Toughest Cowboy is an American rodeo competition-based reality television program that follows twelve professional cowboys as they compete in three roughstock rodeo events — bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding in effort to win the Toughest Cowboy championship and the grand prize of a ranch in the American West. Originally created by Jac Sperling and Tommy Joe Lucia, Toughest Cowboy is a combination of athletic competition and personal retrospectives creating a new genre of television, known as “sports drama.” The first broadcast aired April 8, 2007 on the Fox Sports Network (FSN). In 2009, Mark Burnett signed on to produce the series for Spike TV. Whiskey Falls composed the theme song.
The show follows a group of twelve professional rodeo cowboys through a series of live rodeo tournaments in which they must ride three different disciplines, whereas in most rodeo competitions, competitors ride in one specific discipline or event. This all-around competition adds a significantly higher likelihood of injury. Each week a competitor is eliminated from the competition, until the final four competitors remain. These four final cowboys must ride a total of six animals each (two bareback broncs, two saddle broncs, two bulls) during the championship tournament. Throughout the championship round each competitor amasses total ride points, the cowboy with the most total points at the conclusion of the finals is awarded the series championship and grand prize ranch.
Toughest Cowboy also uses a modified point system based on the standard 8-second qualified ride from traditional rodeo. Rather than scoring a “0” for any ride shorted than eight seconds, Toughest Cowboy competitors are delivered penalty points for the 1/10 of seconds they are short of the full ride mark. Each 1/10 of a second is equal to 1 point. This eliminates the chance of a 0-0 tie between competitors.
In addition to the athletic competition, the broadcast include segments outside of the rodeo arena. These segments give background on the competitor’s lives, most of which include visits to their homes. There are also interviews conducted during the live competition to provide an inside look at the cowboys thoughts during the tournament.
Read more about Toughest Cowboy: Format and Rules, Toughest Cowboy Seasons
Famous quotes containing the words toughest and/or cowboy:
“As Jerome expanded, its chances for the title, “the toughest little town in the West,” increased and when it was incorporated in 1899 the citizens were able to support the claim by pointing to the number of thick stone shutters on the fronts of all saloons, gambling halls, and other places of business for protection against gunfire.”
—Administration in the State of Ariz, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“The cowboy ... is well on his way to becoming a figure of magnificent proportions. Bowlegged and gaunt, he stands as the apotheosis of manly perfection. Songs, novels, movies, magazines, and operettas have made the least inquiring of us well acquainted with his extraordinary courage, unfailing gallantry, and uncanny skill with gun or lariat. The farmer, meanwhile, sits stolidly on his tractor, bereft of romance and adventure.”
—For the State of Kansas, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)