Comments on: Updated: Contestant suffers stroke, dies after appearance on ABC's Wipeout

By: Doug (2)

Doug (2) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:40:28 +0000

J.R. – I doubt anybody watches the show for the “challenging courses and kills,” but for the laughs – it’s hilarious.

By: R.G

R.G — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:28:02 +0000

What if ABC gets sued and the show is forced to be canceled?

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:56:40 +0000

i think the bigger question is, did this guy know how serious his pre-existing condition was, and did he know he could risk dying by appearing on this show with that pre-existing condition? I’m sure a medical doctor would, but i don’t know if he did (I guess it depends on what he was told baout the disease). Of course I don’t know much about the disease so I have no idea.

By: J.R

J.R — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:17:41 +0000

this show was a ripoff of ninja warrior, if you want to watch real challenging courses and skills, then watch ninja warrior

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:24:29 +0000

R.G., I’m sure there will be no footage of the deceased shown on the air, but I doubt anyone can predict the effect on the future of the entire production.

By: R.G

R.G — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:18:15 +0000

What’s going to happen to the show?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:37:21 +0000

The guy chose to go on the show. His decision, simple as that. I’m sure he thought there was no significant risk but occasionally a freak thing will happen. It’s too bad, but no, I don’t think anyone is to “blame” in this situation.

By: Dario

Dario — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:45:40 +0000

….R.I.P….FIRST who said it…

By: Michael J

Michael J — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:25:18 +0000

Still, prudence would dictate that ABC have their lawyers keep an eye on it. That’s an editorial opinion not a legal one.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:22:17 +0000

its not an ABC production, it’s produced by Endemol…

By: Michael J

Michael J — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:17:44 +0000

Never mind the accountants, ABC needs to be talking to their lawyers.

By: J.R. Herbaugh

J.R. Herbaugh — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:11:16 +0000

The contestant knew he had that condition. Even if he did reveal it to the producers, and it seems like he did not, it was still his choice to compete.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:08:34 +0000

I am actually surprised with the amount of things that some reality type shows put contestants through that there is not more of this.

Seems like the Survivor contests are getting more brutal.

And then you see the young woman playing soccer doing all kinds of dirty stuff that is aired a billion times last week and I really wonder if it is all necessary.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:57:01 +0000

DW, I’m with you, and I’ve updated the headline and the post after getting more info. I wouldn’t say (because I can’t know) whether his death had nothing to do with the show. He was taken to the hospital directly from the show. The question Junior G. raises is a good one though, and ultimately the issue with shows missing things on background is probably the bigger issue/story.

By: Junior G.

Junior G. — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:42:54 +0000

If he had a pre-existing condition, I am wondering why the producers let him go ahead with being in the show. I know that the Entertainment Article says that they do background checks and medical exams before trying out, but they should have caught this.

By: DW

DW — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:37:13 +0000

EW.com has a much more detailed story. His death had nothing to do with being on the show, so this headline is really misleading:

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/11/12/wipeout-contestant-dies/

By: J.R. Herbaugh

J.R. Herbaugh — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:22:53 +0000

However, his father, Bill Sparks, has told friends and family that his son suffered from a pre-existing condition, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS), a disease that causes unnatural clotting of the blood. … Certainly, [Tom] Sparks gave no prior indication of ill health. He wrote on his Facebook page that he had recently completed the Long Beach Marathon.

It is a shame that a man would risk his life like that.

By: Brad

Brad — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:12:07 +0000

Not good