Hole in the Wall

Hole in the Wall was a short-lived game show based on one of the many Japanese formats concerning a bizarre format, mostly Brain Wall/Human Tetris.

Gameplay

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A person or group of people would stand along an area of a playing field, behind which was a pool of water. After a three-second countdown, a moving styrofoam wall would appear with a hole of a various shape cut out of it. The players had to find a way on how to fit through it to earn points by using agility and dexterity. If the player(s) couldn’t fit through the wall or did a wrong position, he/she/they would get pushed by the wall into the swimming pool. In the Cartoon Network version, making it through the wall without making the shape didn’t count for points.

Two teams of three competed in each episode. In the FOX version the team members shared an hobby or occupation or lived in the same location, and used it as a team name; in the Cartoon Network version and since it was geared towards younger audiences, the teams were all families. The contestants were dressed in the silver spandex zentai unitards and wore red or blue helmets, elbow pads, and knee pads depending on the team color.

A replay was shown after each wall was done regardless of whether or not it was cleared.

One rule that was almost automatically assumed was that contestants had to jump through the hole without breaking it all off, or falling in the water. The rule that most players inadvertently broke was that at least one foot had to be in the play area.

FOX Version

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During each replay in this version, if a wall wasn’t cleared, a diagram was shown of the best method.

Round 1: Solo Wall

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After each team was announced, the captain was instructed to enter the play area. After the countdown, the wall was shown. If the captain failed to get through, or “clear” the wall, either by falling into the pool or damaging the wall as it passed, the team scored no points; clearing the wall scored one point. The opposing team captain then attempted a different wall.

Round 2: Double Wall

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The two non-captains on each team attempted this wall, scoring two points for their team if both players cleared; if either player failed to clear, they didn’t score.

Round 3: Triple Wall

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All three players attempted to complete this wall, scoring three points if everyone cleared the wall; as before, if any player failed to clear, they didn’t score.

Round 4: Speed Wall

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Like Round 3, all three players attempted a wall; this time, however, it moved twice as fast. Each player who cleared the wall scored two points for their team, for a maximum of six. Also, if all three players cleared the wall, they won a $5,000 bonus, regardless of the outcome of the game. Both teams were allowed to play for the $5,000, even if the second team had been mathematically eliminated.

The team with the highest score received a guaranteed $25,000 and the right to play the final “Blind Wall”. If a tie game occurred, neither team won the $25,000 but both advanced to a sudden-death version of the Blind Wall.

Final Round: Blind Wall

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One team member, blindfolded, was guided by Brooke to the center of the play area. The two remaining team members had to then direct the blindfolded member through a standard solo wall by giving verbal commands, while the audience was asked to remain silent. If the contestant could clear the wall, the team won $100,000. If both teams advanced to the Blind Wall, the prize was split in half and each team would attempt a different blind wall for $50,000. During the show’s run on FOX, there were only three teams that successfully completed the blind wall. The first was Marie from the Sisters of Security and they took home the $50,000. The second was Raphael Xavier from The Freedom Rappers Philly team went through the blind wall, winning $50,000 due to a tie with the other team. The third was a teammate from the Gyrating Gents and they took home the full $100,000.

Cartoon Network Version

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The rules for the Double and Triple walls were the same, but points were now awarded based on how many players cleared each wall, meaning that it was no longer required for every member to clear a group wall. In the normal rounds, 10 points were awarded for each player who manage to clear the wall. In the speed round, however, the points were doubled.

Round 1: Solo Wall

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In addition to the normal rules, this round had three variations:

1. The rules were the same as the FOX version’s end game, but with a black cloth covered hockey goaltender mask instead of blacked-out goggles.
2. The player stood with his/her back to the wall, facing a teammate on the other side of the pool who would give instructions on how to fit through the hole
3. The player had to remember what the hole looked like, but with the studio lights constantly flickering. This variation was called “Black Out”.

In any case, success was worth 10 points.

Round 2: Double Wall

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Two players on each team attempted this wall, and each player clearing it scored 10 points, for a maximum of 20.

Round 3: Triple Wall

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All three players attempted to clear this wall, with 30 points at stake. Unlike the other segements, Rounds 2 & 3 didn’t have any variations whatsoever.

Round 4: Speed Wall

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Unlike in the FOX version, only two players attempted this wall, and there were two formats:

1. The players attempted to clear the wall with a twist being that they were dizzy; before the wall was revealed, two members from the opposing team would spin those contestants, with the intent of making them dizzy. When the wall was revealed, the players were left by themselves to regain their balance and clear the wall.
2. The players had to clear the wall with a prop.

Either way, the wall moved twice as fast, and each player who cleared it scored 20 points for their team.

The team with the most points at the end of this round received the coveted Hole in the Wall trophy and advanced to the Imposso Wall for a spot “not on, but in” the show’s own Wall of Fame. If there was a tie, a tiebreaker wall was played.

Tiebreaker Wall

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To start, each player who didn’t play the Speed Wall had 10 plastic balls. When the wall started moving, they had to grab as many balls as possible, throw them through their hole, and clear the wall. The player who got the most balls through their hole won the competition for his/her team.

Final Round: Imposso Wall

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The winning team attempted a final, more difficult wall, thus being named the Imposso Wall. It had three variations:

1. Each player would hold a jigsaw puzzle piece and had to match the shape to both fit the puzzle and get themselves through.
2. Two of the players had to get through while holding slippery balloons
3. One player was blindfolded, another player wore earmuffs, and a third player wore a mouth piece.

In any case, if the wall was completed, the team received a spot in the Wall of Fame. Four teams reached the Wall of Fame in the Cartoon Network version.

Additional Notes

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The Cartoon Network website included unaired footage from the show, including a wall called “The Killer Question,” based on the British version of the show. Two players competed, facing a wall that displayed a question and shapes that stood for two possible answers. If the players agreed on the correct answer and moved to that side, they could get through since that answer covered a hole; choosing the wrong answer lead them to hit a solid section and be swept into the pool. 20 points were scored for each player who cleared the wall.

Catchphrases

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“It’s time to face the hole!” – Mark Thompson

“Show us… THE HOLE IN THE WALL!” – Teck Holmes

International Versions

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Countries that have done their own versions of Hole In The Wall include:

• Arab World
• Argentina
• Australia
• Brazil
• Belgium (Flemish language only)
• Bulgaria
• Cambodia
• Canada (French language only)
• Chile
• China （正大综艺）
• Columbia
• Croatia
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Egypt
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• India
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Japan (country that originated the program)
• Korean
• Lithuania
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Russia
• South Korea
• Southeast Asia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom
• Vietnam

Merchandise

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A video game called Hole In The Wall: Deluxe Edition was made by Ludia and was released for the Xbox 360’s Kinect in 2011.

Unreleased Games

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Additional video game versions were going to be released for the Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Wii and Sony Playstation 3 in 2011 as well, but all those games were scrapped.

Inventor

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Based on a game segment “Brain Wall” (脳カベ / Nokabe) of a Japanese game/variety show entitled Tonneruzu no Minasan no Okage Deshita (とんねるずのみなさんのおかげでした).

Rating

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FOX Network

Cartoon Network

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The first two episodes of FOX’s Hole in the Wall

Episode 1
Part 1
Part 2

Episode 2
Part 1
Part 2