Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race Explained

Image Alt:Series logo with a map of the Earth in the background
Developer:Alex Ganetakos
Terry McGurrin
Presenter:Terry McGurrin
Country:Canada
Language:English
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:26
Runtime:20 minutes, 32 seconds
Network:Cartoon Network Canada

Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race (also known as Total Drama: Ridonculous Race or simply The Ridonculous Race) is a Canadian animated reality television series which lampoons the conventions commonly found in reality television (specifically The Amazing Race). The show is a spin-off of the original Total Drama series created in 2007 and the second series created as part of the overall franchise. The series is created by Fresh TV Inc. and distributed by Cake Entertainment. The series premiered in the United States on Cartoon Network on September 7, 2015,[1] while in Canada, the series premiered on the Canadian version of Cartoon Network on January 4, 2016.[2] It also aired on ABC3 in Australia, starting December 23, 2019, and CBBC (via BBC iPlayer) in the United Kingdom. The series consists of 26 episodes.[3]

Plot

Racers, divided into teams of two, visit a different country or location in every episode and perform in "legs". Teams must race to the "Chill Zone", the finish line for each leg taking on the form of a gold "Carpet of Completion". The first team to arrive there have the advantage of starting early, while the team finishing last may face elimination. In each of the 26 episodes, each team is required to press a button on any "Don-box" they meet to receive clues that let them decide which challenge they will have to complete.

Each challenge contains a task that teams must complete to advance throughout the leg. Challenges come in four different types: "All-In", which has both members of each team complete a task together; "Botch-or-Watch", which requires one member of each team, usually the team member who did not take on a prior challenge's component, to perform a task; "Either-or", in which teams are given a choice between two different tasks that have to be completed in the same manner as an "All-In"; and "Superteam", in which multiple teams complete together as a team to finish a task.

Characters and cast

Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race has 32 brand new contestants and four contestants from the original Total Drama series. Unlike the original series, contestants compete in teams of two throughout the season, resulting in a total of 18 teams.

ContestantVoiceTeam nameFinish
FinishPlacementEpisode
LeonardClé Bennett2
TammyNicki Burke
GerryDavid Huband3
PeteAdrian Truss
EllodyEmilie-Claire Barlow4
MaryKatie Griffin
LaurieEmilie-Claire Barlow6
MilesKatie Griffin
JenAshley Botting7
TomJeff Geddis
KellyJulie Lemieux9
TaylorBryn McAuley
JayLyon Smith11
Mickey
ChetDarren Frost14
LorenzoCarlos Díaz
Rock
SpudCarter Hayden
DwayneNeil Crone16
JuniorJacob Ewaniuk
NoahCarter Hayden18
OwenScott McCord
CrimsonStacy DePass20
EnnuiCarter Hayden
BrodyReturned to game21
Geoff
RyanJoseph Motiki23
StephanieNicki Burke
CarrieKristin Fairlie24
DevinJeff Geddis
EmmaStacy DePass25
KittyStephanie Anne Mills
JacquesScott McCord26
JoseeJulie Lemieux
BrodyScott McCord
GeoffDan Petronijevic
MacArthurEvany Rosen
SandersNicole Stamp
Quebec Version:
ContestantVoiceTeam nameFinish
FinishPlacementEpisode
Léonard Marc St-Martin2
HeidiMarika Lhoumeau
GerryFrançois L'écuyer3
PierrePhilippe Martin
ÉlodieNatalie Hamel-Roy4
MarieÉveline Gélinas
LaurieNatalie Hamel-Roy6
MichèleCatherine Proulx-Lemay
JenÉlisabeth Lenormand7
TomNicholas Savard L'Herbier
KarineMarika Lhoumeau9
CharlotteÉveline Gélinas
AlainKevin Houle11
Maxime
SergeBenoît Éthier14
LorenzoClaude Gagnon
RochAlexandre Fortin
BobChristian Perrault
DenisPatrick Chouinard16
Denis JuniorJulie Beauchemin
LucasPhilippe Martin18
GontranPatrick Chouinard
CramoisiCamille Cyr-Desmarais20
LassitudeClaude Gagnon
BriceReturned to game21
J.F.
AntoineAlexandre Fortin23
StéphanieMyriam de Verge
CharlieGeneviève Désilets24
DevinMarc St-Martin
EmmaCamille Cyr-Desmarais25
CathouRachel Graton
JacquesBenoît Éthier26
Josée Fanny Rainville
BriceChristian Perrault
J.F.Sébastien Rajotte
MacGuireJulie Beauchemin
SanterreRose-Maïté Erkoreka

Elimination table

This table summarizes the order in which the teams have ranked overall throughout the series. The teams are listed in reverse order of elimination.

TeamLabelPosition (by leg)
1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
[4] Police Cadets3rd2nd1st3rd11th13th7th8th8th5th2nd1st9th3rd5th7th6th3rd1st1st2nd2nd3rd
1st/2ndBrody & GeoffSurfer Dudes13th6th3rd15th5th4th8th1st9th6th5th2nd8th8th6th1st1st7th5th6th1st
Jacques & Josee[5] Ice Dancers1st3rd2nd1st3rd1st1st3rd4th4th4th10th1st1st7th2nd2nd6th2nd1st1st4th1st2nd
Emma & KittySisters8th11th10th9th10th7th3rd5th1st3rd7th5th4th4th8th6th3rd4th4th3rd4th4th1st
Carrie & DevinBest Friends2nd1st4th14th7th11th10th2nd12th10th9th4th1st7th2nd3rd5th5th4th5th3rd3rd
6thRyan & StephanieDaters / Haters5th5th8th6th6th10th13th5th1st3rd3rd6th3rd5th2nd3rd2nd4th1st2nd
Crimson & EnnuiGoths18th14th13th8th1st2nd12th10th7th8th10th8th7th2nd4th4th6th1st1st
Noah & Owen[6] Reality TV Pros6th8th16th2nd4th12th2nd4th2nd2nd11th6th5th6th8th4th
9thDwayne & JuniorFather & Son4th17th5th4th8th6th6th6th6th11th6th10th3rd5th7th
Rock & Spud[7] Rockers11th9th15th13th14th14th9th11th11th1st9th9th
Chet & LorenzoStepbrothers16th15th6th7th9th5th4th7th10th7th8th7th2nd
12thJay & MickeyAdversity Twins14th12th12th12th12th7th11th9th3rd9th
13thKelly & Taylor[8] 12th13th11th10th13th3rd5th12th
14thTom & Jen[9] Fashion Bloggers10th10th7th5th2nd9th
15thLaurie & Miles[10] Vegans9th16th14th11th
Ellody & MaryGeniuses7th7th9th
17thGerry & Pete[11] Tennis Rivals17th4th
Leonard & Tammy[12] LARPers15th

Key

Each column shows the results of the leg of the race from that episode of the series.

Notes
  1. Noah & Owen initially arrived 11th, but were issued a 20-minute penalty for failing to ride their cheese wheel down the river and roll it to the Chill Zone as instructed, since Owen had consumed the whole cheese. Five teams checked in during their penalty time, dropping them to 16th.
  2. Dwayne & Junior initially arrived 1st, but were issued a 20-minute penalty as Dwayne read the Travel-Tip before reuniting with Junior during the Botch-or-Watch. Three teams (excluding Tom & Jen) checked in during their penalty time, dropping them to 4th.
  3. Tom & Jen initially arrived 2nd, but were issued a 20-minute penalty for arriving at Calanque de Maubois by yacht instead of train as instructed. Two teams checked in during their penalty time, dropping them to 5th (after Dwayne & Junior).
  4. Kelly & Taylor initially arrived 7th, but were issued a one-hour penalty as Taylor did not follow Kelly back through the geyser field after incorrectly repeating the Icelandic phrase during the All-In, when she was instructed to do so. Six teams checked in during their penalty time, dropping them to 13th.
  5. Laurie & Miles initially arrived 1st, but were issued a 30-minute penalty as Miles made both components of the Brazilian carnival costume during the All-In, when she and Laurie were instructed to make one each. All other teams checked in during their penalty time, dropping them to last and resulting in their elimination.
  6. Crimson & Ennui initially arrived 6th, but were issued a 10-minute penalty for switching positions during the All-In. Six teams checked in during their penalty time, dropping them to 12th.
  7. Leg 14 was a double-elimination leg, where the last two teams to reach the Chill Zone were eliminated.
  8. Jacques & Josee initially arrived 1st, but were issued a 10-minute penalty as they arrived at the Chill Zone on foot, when they were instructed to ride burros there. MacArthur & Sanders checked in during this time, dropping them to 2nd.
  9. Jacques & Josee initially arrived 1st, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for failing to collect a ball from the bottom of the borehole as instructed, since they had instead stolen the ball from Emma & Kitty while suspended on the way down. This did not affect their final placement.
  10. Jacques & Josee initially arrived 1st, but were issued a one-hour penalty for disconnecting the trailing carriages of the train that transported them to the Chill Zone. Three teams checked in during this time, dropping them to 4th.
  11. In Leg 24, Carrie & Devin checked in the Chill Zone in 3rd place and were declared safe. While they celebrated, trailing team Emma & Kitty accidentally knocked Devin off the cliff where the Chill Zone was located after losing control of their emu from the Botch-or-Watch. Carrie & Devin were forced to withdraw from the race due to Devin's injuries and had to choose a previously eliminated team to replace them. Brody & Geoff were chosen to return to the race.
  12. Jacques & Josee were last to arrive at the mid-point Chill Zone in Central Park and were eliminated in the middle part of the Final Leg.
  13. The Final Leg has two endings, depending on the location of the audience. Brody & Geoff are the winners in Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Israel, Latin America, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania (Megamax), Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the USA. They are also the winners in the United Kingdom [BBC iPlayer] and Canada [Crave]. MacArthur & Sanders are the runners-up in the USA, but they are the winners in Canada, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and the USA (Netflix).

Production

Production commenced on January 1, 2014 and concluded on October 30, 2015.[13] It was announced that Alex Ganetakos was producing the show,[14] Terry McGurrin was writing the screenplay,[15] and that Chad Hicks was directing.[16] The new host Don was revealed in a Fresh TV post in October 2014.[17] It was confirmed that 26 episodes would be picked up for the show and that it would air sometime the same year.[18] However, one of the producers, Alex Ganetakos, stated that many Ridonculous Race seasons are possible if the first season is successful.[19] In June 2015, the entire first episode was leaked online, revealing all of the characters three months before Fresh TV could release their designs in their website.

Casting

Even though some of the characters from the main series do make appearances, the spin-off series has a predominantly new cast.[20] In fact, there are only four characters returning from the original series, while the rest are brand new characters. Kristin Fairlie, the voice actor for the character Bridgette from the original series, was cast to voice one of the new contestants, Carrie.[21] Scott McCord (voice of characters Owen and Trent in the original series) as well as Carter Hayden (voice of Noah in the original) were also revealed to be returning to the cast, and were seen in the recording studio together.[22] It was later confirmed that the actors were indeed going to voice the characters Owen and Noah.[23] It was eventually revealed that the first pair is to be the aforementioned character Carrie and her best friend Devin, who is played by Jeff Geddis.[24] In February, the second pair was revealed: Stephanie and Ryan. The two are voiced by Nicki Burke of Dead Rising 2 and Joseph Motiki, from Rescue Heroes.[25] In a new promotion by Cake Entertainment, Geoff was also revealed to be among the returning cast, teamed up with Brody, one of his friends from home.[26] The father-son team of Dwayne and Dwayne Jr. was also revealed.[27]

In June, a pair of goths called Ennui and Crimson, and Mary and Ellody, two close friends who are dubbed the "Geniuses", were revealed with news that returning voice actors Carter Hayden and Emilie-Claire Barlow (voice of Courtney) from the original series would play them.[28] [29] A week later, the fourth pair to be released are Emma and Kitty, who are Asian sisters with opposite personalities, referred to as the "Sisters".[30] A week later, another team was confirmed; Chet and Lorenzo, known as "the Stepbrothers".[31] Next to be revealed are twins Mickey and Jay, called "the Adversity Twins", who are plagued with countless phobias, allergies, injuries, disorders, immunities, and ailments.[32] The rest of the teams were all revealed shortly thereafter.

Episodes

Media

A video game has been released that allows players to choose any of the series' 36 main characters and race them in short endless runner games.[33] The game, titled "Donculous Dash", was released on January 4, 2016, in Canada only. The game can be downloaded from the Canadian app store[34] and a demo version is also available on their Cartoon Network website.[35]

Availability

The Ridonculous Race is seldom released on any home media, not even Region 4 DVD nor digital download. The only availability of the spinoff is the entirety of the series released as one video on YouTube, as well as the episodic structure on Netflix, but erroneously as season 7 of Total Drama. In the United Kingdom, the season is available on BBC iPlayer as of April 4, 2022.[36] The Ridonculous Race remains the only show in the franchise to be available on BBC iPlayer to this date.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Press Release. turner.com. February 19, 2015. September 9, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150909124217/https://pressroom.turner.com/us/cartoon-network/cartoon-network-approaches-upfront-unmatched-growth-across-all-screens. dead.
  2. Web site: Fresh TV - the Ridonculous Team Contest . 2016-01-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151214160959/http://www.freshtvinc.com/contest/ . December 14, 2015 . mdy-all .
  3. Web site: It's no drama making Total Drama a success. Playback. Bailey. Katie. July 17, 2004. July 11, 2021.
  4. Web site: Meet MacArthur and Sanders from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. July 28, 2015. July 28, 2015.
  5. Web site: Meet Jacques and Josee from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. July 23, 2015. July 23, 2015.
  6. Web site: Meet Owen and Noah from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. July 14, 2015. July 14, 2015.
  7. Web site: Meet Spud and Rock from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. August 6, 2015. August 6, 2015.
  8. Web site: Meet Kelly and Taylor from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. July 6, 2015. July 6, 2015.
  9. Web site: Meet Tom and Jen from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. July 21, 2015. July 21, 2015.
  10. Web site: Meet Laurie and Miles from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. July 30, 2015. July 30, 2015.
  11. Web site: Meet Gerry and Pete from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. August 4, 2015. August 4, 2015.
  12. Web site: Meet Tammy and Leonard from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. August 6, 2015. August 6, 2015.
  13. Web site: What's Shooting?. ACTRA Toronto. February 25, 2015.
  14. Web site: Alex Ganetakos – Canada | LinkedIn. ca.linkedin.com. June 16, 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20140701232325/http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/alex-ganetakos/39/23a/464. July 1, 2014. mdy-all.
  15. Web site: Terry McGurrin – Canada | LinkedIn. ca.linkedin.com. June 16, 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20140628224003/http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/terry-mcgurrin/15/137/21a. June 28, 2014. mdy-all.
  16. Web site: Chad Hicks – Canada | LinkedIn. ca.linkedin.com. June 16, 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20140701232324/http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/chad-hicks/42/190/a60. July 1, 2014. mdy-all.
  17. Web site: Meet 'Don' the Host of Total Drama Presents The Ridonculous Race. Fresh TV. October 5, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141005202222/http://www.freshtvinc.com/blog/meet-don-the-host-of-total-drama-presents-the-ridonculous-race/. October 5, 2014. mdy-all.
  18. Web site: Facebook. Facebook. October 5, 2014.
  19. Web site: Alex Ganetakos Twitter. August 30, 2014. December 27, 2014.
  20. Web site: Press Release. corusent.com. June 16, 2014. July 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140715042756/http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?Id=2720. dead.
  21. Web site: Kristin's back | Flickr - Photo Sharing! . www.flickr.com . 3 February 2022 . https://archive.today/20140603231338/https://www.flickr.com/photos/118445155@N05/14334761694/ . 3 June 2014 . dead.
  22. Web site: Carter Hayden on Twitter. Twitter. December 9, 2014.
  23. Web site: Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race. Cakeentertainment.com. June 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150610001341/http://www.cakeentertainment.com/Brand/86. June 10, 2015.
  24. Web site: Meet Devin and Carrie from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. December 30, 2014. February 25, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150213030304/http://www.freshtvinc.com/blog/meet-devin-and-carrie-ridonculous-race/. February 13, 2015. mdy-all.
  25. Web site: Special Valentine's Day Reveal: Stephanie and Ryan – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. February 13, 2015. February 25, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150223150304/http://www.freshtvinc.com/blog/ridonculous-race-stephanie-and-ryan/. February 23, 2015. mdy-all.
  26. Web site: Meet Geoff and Brody from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. July 16, 2015. July 16, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150720234511/http://www.freshtvinc.com/blog/meet-geoff-and-brody-from-the-ridonculous-race/. July 20, 2015. mdy-all.
  27. Web site: Meet Dwayne and Junior from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. July 9, 2015. July 9, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150714010130/http://www.freshtvinc.com/blog/meet-dwayne-and-junior-from-the-ridonculous-race/. July 14, 2015. mdy-all.
  28. Web site: Meet Ennui and Crimson from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. June 29, 2015. June 29, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150703021029/http://www.freshtvinc.com/blog/meet-ennui-and-crimson-from-the-ridonculous-race/. July 3, 2015. mdy-all.
  29. Web site: Meet Ellody and Mary from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. June 21, 2015. June 21, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150625022613/http://www.freshtvinc.com/blog/meet-ellody-and-mary-from-the-ridonculous-race/. June 25, 2015. mdy-all.
  30. Web site: Meet Emma and Kitty from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. June 26, 2015. June 26, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150726014817/http://www.freshtvinc.com/blog/meet-emma-and-kitty-from-the-ridonculous-race/. July 26, 2015. mdy-all.
  31. Web site: Meet Chet and Lorenzo from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. June 30, 2015. June 30, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150705164403/http://www.freshtvinc.com/blog/chet-and-lorenzo-from-the-ridonculous-race/. July 5, 2015. mdy-all.
  32. Web site: Meet Jay and Mickey from The Ridonculous Race – Fresh TV. Freshtvinc.com. July 2, 2015. July 2, 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150705215945/http://www.freshtvinc.com/blog/meet-jay-and-mickey-from-the-ridonculous-race/. July 5, 2015. mdy-all.
  33. Web site: Bell Fund Releases February Funding Decisions. broadcastermagazine.com. May 25, 2015.
  34. Web site: Ridonculous Race - 'Donculous Dash on the App Store . itunes.apple.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160307024048/https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/donculous-dash/id1029502977 . 2016-03-07.
  35. Web site: 'Donculous Dash.
  36. Web site: Family Favorites . BBC iPlayer . April 16, 2022.

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