Strong (TV series)
Strong is an American competition reality television series that aired on NBC from April 13 to June 2, 2016. It was hosted by former professional volleyball player Gabrielle Reece.
Premise
Strong features 20 contestants: 10 male trainers and 10 female trainees. The trainers help their trainees improve physical fitness, focusing not only on weight loss but also, according to the series, "achieving a balance between mind and body, and getting into shape both physically and mentally". In each episode, teams train and compete in physical challenges across disciplines such as mixed martial arts, strength and endurance training, and boxing. After challenges, two teams face off in a physical competition in the Elimination Tower; the losing team is eliminated from the series. The winning team receives a cash prize of up to $500,000, dependent on their overall performance.Contestants
The contestants for season one of Strong were:Trainers
- Leyon Azubuike, a professional strength and condition coach from Santa Monica, California
- Todd Durkin, a personal trainer and author from San Diego
- Ky Evans, a personal trainer and ballet dancer from Marina del Rey, California
- Drew Logan, a celebrity trainer and nutrition expert from Manhattan Beach, California
- Mathew Miller, a strength and conditioning coach from Las Vegas
- Wesley Okerson, a personal trainer from Los Angeles
- Adam Von Rothfelder, a strength trainer and former MMA fighter from Milwaukee
- Chris Ryan, a personal trainer and fitness model from New York City
- Dan Wells, a gym franchise owner from Studio City, Los Angeles
- Bennie Wylie, a strength and conditioning trainer from Tuscola, Texas
Trainees
- Brittany Harrell-Miller, algebra teacher from Lawrence, Kansas
- Jill May, mother from Minnesota
Production
Executive producers included Dave Broome, creator of the competition reality series The Biggest Loser,, and Holly Wofford, a producer on the sports competition show American Ninja Warrior. Other executive producers included Sylvester Stallone and Kevin King-Templeton, who also collaborated on the sports drama film Creed. The series was produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with 25/7 Productions.Paul Telegdy, NBC president of alternative and late-night programming, stated that American Ninja Warrior prompted interest in Strong and that pitches for shows were considered based on the question: "If there was a show that would get people ready to be a contestant on American Ninja Warrior, what would it be?" Host Gabrielle Reece described the show's physical challenges as a "high level of difficulty" and said of the series,: "I think it has a really human quality to it. The cast's stories are stories that everyone can relate to."
The series debuted with back-to-back episodes as a sneak preview on April 13, 2016, before moving to its regular timeslot on Thursdays at 8 p.m. The sneak preview followed a live episode of the NBC musical competition series The Voice. It preceded The Blacklist in the NBC schedule. Strong was the third show to air in NBC's Thursday 8 p.m. timeslot that season, following Heroes Reborn and You, Me and the Apocalypse. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the title Strong is an acronym for 'Start to Realize Our Natural Greatness'.