TV: Total Drama

"I have to be anywhere but here."

A group of Canadian teenagers compete in the reality show Total Drama. The host, Chris McLean (Potenza), is self absorbed and takes pleasure in the campers suffering. Chef Hatchet (Bennett) makes the inedible food and terrifies the campers. The producers enjoy tormenting the contestants and the unpaid interns who have to test the challenges. And the bears and sharks want revenge.

Each season has a unique title and situation/rules for the contestants:

• Season 1: Total Drama Island - 22 teens at Camp Wawanakwa, a summer camp on an island in Ontario.
• Season 2: Total Drama Action - most of the original cast return to compete at an abandoned movie studio in movie-related challenges. 
• Season 3: Total Drama World Tour - 2 new contestants join 14 returning cast members on a musical flight around the world.
• Season 4: Total Drama Revenge of the Island - brand new cast goes back to the island and Camp Wawanakwa, where everything has a radioactive new look.
• Season 5A: Total Drama All Stars - fan favorites from the previous seasons return to Camp Wawanakwa to compete as Heroes or Villains.
• Season 5B: Total Drama Pahkitew Island - 14 new teens compete on a new island, Pahkitew Island.

There is also an entertainment show that covers the competiton, Celebrity Manhunt, and a behind-the-scenes show, Aftermath.

The show is an animated take on reality competitions, like Survivor, Fear Factor, etc.

The Good:

Every season is a little different, but the overall concept is the same: teens competing for cash while trying to survive the wild challenges devised by Chris, Chef, and the producers. The characters grow and change over the course of the season. If they appear in multiple seasons, you learn new things about the character and some get to change your perception (redemptionfor some villains and downfalls for some heroes).

The Bad:

Some of the characters are grating and do not get better (Izzie, Beth, Zeke, Sierra, Staci, Sugar, Leonard, etc). Some of the humor is juvenile (lots of fart jokes).

Other Comments:

-Other than the hosts, only 6 characters appear in 4 seasons: Courtney, Duncan, Gwen Heather, Lindsay, and Owen.

-Gwen and Duncan are my favorite characters (Seasons 1-3, 5A).

-There was 2 versions of the finale (with different winners) each season - the winner you see is based on the country where you live.

-The show was popular enough to have spin-offs: Total Dramarama (the main characters as 4-year old kids in day care, with Chef as their caretaker) and The Ridonculous Race (a spoof on the Amazing Race).

-A revival of the show was made in 2023, with a brand new cast and new voice actors for Chris and Chef. The new show is essentially season 6 and is again titled "Total Drama Island".

Total Drama (2007-2014)

Creator: Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis

Starring: Christian Potenza as Chris McLean

Clé Bennett as Chef Hatchet, DJ, Beardo, Leonard

Emilie-Claire Barlow as Courtney

Katie Crown as Izzy

Novie Edwards as Leshawna

Megan Fahlenbock as Gwen

Kristin Fairlie as Bridgette

Brian Froud as Harold

Scott McCord as Owen, Trent

Stephanie Anne Mills as Katie, Lindsay

Drew Nelson as Duncan

Peter Oldring as Cody, Ezekiel, and Tyler

Dan Petronijevic as Geoff

Rachel Wilson as Heather