocks, Fox, circus
Chris Krueger and Tabatha Armour, aka Goldie Knocks, compete in the circus on American Grit's first episode.

by Andy Dehnart 18 Apr. 2016 | 9:06 am

The conclusion to Thursday’s premiere of American Grit was one of the most satisfying challenge outcomes imaginable. I encourage you to watch it—here’s the full episode—before reading the following discussion, which reveals the outcome.

It’s not always that good triumphs over evil in reality television competitions, but when it happens like this, it’s epic television.

While Chris does a lot of the work himself, American Grit builds a wonderful first hour that not only establishes the world and this new competition, but also does an excellent job of setting up his epic fall.

Chris doesn’t dominate the episode, but there’s just enough of his grossness that it builds up and by the end, we’re ready for him to fail. There are his ugly clashes with other contestants, such as when he tells Maria, “You’re so distasteful. You’re the worst person.” (Of course, he was really just projecting.)

The real conflict comes as a result of his team leader’s coaching during the challenge. Tasked with getting the entire team and a log from platform to platform, Tawanda “Tee” Hanible suggests they do it without the aid of a rope and instead just hold the log so people can crawl across. Though her suggestion is truly questionable, the way Chris deals with her in the moment and later is rude and dripping with condescension.

“I’m not blaming you, I’m saying I blame myself for listening to you,” he says later, demonstrating his proficiency at disingenuousness.

John Cena’s verbal smackdown of Chris

Tee ends up sending Chris to the circus, and John Cena’s uses his pre-circus conversation with Chris to deliver a delightful take-down:

“There is no way for me to possibly question your athletic ability. For me, your character may be in question. Your mentor is a gunnery sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. When you turned 10 years old, she was in boot camp, kicking ass, with men. When you were getting your driver’s license, she was in Iraq, in combat, and she was responsible not only for her own life but the safety of more than a thousand Marines. In 2008, while you were discovering yourself, your mentor was being award by the United States Marine Core and the White House. You sleep under a blanket of freedom that she has provided for you.”

The only thing missing from that is a concluding body-slam.

Chris breezes through the circus obstacle course, meaning he has all kinds of time to relax and rejuvenate before the final test of endurance: holding up a sandbag. He seems like the kind of villain who will prevail in a competition that does not involve the opportunity for his teammates to vote him out.

Meanwhile, Goldie, a roller derby star who’s much smaller in stature, comes in last having made it through the obstacles slowly but assuredly. She has no time to rest, and has to immediately start the endurance challenge.

As the three competitors hold their sand bags, Chris decides to show off. He yawns repeatedly, pretending he’s bored. He pulls the bag up and down with one hand, as if he’s lifting weights, to show that this is nothing to him. Rain comes down.

At one point, he says, “That’s the cologne I put on every morning: confidence,” and John Cena cements his hosting wit by saying, “that’s a strong smell from up here.”

His coach, Tee, sticks with him despite all of this and despite his disrespect, and continues to try to motivate him. “Focus on you,” she begs him. He doesn’t. (This is one of American Grit‘s more interesting twists on the familiar: the mentors are right next to their team members, whispering in their ears and giving them support and guidance.)

After 40 minutes, everyone must hold the rope with just one hand, and Chris, who’s already been holding with one hand, brags that he’ll use a hand has been resting. As more time elapses, John Cena observes that it looks like Goldie is slipping, and for a moment it seems the underdog hero will lose to the villain.

But no! The rope starts slipping out of Chris’ hand, and eventually his sandbag falls. (The only thing missing here is something for that bag to smash, like a ceramic version of Chris’ ego.) Goldie collapses into her coach’s arms in joy and exhaustion.

What works so well about this episode is the result of the competition’s structure: neither John Cena nor Tee are responsible for taking Chris out, nor are Maria or any of his competitors or teammates. It’s his own cockiness and hubris that are 100 percent responsible for his downfall.

But even the downfall isn’t the truly great part—it’s Goldie’s success. Rorke Denver, says, first to her and then to the camera,

“It is special beyond belief. You showed my daughters and you just showed your kids  what it’s all about.”

“I’ve led some of the highest-level performing teams on earth, and Goldie’s perfromance will rank right up there in my memory for the rest of my life.”

He chokes up at the end, and so did I. The emotional moment is broken with some comic relief, as Chris says, “I gave my best possible effort.”

That is also something American Grit can say for its first episode.

discuss this story

more great reality blurred stories

  • Recommended reality TV: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and America to Me
  • The best reality TV shows of 2018
  • The Survivor rule book and Survivor cast contract
  • Go behind-the-scenes at the Big Brother house
  • Behind the scenes of The Last Alaskans
  • Interviews with reality TV producers and cast members

most-popular stories on reality blurred

Life Below Zero season 11, Sue Aikens

When Life Below Zero will return for season 11, and who it will follow

Exclusive: Life Below Zero is returning to National Geographic for season 11 this fall, with a cast that includes one new person.

Bob Harte, The Last Alaskans season 4

Bob Harte’s death arrives on The Last Alaskans. How the show handles it—and his legacy.

Watch a scene from "No Regrets," the episode of The Last Alaskans that deals with Bob Harte's death, and hear from a Discovery Channel executive about how the network and production company handled his loss.

The Lewis family, Last Alaskans

Why the Lewis family is no longer on The Last Alaskans, and where they are now

A definitive answer about why the Lewis Family—Ray and Cindy, and their daughters Sarah, Molly, and Emma—have been missing from The Last Alaskans.

Jeff Probst, Survivor David vs. Goliath episode 10

Survivor Edge of Extinction: What we know so far about Survivor season 38

Survivor season 38 will feature returning players and a huge twist that could effect how the game is played and who wins.

Hunted, Emiley Cox, David Windecher

A few of Hunted’s absurd rules have been revealed

Hunted team David and Emiley revealed several of the show's rules on a radio show this morning—including one ridiculous rule that benefits the production.

Siesta Key, MTV

How Siesta Key was filmed and how it differs from Laguna Beach

An interview with the co-creator of Laguna Beach, whose new MTV show Siesta Key uses that format but avoids the fiction that befell its spinoff The Hills.

The Last Alaskans

How The Last Alaskans stayed real

"It was a big risk for us. We just had to hope, but we really wanted to try to tell authentic stories."That's Animal Planet Media executive Keith Hoffman, talking about the network's series The Last Alaskans, which is the most surprising and most spectacular reality television show I've seen in ...

Andy Cohen, Teresa Giudice, Real Housewives of New Jersey season 9 reunion

Survivor returns, Minding the Gap comes to TV, and other reality TV premieres this week

At Home with Amy Sedaris returns this week, and RHONJ's reunion begins. Plus: a dating show with groups of identical people.

Bob Harte, Last Alaskans

The Last Alaskans will return for season 4 in late 2018, and include Bob Harte’s death

Exclusive: When Discovery Channel's The Last Alaskans returns at the end of the year, Bob Harte's death from cancer will be one of its storylines.

Are You The One season 5 cast

MTV’s Are You the One season 8 casting sexually fluid, non-binary people

AYTO's producers want the "usual hot singles" but also "sexually fluid individuals," and twins.

behind the scenes of reality TV

Michael Johnson, Daytona Beach, American Ninja Warrior

Behind the Scenes of American Ninja Warrior

Behind-the-scenes details about American Ninja Warrior’s city qualifiers and city finals production: How it’s filmed, how locations are chosen, and more.

RuPaul's Drag Race, Michelle Visage, RuPaul, Carson Kressley

The RuPaul’s Drag Race contract

Drag queens give up everything from rights to revenue in order to appear on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and everything from per-episode compensation to Drag Race’s rules are covered in this 51-page participant agreement that contestants sign during the casting process.

The Glass House, ABC

Behind the scenes of The Glass House

Go inside and behind the scenes of The Glass House, ABC’s Big Brother-like competition series.

older

The story of American Grit: its endurance challenges, John ‘Cena sauce’, and more

newer >

American Grit concludes as a strong competition with few viewers

other recaps more stories about American Grit

reality TV news and reviews, in your inbox

One hand-crafted message sent every Friday. Free. Subscribe now:

discuss this story

about Andy Dehnart

Andy Dehnart’s writing and criticism about television, culture, and media has appeared on NPR and in Vulture, Pacific Standard, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications. He has covered reality television for more than 18 years, and created reality blurred in 2000.

A member of the Television Critics Association who serves on its board of directors, Andy, 41, also directs the journalism program at Stetson University in Florida, where he teaches creative nonfiction and journalism. He has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College. Learn more about reality blurred and Andy.

stay connected with reality TV

Get advice about what to watch and keep up with the latest in reality television with reality blurred's e-mail newsletter. Just enter your e-mail address:

about reality blurred

reality blurred is your guide to the world of reality TV and unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. It was created in 2000 by Andy Dehnart. He's still writing and publishing it today.

reality blurred is regularly updated with highlights from the world of reality TV: news and analysis; behind-the-scenes reports; interviews with reality TV show cast members and producers; and recaps and reviews of these reality TV shows, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Great British Baking Show, Shark Tank, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, Top Chef, and many more.

explore

  • recent news
  • reviews of reality TV shows
  • behind the scenes reports
  • interviews with producers and reality stars
  • archives
  • send tips
  • search
  • advertise on reality blurred
  • about reality blurred
  • newsletter
  • RSS and social media
  • contact reality blurred
  • send tips & contribute
  • privacy policy
  • terms of service
Copyright © 2000 to 2019 Andy Dehnart and individual contributors.