Human vs Hamster

Last updated

Human vs Hamster
Human vs Hamster (2024).jpg
Genre Game show
Presented by Sarah Sherman, Kyle Brandt
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Producers
Running time38–45 minutes
Production companies A. Smith & Co., Magnolia Network
Original release
Network Max
ReleaseNovember 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)

Human vs Hamster is a reality competition show on the streaming service Max, produced by Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network. The eight episodes of its first season were released on November 21, 2024. It is hosted by Sarah Sherman and Kyle Brandt and features Brian Balthazar as the show's "resident hamster enthusiast". [1] [2]

Contents

Game play

Each episode features two pairs of humans, each grouped by a shared profession (nurses, firefighters, flight attendants) or hobby (pub trivia competitors, beauty pageant entrants, magicians). The human pairs compete in a series of challenges — some against one another, but most against one of the "Hamstars", a group of 10 hamsters with American Gladiator -style identities. The physical challenges are timed and scaled to both human and hamster sizes. The Hamstars are named Ham, Warrior, the Professor, Shadow, Gnasher, Romeo, Lightning, Kevin, Diamond, and Astro.

Human teams receive $1,000 for winning a challenge, and the team that wins the most money advances to the Habitrail-inspired finale, Escape the Cage, which pits a team member against a hamster in a multistage obstacle course.

Production

Human vs Hamster was one of four unscripted series sold by Magnolia Network to Max, described as "ambitious large-scale competitions" and "out-of-the-box social experiments". [3] Chip Gaines said the show was inspired by seeing Jason Kelce celebrating shirtless after a touchdown scored by his brother Travis Kelce in a January 2024 NFL playoff game. [4] However, the show was already casting contestants more than a month before the game. [5]

The show was packaged by A. Smith & Co., known for similar reality competition shows such as Floor Is Lava and American Ninja Warrior . [6] Episodes were taped in the Scarborough district of Toronto. [7]

Episodes

No.TitleOriginal air date
1"Teachers and Nurses"November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
2"Trivia Kings and Volunteer Queens"November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
3"Weekend Warriors and Theater Kids"November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
4"Wrestlers and Lawyers"November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
5"Rhode Island Firefighters and New Jersey Firefighters"November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
6"Magicians and Dancers"November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
7"Flight Attendants and Tooth Fairies"November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)
8"Caroling Elves and Christmas Candy Clerks"November 21, 2024 (2024-11-21)

Reception

Human vs Hamster received positive reviews. Decider's Joel Keller rated the show a "Stream It" (as opposed to a "Skip It"): "Don’t get us wrong: Human Vs. Hamster is silly as hell. But it’s fun to watch, and host Sarah Sherman takes the show just as seriously as it deserves to be taken." [8] The critic Andy Dehnart called it "a seriously silly throwback to ’80s and ’90s game shows" that "consistently delivers a solid mix of comedy and challenges". [9]

Tara Ariano from Cracked said the show "delivers exactly what you would probably hope from such a goofy title": "There are lots of reasons to root against humans at this point in history. Human vs. Hamster is arguably the most socially acceptable and low-stakes reason to do it, and offers the fuzziest alternative to root for". [10] As Gail Sherman of Boing Boing put it, "Everything is terrible right now, and humans trash-talking hamsters about a hamster-ball bowling competition is just hilarious". [11]

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References

  1. ↑ Wenger, Stephanie (November 12, 2024). "Teams of Humans Compete Against the 'World's Most Remarkable' Hamsters in New Show 'Human vs. Hamster': See the Trailer!". People. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  2. ↑ Hailu, Selome (May 15, 2024). "'Flip or Flop': Tarek El Moussa and Christina Hall Reunite for Post-Divorce Spinoff, WBD Also Sets John Cena to Host Shark Week and More". Variety. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  3. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (November 2, 2023). "Chip and Joanna Gaines's Magnolia Network Sets Four Family-Friendly Unscripted Series at Max, Including Competition 'Human vs Hamster'". Variety. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  4. ↑ Vallone, Sara (October 24, 2024). "Chip Gaines shares the unlikely person who inspired his new show 'Human vs Hamster'". Yahoo News. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  5. ↑ "MAX's "Human vs Hamster" Show Casting Talent | Casting Calls at allcasting". allcasting.com. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Human vs. Hamster - A. Smith & Co. Productions". asmithco.com. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  7. ↑ Balint, Ed. "Wacky and wild. GlenOak grad competes on new HBO Max game show, 'Human vs Hamster'". Canton Repository. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  8. ↑ Keller, Joel (November 22, 2024). "'Human Vs. Hamster' HBO Max Review: Stream It Or Skip It?". Decider. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  9. ↑ Dehnart, Andy (November 22, 2024). "Human vs. Hamster is a seriously silly throwback to '80s and '90s game shows". reality blurred. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  10. ↑ Ariano, Tara (November 21, 2024). "'Human vs. Hamster' Will Make You Root Against Humanity (But in A Fun Way, for A Change)". Cracked. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  11. ↑ Sherman, Gail (November 25, 2024). "Humans Vs. Hamsters is an actual show". Boing Boing. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
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