Tough As Nails (CBS)

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I like it that there are no eliminations from the show you have the opportunity to really get to know the contestants.

Season 1 Episode 2 - "Get the Job Done" - July 8, 2020

The teams have named themselves Team Savage and Team Dirty Hands.

There are two challenges.

The first challenge is a team challenge were the teams need to lay down to railroad ties connect them to the existing rail line and put in spikes and hammer them in and then pull a caboose 125 feet. The team that does this first wins $12,000 with each team member earning $2000.

The second challenge is an individual challenge done in two heats. The person coming in last in each heat goes into an overtime challenge. The individual challenge consists of shoveling coal into a bin. When a person has shoveled 3 times their body weight into the bin a flag goes up. The key to this challenge is to get the coal into the bin and several people are working very hard shoveling but totally missing the bin. Linnet and Young come in last in their respective heats and go into overtime. Whoever loses will be eliminated from the individual challenge of winning $200,000 and a truck but will continue in the show and have the ability to win money through team challenges.

Team Savage - Luis, Murph, Young, Linnet, Tara, Michelle - discuss how to put together the railroad ties, Michelle always thinks forward and states she will put in the spikes while the team is setting up the rails. While the team loses much ground trying to align the rails once one is done Michelle sets up the spikes nice and straight on one and when the second rail is in place sets up the spikes. Meanwhile Team Dirty Hands - Danny, Lee, Myles, Linda, Melissa, Callie are way ahead aligning their rails, and connecting them to the rail line. They even have starting hammering in the spikes but many are going in crooked and need to be pulled out and re-hammered in. Meanwhile Team Savage has figured out how to align and connect their rails and because Michelle already lined up and started hammering the spikes has an easier time with getting the spikes in and finish fast enough to pull their caboose across the finish line before Team Dirty Hands has finished with the spikes.

The overtime challenge consists of Linnet and Young using a handcar to move up and down a segment of rails to collect 3 different pieces of equipment which have been either tied up with chains of rope. There are 3 legs of the race each going downhill and back uphill. Each station is further and further away. Young the early leader, then halfway through Linnet passes him but he catches up on the third leg and wins. Linnet is the first person to punch out from the individual elimination.

They aired episode 1 and 2 as the premiere. The rest of the episodes will air on Wednesdays. 

I didn't realize this was a thing. I'm going to have to watch it

I agree with all points! Phil's great, and this show is a refreshing new idea, with interesting contestants. I also like how they're not eliminated if they lose the individual challenge, they stay on and can work on the team challenges and still earn some money. Seeing so many "in-charge" types has been interesting, because the tasks are so varied and it's hard to be good at everything.

I was sad for the farm girl on this episode, because at the final overtime, she was doing so well! Then her cutter blade got dull or something and she just fell apart and lost. Next week they're going to a ranch, too! Poor girl. 

I like the older guy, the roofer. Seems like he's lived an interesting life! I also like the Marine. The airport lady cracks me up, and she's hanging in there! (Sorry, don't know names yet.) The only one I can say that I don't care for is the jailer/sheriff's deputy because she seems rude. 

Season 1 Epiosde 3 - "Heavy Metal" - July 15, 2020

Place: A Junk Yard. I like how Phil comments junkyards are a $25 million dollar a year business. I think this show will be good at showcasing the manufacturing jobs that still part of America and that not everyone wants to be a hacker, a day trader, or a steroid body builder with too much tan who just wants to be a reality show and be loud and stupid as long as they get likes on their social media. 

Team Challenge is to cut up a car and put the parts in a bin. Team Dirty Hands wins due mainly to Lee's ability to cut a car apart with a sawall.

Individual Challenge is to for each person to find the alternator in a car and unscrew it and bring it back to the start. Last two to finish will end up in the Overtime Elimination.

The individual challenge was a nail biter and I am so glad that Michele and Linda made it back in time, especially Michelle.

Melissa the Farm Girl and Young the Fireman are in elimination. I am sorry but every time I have seen Young in competition he comes across as a fumble fingered and absolutely clueless. He smashed the car windows really fast and well in the team challenge but even in his confession says he didn't know what to do next and it looked as if he just stood hanging around. I have a feeling we will be seeing him in elimination a lot. He might become the Elimination King.

Season 1 Episode 4 - "Release the Bull!" - July 22, 2020
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So happy for Michelle winning the Overtime Challenge. It looked like a blow out and Lee would win, even at the last moment from the camera angle it looked as if Lee had it.

If it wasn't for that darn clamp on the 7th connection they would never have been in last place and it would have been Young in the Overtime challenge again.

There seems to be some real miscommunication in the Team Challenge as well as the Individual ones. Mostly with the male female pairs and the women stating that their male partners are not talking.

I felt bad for Tara when she had her meltdown: it didn't look like anyone said anything to her or tried to help her out. Later, they showed Murph being nice to her, so maybe it happened in the van too and they didn't show us. There's a lot of "not listening" to each other going on, it seems.

I give most of these women so much credit, for hanging in there with the men. These challenges can be tough, and favor the muscular guys. Michelle gets a lot of credit from me, being older too!! If this is all about brute strength, there's no way a woman's going to win it, so I hope they include more of the strategizing, organizing types of challenges.

Season 1 Episode 6 - "Game of Telephone" - August 5, 2020
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I was hoping for a Savage Crew win they almost had it. I was surprised Michelle didn't listen to her team leaders, and had to be talked to by Murph back in the van.

I really didn't want to see Michelle in Overtime. I am so rooting for her as being the oldest female and being the shortest contestant I think others overlook her and underestimate her and don't see her as a threat. Which is why I was rooting for her so much in the Overtime challenge and was very happy to see her win. This "Little Beast" has eliminated two talk fit guys that probably outweigh her by 60 to 80 lbs.

Poor Savage Crew, they just can't seem to get it together. A lot of butting heads this episode...I was worried for Michelle but she pulled out a win.

I love this show too. No way I could do some of that .

Glad Michelle is still in it. Wish they would listen to her more too. So close in that last challenge for the team.

It’s nice to see they don’t go home too and can still win money.

I don't see how Michelle was ever going to be able to stay out of the bottom two during the individual challenge. She's just so much shorter than the rest of them, making it the most difficult for her to keep up with that truck.

I thought that brick laying challenge was an interesting puzzle. I like Michelle but I like Myles just a little better so I was glad he pulled out the win. I hope his knee doesn't continue to give him problems.

I thought her system of separating the pavers was a good idea, but then she didn't get them spaced well. It didn't look like they had to be perfect because Myles had big gaps at the end. I guess him placing them too close together at the beginning was a good strategy. He did seem to be working quickly though despite not separating his pavers. I think his idea to build one row from the center out was a really good idea. 

Young finally got an overtime challenge he couldn't win - and it was one that he should have won, being a firefighter.