Extra Challenge

“Extra Challenge” was a reality game show seen every weekday evening in the Philippines on the GMA network. It first aired in 1999 as “Extra! Extra!” but in 2003 it was renamed to its’ current title. It is said to be one of the first ever reality shows ever broadcast in the Philippines. This series first began as a weekday celebrity news and gossip show but when it changed its’ name in 2003 it became a reality show. From 2003 until it went off the air in May 2006 it was the #1 most watched reality series in the Philippines. The original host of the newly formatted series was “Paolo Bediones” and “Miriam Quiambao” but Miriam got married and left the show and was replaced by comedian “Ethel Booba”. This reality game show was a little different then most as it held a series of challenges in an episodic format. The show is said to be a combination of small parts of U.S. reality shows “Amazing Race”, “Fear Factor” and “Survivor” all rolled into one. The contestants on this series for the most part were well known celebrities and sometimes even the hosts joined in to participate in the challenges.