Overall, I'd say it was modestly entertaining. I struggle to think how a non-climber could enjoy it. Perhaps that's why they over-commentated and over-hyped it, in hopes that a non-climbing audience could track what they're seeing. But I'm dubious if that'll work. Generally, I'm bummed. I think this was a missed opportunity to do something cool on a filmmaking level, cool like a Mellow climbing film. This didn't feel groundbreaking in the slightest. It felt like early Survivor... just basic reality competition fodder. 3/10
“It’s one of the interesting things about Jason that most people don’t know about — he’s been a climber longer than he’s been an actor,” Sharma, 41, told The Post.
“We met probably sometime in ‘96 or ‘96, climbing in Texas near El Paso. It’s pretty amazing. He’s first and foremost a climber, and everything came from that. We climbed and connected way back then, and we reconnected years later when we were both more established in our lives.”
Momoa and Sharma have partnered up to create “The Climb,” an HBO Max competition series produced by Momoa, who briefly appears, and is and hosted by Sharma and fellow renowned climber Meagan Martin (known for “American Ninja Warrior”).
I really needed to do is hug my partner at the top.
FYI - you are not limited to hugging your partners at the top. Once you hug your partners anywhere and any when, quality of your life improves. As a result, you spend less time troll and angst posting on mountain project.
Ok I watched it. Meagan Martin’s commentary still is abysmal (my favorite was when one of the chicks was on a wadi rum route and Meagan goes, “she’s super solid here” as the climber proceeds to immediately fall). Sharma couldn’t make it more obvious he was just there for another fat paycheck, though his eyes always lit up when him and Jason were “chatting” around the fire. None of the participants seem to be anywhere near professional level talent, I mean some were falling on V4 and 5.11’s. Several seem marketable though which is deserving of sponsorship if you ask me. Lastly, I’m quite upset that HBO did not push harder to keep Robyn and Brad (was that his name?) around together longer and appeal to the hopeless romantic climbers out there. I think they could have made it had the boy, from some of the best steep limestone climbing in Wyoming, not fell on steep limestone.
None of the participants seem to be anywhere near professional level talent, I mean some were falling on V4 and 5.11’s. Several seem marketable though which is deserving of sponsorship if you ask me.
From the NYPost article I linked on the last page (and mentioned in some of the much earlier links in this thread):
Now streaming (with new episodes out on Thursdays), “The Climb”features amateur climbers from all walks of life and skill levels, who are sent to climbing locations around the world, including limestone cliffs in Catalonia and Wadi Rum, a desert valley in Jordan. The winner gets a $100,000 cash prize and a sponsorship with the brand prAna.
They needed to add ice to up the interest. Have them all lead a WI4 to at least make it interesting and spicy.
Have them all choose their weapons and why —between G5/phantom tech, G20+ or Bladerunners, Nomics or X-dreams and then place aluminum screws in warm soft ice. At least 100 more people would’ve watched.
The, "features amateur climbers from all walks of life and skill levels" is the weird part, if it's a competition on who the, "best" climber is, and best here equals "strongest".
Why not go with most improved, or "the one that seems to be having the most fun"? or some other subjective quality? And/Or have the rest of the climbers vote on who's been the coolest to hang with? Why not take a climbing trip of sorts out to an area, do some climbing (tons of opps to film all this - give something for all those climbers that are picking their noses to try to onsight the boulder or whatever something to do), then have the fireside chat over some brewskies about what your favorite part of the trip was? Who helped who with beta? Who was the best partner for bouldering? Who shared the best beta break to get some cruxy move up high? One week you're in the Creek and then, woooosh! Off the Ouray! Don't know how to climb cracks? Ice Climb? YOU WILL AFTER THIS!
That would be a way more natural way to reality-showify regular climbing, while also making it this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime dream climbing trip for the contestants.
I dunno - like say what you will about the hyper immaturity pranks of that Thrasher road trip show, but at least it's fun to look back at some of the footage,
Ok I watched it. Meagan Martin’s commentary still is abysmal (my favorite was when one of the chicks was on a wadi rum route and Meagan goes, “she’s super solid here” as the climber proceeds to immediately fall).
The, "features amateur climbers from all walks of life and skill levels" is the weird part, if it's a competition on who the, "best" climber is, and best here equals "strongest".
Why not go with most improved, or "the one that seems to be having the most fun"? or some other subjective quality? And/Or have the rest of the climbers vote on who's been the coolest to hang with? Why not take a climbing trip of sorts out to an area, do some climbing (tons of opps to film all this - give something for all those climbers that are picking their noses to try to onsight the boulder or whatever something to do), then have the fireside chat over some brewskies about what your favorite part of the trip was? Who helped who with beta? Who was the best partner for bouldering? Who shared the best beta break to get some cruxy move up high? One week you're in the Creek and then, woooosh! Off the Ouray! Don't know how to climb cracks? Ice Climb? YOU WILL AFTER THIS!
That would be a way more natural way to reality-showify regular climbing, while also making it this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime dream climbing trip for the contestants.
That sounds cool and all, but that's not "reality TV". For that you need either competition (that know-nothings about the subject can understand) or massive conflict. Ideally both, but the latter often wins out, You're still looking at it from the perspective of a climber.
That sounds cool and all, but that's not "reality TV". For that you need either competition (that know-nothings about the subject can understand) or massive conflict. Ideally both, but the latter often wins out, You're still looking at it from the perspective of a climber.
You're not wrong. I'm surprised that the TV Execs went for the idea, as climbing is kinda boring to watch. Speaking just for myself, it's mostly visceral. It takes a Chris Sharma and really great editing to make a bouldering trip like those lightning in a bottle movies from way back when of Sharma globetrotting (tho Rampage is all you really needed) and bouldering in like NZ or on top of a Brazilian Plateau to get me stoked to go climbing myself.I haven't talk to non-climbers about the show so I've no idea if they're getting anything out of it.
Bryan
·
Jan 30, 2023
·
Minneapolis, MN
· Joined Apr 2015
· Points: 482
Reading some of the critiques in this thread is so much more painful than even the cringiest moments in the show. We get it, you’re a real climber.
From the NYPost article I linked on the last page (and mentioned in some of the much earlier links in this thread):
You’re right, I guess I just assumed that earning a “Prana sponsored climbing career” equated to being paid ($100K) and therefore a professional climber… Either way, mistake.
I also find it more humorous that they are competing to be the “best amateur climber”….like if you earned/won the title of “the best amateur” at what point are you no longer an amateur? I always thought it was earning a sponsorship and getting paid…that goes for any sport for that matter too, isn’t that why the Tampa Am is such a big deal? Either way, Cat is a badass dude nonetheless and I’m sure his amateur sponsorship will work out well for him in the end, he’s marketable, likeable, and actually pretty strong.
You're not wrong. I'm surprised that the TV Execs went for the idea, as climbing is kinda boring to watch. Speaking just for myself, it's mostly visceral. It takes a Chris Sharma and really great editing to make a bouldering trip like those lightning in a bottle movies from way back when of Sharma globetrotting (tho Rampage is all you really needed) and bouldering in like NZ or on top of a Brazilian Plateau to get me stoked to go climbing myself.I haven't talk to non-climbers about the show so I've no idea if they're getting anything out of it.
I think watching climbing gets boring as a climber the more you watch climbing. To someone who knows nothing about the sport I’m sure they still gasp every time someone falls. Add in people being eliminated and I can see people getting into it. Now, as another user posted on here, there needed to be far more drama amongst contestants to gain mass viewship
I should market a travel show that is literally just about via ferratas and nights spent in various portaledges. Nothing gets the people going like quite like via ferratas and portaledges.
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