America's Toughest Jobs
Encyclopedia
America's Toughest Jobs is a reality television
show that lasted one season and aired on the American
television network
NBC
. It pitted contestants against each other as they attempted a series of difficult and dangerous jobs. The prize was the sum of the salaries that would be earned by people doing these jobs in their first year.
The show's creator and executive producer was Thom Beers
, notable for creating shows such as Deadliest Catch
and Monster Garage
. Some of the jobs he chose to be featured on America's Toughest Jobs were featured on shows he previously created. The host was Josh Temple, a character actor who had minor roles in shows such as Will & Grace
and Curb Your Enthusiasm
.
In each episode, contestants took part in tasks associated with a job, and were supervised and evaluated by workers or employers in that business. After spending time on the job, the supervisors selected one or more top employees for praise, and selected the employees who had the worst performances (the bottom four in the first five episodes, and the bottom two thereafter). Those employees were required to compete head-to-head in an additional challenge to determine who would be eliminated. For example, in the gold digging episode, the bottom four contestants were required to spend additional time digging for gold with the contestant who found the least amount eliminated. Once there were four contestants remaining, timed challenges were held for three of the season's toughest jobs with the contestant who had the slowest time at each eliminated until a winner was determined. At the end of each episode, an information screen was shown that detailed what the eliminated contestant decided to do after the show.
Ben Coleman was named the winner of season one on October 25, 2008. The results were accidentally posted on NBC's
website several hours before the show aired.
On March 13, 2009, it was confirmed that the series had been canceled and would not be returning for a second season.
1 Job featured in Deadliest Catch
, a show created by Thom Beers
2 Job featured in Ice Road Truckers
, a show produced and narrated by Beers
3 Job featured in Black Gold
, a show created and narrated by Beers
4 Job featured in Ax Men
, a show created and narrated by Beers
In addition, each of the contestants in the final four was awarded a 2009 Dodge Ram.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show that lasted one season and aired on the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. It pitted contestants against each other as they attempted a series of difficult and dangerous jobs. The prize was the sum of the salaries that would be earned by people doing these jobs in their first year.
The show's creator and executive producer was Thom Beers
Thom Beers
Thom Beers is an American television producer and narrator/ voice over artist. Beers, a former producer and executive with Turner Broadcasting and Paramount Syndicated Television, has produced over 40 television series since the mid 1990s, most under the banner of his own production company formed...
, notable for creating shows such as Deadliest Catch
Deadliest Catch
Deadliest Catch is a documentary/reality television series produced by Original Productions for the Discovery Channel. It portrays the real life events aboard fishing vessels in the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king crab and C. opilio crab fishing seasons.The Aleutian Islands port of Dutch Harbor,...
and Monster Garage
Monster Garage
Monster Garage is a television show for the Discovery Channel hosted by Jesse G. James. Each episode is an hour in length and was conceived and produced by Thom Beers.The show aired the series finale on June 12, 2006. Jesse G...
. Some of the jobs he chose to be featured on America's Toughest Jobs were featured on shows he previously created. The host was Josh Temple, a character actor who had minor roles in shows such as Will & Grace
Will & Grace
Will & Grace was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 21, 1998 to May 18, 2006 for a total of eight seasons. Will & Grace remains the most successful television series with gay principal characters...
and Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Curb Your Enthusiasm is an American comedy television series produced and broadcast by HBO, which premiered on October 15, 2000. As of 2011, it has completed 80 episodes over eight seasons. The series was created by Seinfeld co-creator Larry David, who stars as a fictionalized version of himself...
.
In each episode, contestants took part in tasks associated with a job, and were supervised and evaluated by workers or employers in that business. After spending time on the job, the supervisors selected one or more top employees for praise, and selected the employees who had the worst performances (the bottom four in the first five episodes, and the bottom two thereafter). Those employees were required to compete head-to-head in an additional challenge to determine who would be eliminated. For example, in the gold digging episode, the bottom four contestants were required to spend additional time digging for gold with the contestant who found the least amount eliminated. Once there were four contestants remaining, timed challenges were held for three of the season's toughest jobs with the contestant who had the slowest time at each eliminated until a winner was determined. At the end of each episode, an information screen was shown that detailed what the eliminated contestant decided to do after the show.
Ben Coleman was named the winner of season one on October 25, 2008. The results were accidentally posted on NBC's
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
website several hours before the show aired.
On March 13, 2009, it was confirmed that the series had been canceled and would not be returning for a second season.
Contestant Progress
| Week | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Finale | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contestant | Result | |||||||||||
| Ben | Safe | Safe | Btm 2 | Win | Safe | Win | Win | Safe | Safe | Win | Win | WIN |
| Steven | Btm 4 | Safe | Btm 4 | Safe | Btm 3 | Btm 2 3 | Safe | Safe | Safe | 2nd | 2nd | OUT |
| Sandy | Win1 | Safe | Win | Safe | Safe | Safe | Btm 2 | Win | Btm 2 | 3rd | OUT | |
| Michaela | Win1 | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Win | OUT | ||
| Rommel | Safe | Btm 4 | Safe | Safe | Win2 | Safe | Safe | Btm 2 | OUT | |||
| Bryce | Safe | Btm 3 | Btm 3 | Btm 4 | Btm 4 | Safe | Safe | OUT | ||||
| Chris | Safe | Btm 2 | Safe | Btm 3 | Btm 2 | Safe | OUT | |||||
| Rie | Safe | Safe | Safe | Safe | Win2 | OUT | ||||||
| Eric | Btm 2 | Safe | Safe | Btm 2 | OUT | |||||||
| Rick | Safe | Safe | Safe | OUT | ||||||||
| Phil | Safe | Win | OUT | |||||||||
| Amy | Btm 3 | OUT | ||||||||||
| Senta | OUT | |||||||||||
- 1 In the first episode, the contestants were divided into two teams. A winner was selected from each team
- 2 In the fifth episode, there were two winners selected
- 3 In the sixth episode, it was announced that from then on there would only be two worst performers announced instead of four
- The contestant won the competition
- The contestant won the challenge
- The contestant was called out as one of the worst performers, but was not eliminated
- The contestant was eliminated
Episode list
- 101 "Crab Fishing"1 (first aired August 25, 2008) – The show began from Dutch Harbor, AlaskaUnalaska, AlaskaUnalaska is a city in the Aleutians West Census Area of the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. Unalaska is located on Unalaska Island and neighboring Amaknak Island in the Aleutian Islands off of mainland Alaska....
in the Bering SeaBering SeaThe Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves....
with the contestants tackling crab fishing. - 102 "Trucking in Alaska"2 (first aired September 1, 2008) – The contestants learned how to navigate the icy and frozen roads as truck drivers in Alaska. The boss supervising the rookies said that he would be willing to hire the winner, Phil, full-time.
- 103 "Gold Digging" (first aired September 8, 2008) – The contestants searched for gold in the Chugach MountainsChugach MountainsThe Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are the northernmost of the several mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of the western edge of North America. The range is about 500 km long, running generally east-west. Its highest point is Mount Marcus Baker, at , but most of its...
in southern Alaska. - 104 "Monster Trucks" (first aired September 15, 2008) – The contestants took on monster trucking at a site in Salinas, CaliforniaSalinas, CaliforniaSalinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
with Dennis AndersonDennis AndersonDennis Anderson is a professional monster truck driver. He is the creator and driver of "Grave Digger" on the USHRA Monster Jam circuit. Originally from Norfolk, Virginia, he now resides in Poplar Branch, North Carolina. In Poplar Branch, he has his own shop where he signs autographs and shoots...
and Grave DiggerGrave Digger (truck)Grave Digger is the name of a team of monster trucks currently racing in the USHRA Monster Jam series. There are several Grave Diggers being driven by different drivers to allow them to make appearances at more events, but their flagship driver is creator Dennis Anderson...
. - 105 "Oil Drilling"3 (first aired September 19, 2008) – The contestants took on oil drilling in Odessa, TexasOdessa, TexasOdessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
. - 106 "Bullfighting" (first aired September 26, 2008) – The contestants learned professional bullfighting in San Angelo, TexasSan Angelo, TexasSan Angelo is a city in the state of Texas. Located in West Central Texas it is the county seat of Tom Green County. As of 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 93,200...
. - 107 "Bridge Crew" (first aired October 3, 2008) – The contestants worked on the Vincent Thomas BridgeVincent Thomas BridgeThe Vincent Thomas Bridge is a long suspension bridge, opened in 1963, crossing the Los Angeles Harbor in the U.S. state of California, linking San Pedro, Los Angeles, with Terminal Island. The bridge is signed as part of State Route 47. It is named for California Assemblyman Vincent Thomas of San...
in San Pedro, California. - 108 "Logging"4 (first aired October 10, 2008) – The contestants worked as loggers in Port Angeles, WashingtonPort Angeles, WashingtonPort Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
. - 109 "Mountain Rescue" (first aired October 18, 2008) – The contestants completed a mountain rescue on Mount McKinleyMount McKinleyMount McKinley or Denali in Alaska, United States is the highest mountain peak in North America and the United States, with a summit elevation of above sea level. It is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve.- Geology and features :Mount McKinley is a granitic pluton...
in Alaska. - 110 "Season Finale" (first aired October 25, 2008) – The final four contestants revisited the season's toughest jobs to determine the winner: bullfighting, oil drilling, and logging.
1 Job featured in Deadliest Catch
Deadliest Catch
Deadliest Catch is a documentary/reality television series produced by Original Productions for the Discovery Channel. It portrays the real life events aboard fishing vessels in the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king crab and C. opilio crab fishing seasons.The Aleutian Islands port of Dutch Harbor,...
, a show created by Thom Beers
Thom Beers
Thom Beers is an American television producer and narrator/ voice over artist. Beers, a former producer and executive with Turner Broadcasting and Paramount Syndicated Television, has produced over 40 television series since the mid 1990s, most under the banner of his own production company formed...
2 Job featured in Ice Road Truckers
Ice Road Truckers
Ice Road Truckers is a documentary-style reality television series that premiered on History on June 17, 2007.-History:In 2000, History aired a 46-minute episode titled "Ice Road Truckers" as part of the Suicide Missions series...
, a show produced and narrated by Beers
3 Job featured in Black Gold
Black Gold (TV series)
Black Gold is a documentary-style reality television series that chronicles three oil drilling rigs in Andrews County, Texas, 30 miles northwest of Odessa. It is produced by Thom Beers, creator of Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers. The Black Gold theme song is sung by country music star Trace...
, a show created and narrated by Beers
4 Job featured in Ax Men
Ax Men
Ax Men is an American documentary reality television series that premiered on March 9, 2008 on History. The program follows the work of several logging crews in the second-growth forests of Northwestern Oregon, Washington and Montana. The show highlights the dangers encountered by the loggers...
, a show created and narrated by Beers
Prize
The prize for the contest winner was the combined amount of the salaries of what a first-year worker would earn on each job. Below is a table that details the breakdown:| Job | Salary |
|---|---|
| Crab Fisherman | $29,805.98 |
| Ice Road Trucker | $31,714.72 |
| Gold Digger | $15,464.62 |
| Monster Trucker | $45,614.581 |
| Oil Driller | $35,184.22 |
| Bullfighter | $41,785.81 |
| Bridge Crewman | $47,592.152 |
| Logger | $35,248.00 |
| Mountain Guide | $15,589.92 |
| Total | $298,000.00 |
- 1 $2,000 was subtracted from salary because contestants broke one of Dennis Anderson's jacks
- 2 The initial salary for bridge crewman was listed at $48,592.15, but was lowered to $47,592.15 in subsequent episodes with no explanation given
In addition, each of the contestants in the final four was awarded a 2009 Dodge Ram.
Epilogues
- 101 – Senta quit her previous job and moved to Alaska to work at Denali National ParkDenali National Park and PreserveDenali National Park and Preserve is located in Interior Alaska and contains Denali , the highest mountain in North America. The park and preserve together cover 9,492 mi² .The longest glacier is the Kalhiltna glacier....
. - 102 – Amy quit her previous job and went back home to Boston to explore new opportunities.
- 103 – Phil accepted the previous offer of trucking in Alaska.
- 104 – Rick quit his previous job in the software industry and built his own gym for mixed martial arts.
- 105 – Eric invented a wildfire water protection system for the home.
- 106 – Rie landed another modeling contract.
- 107 – Chris quit his previous job and became a police officer in Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, CaliforniaPasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. - 108 – Bryce quit his previous job and opened a gym for celebrities and executives.
- 109 – Rommel continued to pursue his passion of teaching karate and opened a new martial arts school.
- 110 – Michaela began working with biologists in the Bahamas.
- 110 – Sandy went back to her job as a teacher with hopes of landing a job as a basketball coach.
- 110 – Steven began a career working in the film industry.
- 110 – Ben, the contest winner, started training to be a Monster JamMonster JamMonster Jam is a live motorsport event tour and television show operated by Feld Entertainment. The series is sanctioned under the umbrella of the United States Hot Rod Association and takes place primarily in the United States and around the world...
driver and used the prize money to buy a house.