Ink Master | |
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![]() Title card from the first four seasons. | |
Genre | Reality television |
Presented by | |
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Theme music composer | Vanacore Music, Inc |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 15 |
No. of episodes | 199 |
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Executive producers |
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Production location | Jersey City, NJ |
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Camera setup | Multiple-camera |
Running time | 40–83 minutes |
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Original release | |
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Release | January 17, 2012 – present |
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Ink Master is an American reality competition television series that originally aired on Paramount Network (formerly called Spike), now airing on the Paramount+ Streaming service and 24/7 on the Pluto app which has a channel dedicated entirely to the show. The first season originally premiered on January 17, 2012. The show is hosted by Dave Navarro who joins Chris Nunez and Oliver Peck to make up a panel of judges that decides which contestants get to continue in the competition and which go home, ultimately deciding the winner at the end. Judge Oliver Peck left the series after a controversial post from years prior in which he wore blackface resurfaced. Each season features tattoo artists who compete in various challenges assessing their tattooing and related artistic skills. They are judged by renowned tattoo artists and enthusiasts, with one or more contestants eliminated each episode. The last contestant standing each season receives a $100,000 prize, the title of Ink Master, and a feature in Inked Magazine. The series is produced by Original Media, which also produced the reality show Miami Ink .
Four spin-off shows, titled Ink Shrinks, [1] Ink Master: Redemption, Ink Master: Angels and Ink Master: Grudge Match, [2] [3] have also been released. [4] The series has also released a number of special standalone episodes themed around upcoming events or holidays, such as Halloween. [5]
The tenth season (titled as Ink Master: Return of the Masters) premiered on January 9, 2018, and aired its first two episodes on Spike before the network rebranded as the Paramount Network. On April 24, 2018, it was announced that Paramount Network had renewed the series for an eleventh season. [6] The twelfth season, titled Ink Master: Battle of the Sexes, premiered on June 11, 2019. On November 12, 2019, it was announced that the thirteenth season titled Ink Master: Turf War would premiere on January 7, 2020. [7]
On September 22, 2020, Paramount Network cancelled the series, as part of the network's then-planned shift to movies. [8] On December 1, 2020, the first two seasons were made available to stream on Netflix in the United States. [9] They were later removed on December 1, 2021, and replaced with seasons three and four. [10] [11] On February 24, 2021, it was announced that the series would be revived by Paramount+. [12] On August 5, 2022, it was announced that the revival would premiere on September 7, 2022. [13] A fifteenth season premiered on November 1, 2023. [14]
All episodes aside from the finales have the following format, with some minor variations to the application of the format:
First, a Flash Challenge will be evaluated based on how well an artist met the week's skill. Some Flash Challenges involve tattooing, but typically, flash challenges do not incorporate the act of tattooing; but instead will require a non-related artistic skill (i.e., painting, haircutting, etching, burning, etc.) The winner of the flash challenge wins the right to select their human canvas in the elimination challenge and, as of season two, pair up the other contestants with their human canvases.
After the Flash Challenge comes the Elimination Challenge, a further test of the week's skill on a human canvas, typically incorporating a prominent style of tattooing. Once the contestants are paired up with their canvases, they are given the day to consult with their assignment. Each contestant is given four to six hours to tattoo their design the next day. Once completed, the contestants meet as a group with the judges and are critiqued one by one. The contestants then are dismissed, with four later being called back. The four typically represent a week's top two and bottom two, though this breakdown can change. At the end of each episode, a winner generally is declared, and one contestant is eliminated.
The final challenge was a marathon tattooing of up to 18 hours for the finale of season one. The season two finale did not share this format. Instead, it consisted of the three finalists meeting with their respective canvases for four six-hour sessions to create a final piece. This final piece did not require a specific tattoo genre or location for the artist to tattoo. Instead, the artists could choose those aspects for themselves, and the only restriction they faced was a time limit. The season three finale followed a similar format to the season two finale. However, the artists were allowed five seven-hour sessions for a cumulative 35-hour master canvas tattoo.
Musician Dave Navarro and tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck served as the show's primary judges, with Navarro also serving as a host for the show. [15] Navarro and Núñez appeared in every episode, while Peck was absent on two episodes of season nine when he was recovering from a heart attack. [16] Some episodes incorporate a fourth guest judge, usually a well-known tattoo artist who has knowledge or reputation in the style of tattoo (such as New School, Traditional (old school), Japanese, Portrait, Black and Gray, etc.) chosen for the week's elimination challenge.
Season two judging was taken to a new level with audience voting participation through the series' official website and via Facebook voting, with the audience vote affecting the final ruling by the judges. Sebastian Murphy was eliminated from consideration by the judges in the season finale because he was the contestant whose work in the elimination challenges received the fewest votes by the audience. Season three introduced the human canvas jury. The human canvases review each other's tattoos and nominate the artist who did the worst piece for elimination. Season four introduced the elimination challenge winner's selection, where the challenge winner picks an artist for elimination.
In January 2020, Oliver Peck was forced out of his spot as Ink Master Judge following a controversy involving his reemerged blackface photo from his MySpace page. [17] There was no word of a replacement before the series was initially canceled.
On August 5, 2022, new judges were announced for the revival series, including season 8 winner, Ryan Ashley Malarkey, tattoo artists Nikko Hurtado and Ami James. [13] Hurtado had previously been a guest judge in the series, while James had appeared in Miami Ink , alongside Nuñez. Joel Madden was announced as the new host for the upcoming season, with Navarro returning as "Master Of Chaos", adding twists and game-changing bombs to each episode.
Three time champion, DJ Tambe, joins the judging panel for its fifteenth season, replacing James. Navarro did not return for the season, making it the first season he is absent from.
Season | Contestants | First aired | Last aired | Winner(s) | Runner(s)-up | Third place |
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1 | 10 | January 17, 2012 | March 6, 2012 | Shane O'Neill | Tommy Helm | James Vaughn |
2 | 16 | October 9, 2012 | December 18, 2012 | Steve Tefft | Sarah Miller | Sebastian Murphy |
3 | 16 | July 16, 2013 | October 8, 2013 | Joey Hamilton | Jime Litwalk | Katherine "Tatu Baby" Flores |
4 | 17 | February 25, 2014 | May 20, 2014 | Scott Marshall | Walter "Sausage" Frank | Matti Hixson |
5 | 18 | September 2, 2014 | December 16, 2014 | Jason Clay Dunn | James "Cleen Rock One" Steinke | Erik Siuda |
6 | 18 | June 23, 2015 | October 13, 2015 | Dave Kruseman | Chris Blinston | Matt O'Baugh |
7 | 16 | March 1, 2016 [18] | May 24, 2016 | Anthony Michaels | James "Cleen Rock One" Steinke | Christian Buckingham |
8 | 18 | August 23, 2016 [19] | December 6, 2016 | Ryan Ashley Malarkey | Gian Karle Cruz | Kelly Doty |
9 | 36 | June 6, 2017 | September 26, 2017 | Old Town Ink (Aaron "Bubba" Irwin and DJ Tambe) | Black Cobra Tattoos (Katie McGowan and Matt O'Baugh) | Basilica Tattoo (Christian Buckingham and Noelin Wheeler) |
10 | 18 | January 9, 2018 | April 24, 2018 | Josh Payne | Juan Salgado | Roly T-Rex |
11 | 18 | August 28, 2018 | December 18, 2018 | Tony Medellin | Teej Poole | Tiffer Wright |
12 | 18 | June 11, 2019 | September 24, 2019 | Laura Marie | Dani Ryan | Creepy Jason |
13 | 20 | January 7, 2020 | April 14, 2020 | N/A [lower-alpha 1] | ||
14 | 14 | September 7, 2022 | November 2, 2022 | DJ Tambe | Gian Karle Cruz | Bob Jones |
15 | 15 [20] | November 1, 2023 | December 20, 2023 | Bobby Johnson | Freddie Albrighton | Jon Mesa |
Various standalone holiday and special event-themed episodes have been made that do not follow the series seasons. They have typically followed an upcoming or recently passed holiday. These episodes feature previous Ink Master contestants competing for smaller cash prizes. [21]
Ink Master licensed a Dutch/Belgian edition called Ink Master: Meesters van de Lage Landen (Masters of the Low Countries) to Spike NL in 2017. The format remains largely intact; filming occurs mainly around Amsterdam. The winner of the first season of this edition was the Belgian contestant "Djoels". The second season takes place in IJmuiden and was won by Belgian contestant Joyce.
The spin-off series Ink Master: Redemption premiered in September 2015. [22] [23] The spin-off features canvases who are unhappy with the tattoo they received during the competition. After discussing their tattoo with Navarro, the canvases are given a chance to confront the artist who did the original piece. The artist is offered the chance for redemption by being able to consult with the canvas on a new tattoo (or modification to improve their existing Ink Master piece). After reviewing the artist's new drawing, the canvas is given a no-strings-attached choice to proceed with the new tattoo or leave the shop. Episodes sometimes feature a twist, such as rival artists returning to draw a design for the same unhappy canvas, potentially stealing the original artist's chance at redemption. Ink Master: Redemption was renewed for a second season to coincide with the premiere of season 7 of Ink Master. [24]
In June 2017, Spike announced a new spin-off series titled Ink Master: Angels. The premise follows four female contestants from the eighth season of Ink Master – season winner Ryan Ashley Malarkey, Kelly Doty, Nikki Simpson, and Gia Rose – as they travel around the United States to face other artists in tattoo challenges with a spot on season ten of Ink Master on the line. [25] The show premiered on October 3, 2017.
On August 21, 2019, it was announced that a spin-off titled Ink Master: Grudge Match would premiere on October 1, 2019. [2] [3] Judges for the series include former Ink Master contestants Cleen Rock One, DJ Tambe, and Ryan Ashley Malarkey. [26]
Face Off is an American reality television game show program on the SyFy cable network channel in which a group of prosthetic makeup artists compete against each other to create prostheses such as those found in science fiction, fantasy, and horror films. One or more challenges are featured in each episode, with the work reviewed by a panel of judges who eliminate one or more artists each week until a final winner is chosen.
The first season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master debuted on Spike on January 17 and concluded on March 6, 2012, with a total of 8 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner received a $100,000 prize, a feature in Inked Magazine and the title of Ink Master.
Best Ink is an American reality competition series on Oxygen that judges tattoo artists. The series ran for three seasons, the first in 2012, the second in 2013, and the third in 2013–2014. The show was hosted by Kimberly Caldwell during Season 1 and by Pete Wentz in Seasons 2 and 3.
The second season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master premiered on Spike on October 9 and concluded December 18, 2012 with a total of 13 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner received a $100,000 cash prize, a feature in Inked Magazine and the title of Ink Master.
The third season of the tattoo competition series Ink Master premiered on Spike on July 16 and concluded on October 8, 2013, with a total of 13 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner will receive a $100,000 prize, a feature in Inked magazine and the title of Ink Master.
The fourth season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master premiered on Spike on February 25 and concluded on May 20, 2014, with a total of 13 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner will receive a $100,000 prize, a feature in Inked Magazine and the title of Ink Master.
Ink Master: Rivals is the fifth season of the tattooing competition series Ink Master that premiered on Spike on September 2 and concluded on December 16, 2014 with a total of 16 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner received a $100,000 prize, a feature in Inked Magazine and the title of Ink Master.
Ink Master: Master vs. Apprentice is the sixth season of the tattoo reality competition series Ink Master that premiered on Spike on June 23 and concluded on October 13, 2015 with a total of 16 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner will receive a $100,000 prize, a feature in Inked Magazine, a Dodge Challenger and the title of Ink Master.
Ink Master: Revenge is the seventh season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master that aired on Spike on March 1 and concluded on May 24, 2016 with a total of 13 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner will receive a $100,000 prize, a feature in Inked Magazine and the title of Ink Master.
Ink Master: Peck vs Nuñez is the eighth season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master that premiered on August 23 and concluded on December 6, 2016, on Spike with 16 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner will receive a $100,000 prize, a feature in Inked Magazine, a Dodge Charger, a guest spot at their respective team captain's shop and the title of Ink Master.
Ink Master: Shop Wars is the ninth season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master that premiered on June 6, 2017, on Spike with 16 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winning shop received $200,000, a feature in Inked magazine, the title of Ink Master, and the title of Master Shop.
Ink Master: Angels is a spin-off of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master that premiered on October 3, 2017 on the Paramount Network. The series follows season 8 competitors Ryan Ashley Malarkey, who won that season, Kelly Doty, Gia Rose, and Nikki Simpson as they travel around the nation going head-to-head with some of the country's top local artists who are competing to earn a spot on a future season of Ink Master.
Ink Master: Return of the Masters is the tenth season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master that premiered on January 9 at 10/9c and concluded on April 24, 2018 with 16 episodes. The first two episodes of the season marked the series' last to air on Spike prior to the network's transition to Paramount Network nine days later on January 18. Despite this, the remaining episodes continued to air on the new channel. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner received $100,000, a feature in Inked magazine and the title of Ink Master.
Ink Master: Grudge Match – Cleen vs. Christian is the eleventh season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master that premiered on Paramount Network on August 28, instead of its original air date September 4, and concluded on December 18, 2018, with a total of 16 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner received $100,000, a feature in Inked magazine and the title of Ink Master.
Ryan Ashley DiCristina, known as Ryan Ashley, is an American tattoo artist known for her appearances on the television shows Ink Master and its spin-offs. Her signature style reflects her training and experience as a fashion designer: Ashley specializes in black-and-gray designs with beadwork, lace detail, and ornamental jewels. Ashley won Ink Master's season eight competition in 2016 and in the following years returned to host a spin-off show (Angels), judge another spin-off, and judge in the main series. She co-owns a tattoo shop in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Ink Master: Battle of the Sexes is the twelfth season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master that premiered on Paramount Network on June 11, 2019, with a total of 16 episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner received $100,000, a feature in Inked magazine and the title of Ink Master.
Ink Master: Turf War is the thirteenth season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master that premiered on Paramount Network on January 7 and ended on April 14, 2020 with a total of fifteen episodes. The show is hosted and judged by Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro, with accomplished tattoo artists Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck serving as series regular judges. The winner was to receive $100,000, a feature in Inked magazine and the title of Ink Master. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the live finale was cancelled and no winner was announced for this season.
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The 14th season of the tattoo reality competition Ink Master premiered on Paramount+ on September 7, 2022. The season ran for 10 episodes, with the finale premiering on November 2, 2022. Joel Madden, lead vocalist of Good Charlotte, replaced Dave Navarro as the host and judge. Long-time judges Chris Núñez and Oliver Peck were replaced with Ami James, Nikko Hurtado, and Season 8 winner, Ryan Ashley. Season 14 was the first season of the show to have four regular judges.
The fifteenth season of tattoo reality competition show, Ink Master was announced on September 28, 2023. It premiered on November 1, 2023, with the first three episodes on Paramount+ and the following episodes being released weekly. Good Charlotte vocalist Joel Madden returns as host, while season 8 winner Ryan Ashley and Nikko Hurtado return as judges. Three time champion, DJ Tambe, joins the judging panel replacing Ami James.