Strip Search (web series)
Strip Search is an online reality television game show created by Penny Arcade and produced by Bionic Trousers Media, the production arm of sketch comedy website LoadingReadyRun. The show featured twelve artists who competed over thirty-one episodes, with the series' winner receiving a cash prize and integration into the Penny Arcade offices in Seattle for one year. The show was created as a reward-tier for Penny Arcade's 2012 Kickstarter campaign to remove ads from their website.[1][2] The first season was won by artist Katie Rice, who went on to produce the ongoing webcomic, Camp Weedonwantcha.[3][4]
| Strip Search | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Reality TV |
| Created by | Penny Arcade |
| Directed by | Graham Stark |
| Presented by | Graham Stark |
| Starring | see contestants below |
| Composer(s) | Bradley Rains |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 31 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Jerry Holkins Mike Krahulik Robert Khoo |
| Producer(s) | Graham Stark Kathleen De Vere Paul Saunders James Turner |
| Production location(s) | Seattle, Washington |
| Cinematography | Jason Chinnock |
| Editor(s) | Graham Stark Kathleen De Vere (asst.) |
| Production company(s) | Bionic Trousers Media |
| Release | |
| Original release | March 1 – June 18, 2013 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Format
Strip Search is based on a progressive elimination to narrow down the initial group of twelve artists to a final winner. While living in a large pineapple-themed house, the artists are given challenges each episode ranging from creative to legal to physical, with the winner(s) of each receiving a prize. The winner of the last challenge each day must choose two of the artists to go head-to-head and compete to stay in the game. Elimination candidates meet the Penny Arcade creators, Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, and before them they draw two random ideas then create an original comic strip based on their fusion. The winner goes back to the house to continue competing while the loser is eliminated.
Contestants
| Contestant | Comic / work | Occupation / background |
|---|---|---|
| Abby Howard 20, Montreal, Quebec |
Junior Scientist Power Hour [5] | Webcomic artist |
| Alex Hobbs 22, Tempe, Arizona |
Wanderlust Kid | Webcomic artist |
| Amy T. Falcone 24, Noank, Connecticut |
Clique Refresh[6] | Webcomic artist |
| Erika Moen 29, Portland, Oregon |
Oh Joy Sex Toy[7] | Freelance cartoonist |
| Katie Rice 31, Burbank, California |
Skadi, Camp Weedonwantcha[8] | Webcomic artist |
| Lexxy Douglass 27, Carmel, Indiana |
The Cloud Factory[9] | Freelance illustrator |
| Mackenzie Schubert 26, Portland, Oregon |
Webcomic artist | |
| Maki Naro 31, Brooklyn, New York |
Sci-ənce | Webcomic artist |
| Monica Ray 22, Northbrook, Illinois |
Phuzzy Comics | Webcomic artist |
| Nick Trujillo 30, Walnut Creek, California |
Mynt Condition Comics | Webcomic artist |
| Tavis Maiden 31, Mesa, Arizona |
Thunder Skull Press | Artist |
| Ty Halley 25, Portsmouth, Ohio |
The Secret Life of a Journal Comic | Webcomic artist |
Contestant progress
| # | Contestant | Episode | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 30–31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Katie | NOM | BTM2 | NOM | TOP | WIN | WIN | 5TH | WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Abby | LOSS | 2ND | TOP3 | NOM | 3RD | 5/6 | WIN | NOM | WIN | OUT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Maki | WIN | WIN | 2ND | NOM | 6TH | 4TH | 3/4 | NOM | OUT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Lexxy | WIN | OUT | IN | 1ST | 6TH | 2ND | NOM | OUT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Tavis | LOSS | NOM | 3RD | WIN | 2ND | 3/4 | OUT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Monica | BTM2 | WIN | 4TH | 5TH | 5/6 | OUT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Erika | WIN | WIN | DQ | TOP3 | OUT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Amy | WIN | WIN | TOP | OUT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Nick | WIN | WIN | OUT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Mac | WIN | OUT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Ty | OUT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Alex | OUT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
- The artist won the grand prize.
- The artist won a competitive challenge and nominated two others for elimination.
- The artist won a social challenge.
- The artist was explicitly mentioned as finishing well in the challenge.
- The artist was explicitly mentioned as finishing poorly or losing the challenge.
- The artist won an elimination challenge.
- The artist lost an elimination challenge and was eliminated.
- The artist returned after having been eliminated.
Reception
Julius Ferraro of Philly.com says it "stands out" from other reality television shows by not having "inter-personal tension, back-biting, and fame-seeking posturing."[10]
References
- "Penny Arcade Sells Out". Kickstarter. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
- "'PENNY ARCADE' GETS REAL: With new 'Strip Search' show, 12 cartoonists get a shot at big career boost". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- "Season Finale Spoiler". Penny Arcade. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- "Camp Weedonwantcha". Camp Weedonwantcha. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- "Junior Scientist Power Hour". JS Power Hour. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- "Clique Refresh". Clique Refresh. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- "Oh Joy Sex Toy". Oh Joy Sex Toy. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- "Camp Comic". Camp Comic. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- "The Cloud Factory". The Cloud Factory. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
- Ferraro, Julius (May 21, 2013). "Getting real with 'Strip Search'". Philly.com. Retrieved January 4, 2016.