If you’re not in to football, your pickings were pretty slim if you were looking to alternatives to watch instead of the big game. Networks sensed that the vast majority of viewers would be tuned into the Super Bowl, so they didn’t really try to put any programming in to compete with it. One show did do pretty well, however, and that was my new favorite game show, Wipeout.

ABC was running second to the Super Bowl thanks to a Wipeout marathon. In the show, contestants have to run through ridiculous obstacle courses, getting knocked off platforms, hit with balls to knock them off balance, or climbing up water slides that suddenly bombard them with 1000 gallons of sports drink. It sounds violent, and some of the replays are painful to watch, but it’s all in good fun, and the goofy contestants are just as silly as the show’s hosts.

The show brought in about 4.2 million viewers for ABC, which was an improvement for them compared to last year, but still trailing a bit behind Cold Case at 8pm and The Unit at 9pm on CBS. That doesn’t lessen my enthusiasm for the show, so if you get the chance, check it out!