Total Drama World Tour (often shortened as TDWT and formerly titled Total Drama, the Musical) is the third season of the Total Drama series. The series' extension was commissioned by Teletoon from the producers, Fresh TV.[1] The season's elements and plot structure is largely based on The Amazing Race, with the semi-final episode being a direct parody of the reality series.
In this season, fifteen returning contestants and two (later three) new contestants are taken on a trip around the world, and compete in cultural themed challenges of countries they visit. An added twist in this season is that they are required to break spontaneously into song, or else be immediately eliminated. The original cast from this and past seasons do not compete in the next season, Total Drama: Revenge of the Island, as there is a new cast. However, nine of these original contestants each have a cameo in the next season, while seven of them return to compete again in the fifth season, Total Drama All-Stars.[2]
A spin-off series based on this season, The Ridonculous Race, premiered in September 2015.
Plot
As with the previous seasons, fifteen returning contestants and two new ones (Alejandro and Sierra, later three with the addition of Blaineley) partake in an elimination-based competition for the grand prize of C$1,000,000 (United States dollars$731,485.00), led by series host Chris McLean (Christian Potenza).
In this season, contestants are taken around the world throughout international based challenges and are required to break into song whenever Chris rings a special chime (usually forced and when a mishap happens; Bridgette gets stuck to a pole, the 15 contestants remaining fall off the plane onto Japan, the final four are attacked by a condor, etc.), or face instant elimination. There are 30 songs in total, and every episode takes place in a different location.
As the contestants are eliminated, they take the "Drop of Shame".
This season's entire plot structure and elements is expanded into a related series called Total Drama Presents: The Ridiculous Race which aired in 2015. This series also takes place around the world and also features eighteen competitors (teams) like Total Drama World Tour, however whereas World Tour was still organized like Survivor, The Ridiculous Race was based on The Amazing Race.[3]
Total Drama World Tour is a Canadian animated television series which premiered on June 10, 2010, at 8:30 p.m. EST on Teletoon and it premiered on June 21, 2010, at 9:00 p.m. EST on Cartoon Network. It aired on ABC3 at 6:40 a.m. in Australia.
Fifteen of the original contestants of the Total Drama series—Bridgette, Cody, Courtney, DJ, Duncan, Ezekiel, Gwen, Harold, Heather, Izzy, Leshawna, Lindsay, Noah, Owen, and Tyler—have returned to compete in the World Tour. They are joined by two new contestants, Alejandro and Sierra. They are introduced to their new home and transportation method for the competition, along with the new rules of the show. Ezekiel is suddenly eliminated, but manages to make a comeback. The contestants are taken to a new location, Egypt, where they participate in their first challenge, and after Duncan quits the show, three new teams are formed: Team Victory, consisting of Ezekiel, Harold, Bridgette, Lindsay, DJ, and Leshawna, Team Amazon, consisting of Izzy, Cody, Courtney, Heather, and Gwen and Team Chris is Really Really Really Really Hot consisting of Noah, Tyler, Owen, Alejandro, and Sierra.
The teams using their various rewards, must race across the desert to the Nile River. There, they must weave baskets to cross the deadly river. Sierra and Izzy decide to swap teams, so that they can be with their love interests. In the end, Ezekiel loses his team's reward to an alligator, and along with the rest of his team, is forced to endure the elimination ceremony. As a result, Ezekiel is the first person to be voted off of the show once again, but Ezekiel is not the only one to leave the plane as Duncan quits from not singing.
57
3
"Super Crazy Happy Fun Time Japan"
Adam Rotstein & Doug Hadders
September 16, 2010 (2010-09-16)
July 5, 2010
303
N/A
The teams must survive a torturous Japanese game showchallenge and then shoot a commercial for candied fish tails. While Heather,Courtney,and Gwen clash based on commercial ideas, Cody and Sierra are forced to work together, and DJ continues to believe he may be cursed. In the end, Team Victory is forced to vote off DJ, because of his bad acting skills. However, with convincing from Alejandro, Harold quits the game, saving DJ from elimination. He says that the team's loss was his fault, then leaves the plane with "honor" by stabbing himself with a fake lightsaber.
The three teams fly to the Yukon Territory and undertake a number of challenges in the freezing temperatures. Tyler begins to frustrate himself and work extra hard as he tries to get the attention of his former flame, Lindsay. Alejandro takes advantage of Bridgette and gets her stuck to a pole, while DJ gets his team lost . Unexpectedly, Team Chris races past the finish line just in time. At the elimination it comes down to Bridgette or DJ, so Bridgette takes the Drop of Shame for costing her team the challenge.
The three teams head east to the Big Apple at New York City. Sierra's knowledge about the host of the show leads to Chris' plan; however, it is quickly sabotaged thanks to Alejandro's manipulation. Meanwhile, former love rivals begin to team up to go against Heather. After one team wins again and another loses for the first time, it is revealed that the contestants had all participated in the first reward challenge of the season.
The first aftermath of the season has premiered, with Geoff and Blaineley. The other six non-contestants watch alongside as the peanut gallery. The hosts ponder over the whereabouts of two eliminated contestants(Ezekiel and Duncan) after their plunges down from the plane. Harold is interviewed and he sings a song about his crush left in the competition, and Bridgette sings a ballad to apologize for her previous acts of disloyalty. In the end, all is forgiven, much to the dismay of the lesser-liked host, Blaineley.
Chris takes the remaining thirteen contestants to the snowy German Alps, where their next challenge awaits. Alejandro's manipulation of Leshawna causes Noah and Heather to grow extremely suspicious. Meanwhile, Lindsay is finally able to remember Tyler, resulting in him shouting during a song, causing an avalanche. The contestants make a sausage to race down to the second part of the challenge: a dance-off. At the end, Leshawna gets voted off because she jumped off the platform to slap Heather thanks to Alejandro.
The three teams are taken to the Amazon, where their eighteen-hour challenge awaits. One team ends up in deep trouble due to a teammate's poor judgment, giving them their first loss and giving another team their first win. Meanwhile, Owen begins to realize Alejandro might not return their friendship, but brushes it off after being rescued. After Chris reveals the votes, causing Sierra's heartbreak, he then reveals that the episode was actually a reward challenge, sparing Heather from elimination.
The contestants arrive in Paris, and everything but love is in the air for these teens. As the three teams struggle to complete their challenge, Sierra is having trouble coping with Cody's previous actions. DJ tries his hardest to either throw the challenge or eliminate his problem, but an unexpected twist ultimately sends Lindsay packing, leaving Tyler upset by the outcome.
Chris' hometown, St John's, Newfoundland, is visited as the eleven teens compete in their next challenge. DJ (who is the last member of Team Victory) desperately wants to be eliminated, leading Heather to try hard to align herself with him, but is beaten to it by Alejandro. In the end, two teams share the reward and no one is sent home due to Chris' good mood.
After the plane runs out of gas, the final eleven are stranded in Jamaica. Owen is starting to have second thoughts about his romantic relationship with Izzy. After an incident, both end up severely injured, with Izzy actually removed from the competition due to the severity of their injury, but not before the two officially break up. Meanwhile, Alejandro's actions from the previous episode are intentionally revealed and because of this, DJ is finally eliminated.
The second installment of season three's Aftermath includes a fundraiser in order to resolve for the plane's fuel shortage. Leshawna, Lindsay, Izzy, and DJ are interviewed, while trying to convince the viewers to donate five hundred thousand dollars. After the Studio experiences some severe destruction, thanks to Blaineley trying to get more views, the goal is increased to one million dollars. Will they reach the enormous goal in a mere thirty minutes or will the show be gone for good? The fate lies in the hands of tough and sassy Leshawna and Izzy, who has turned into a genius.
With only two teams remaining, the host takes the remaining contestants to London, England, where their challenge is to capture a criminal before he catches them. In the end, two criminals are caught, bringing Duncan back into the competition, joining a team, and giving his captors the victory instead of the original winners. At the end, Noah ends up eliminated as a result.
68
14
"Greece's Pieces"
Terry McGurrin
December 30, 2010 (2010-12-30)
September 6, 2010
314
N/A
Duncan and the final eight travel to Greece to compete in various Olympic challenges. Duncan and Gwen are nervous about their kiss and, unfortunately Tyler has seen it happen and he is forced to reveal it to Alejandro. A fight breaks out and tension between Cody and Duncan grows. After one team wins, three contestants are in the hot seat on the other, but an intern is eliminated instead, sparing Duncan.
The two teams must search Area 51 for intact alien artifacts at Area 52 and bring them back to the Total Drama Jumbo Jet. During the challenge, Duncan and Gwen have their second kiss, thus officially starting a relationship, while an alliance becomes strained. In the end, Team Amazon wins and Tyler gets sent home.
The remaining eight contestants travel to Australia, where tension really flares after a past incident. Alejandro and Duncan devise a strategy to weaken Courtney which proves to be quite successful, while the other team is divided into two alliances. In the end, Gwen takes the Drop of Shame after losing a tie-breaker challenge.
The two teams land in Sweden to compete in a "Viking" capture the flag game. Alejandro tries to flirt with Courtney while Cody misses Gwen. Meanwhile, Duncan becomes aware of Alejandro's true nature and warns Owen. In the end, Chris reveals that there will be no elimination again, sparing someone and leaving others disappointed.
After Blaineley forces Bridgette into doing a world tour of Total Drama fan countries, Geoff becomes fed up with her abusive behavior. Noah, Tyler, and Gwen join the peanut gallery, where five of them get the opportunity to re-join the competition. However, one (un)lucky co-host(Blaineley) ends up unintentionally winning instead.
73
19
"Niagara Brawls"
Emer Connon
February 3, 2011 (2011-02-03)
October 4, 2010
319
N/A
The remaining seven are dumped in Niagara Falls for their next challenge, where it is revealed that Blaineley is debuting onto the show and that the teams have merged. The challenges have a wedding theme, leading to added tension for three particular couples. Alejandro attempts to convince Duncan, Heather, and Sierra to vote off Owen.
The final seven go to China for a visit to the Great Wall. Tension continues between four contestants and Cody plans to establish the connection between himself and Sierra. Blaineley allies with Chef. In the end, Blaineley and Courtney are both voted off due to the show's budget problems.
75
21
"African Lying Safari"
Laurie Elliott
February 24, 2011 (2011-02-24)
October 18, 2010
321
N/A
The final five arrive in Tanzania for their next challenge; hunting down Ezekiel who has now gone feral after hiding in the cargo hold. Sierra's obsession with Cody peaks, and Heather and Alejandro continue to deny their attraction towards each other. In the end, Alejandro wins the challenge and Duncan gets sent home for the second time after a close vote.
76
22
"Rapa-Phooey!"
Shelley Scarrow
March 2, 2011 (2011-03-02)
October 25, 2010
322
N/A
The final four contestants are on their way to Easter Island to compete in an egg hunt themed challenge, as Alejandro and Heather maneuver to become closer to the end through manipulating Sierra and Cody. In the end, Heather wins the challenge, but when Sierra is spared, Heather picks Alejandro to stay in first class, so that Sierra may be with Cody.
77
23
"Awwwwww, Drumheller"
Nicole Demerse
March 10, 2011 (2011-03-10)
November 1, 2010
323
N/A
The final four head to Alberta, Canada to participate in an archaeology-themed challenge. Alejandro frames Heather to anger Sierra. However, when Heather becomes trapped, Alejandro decides to save her. At the end, Alejandro was supposed to be eliminated, but Sierra accidentally blew up Chris' plane when she brought out lit firecrackers on Cody's birthday cake, and Chris disqualified her from the game for that in pure anger, even though she won the challenge, leaving only Heather, Alejandro, and Cody.
The Aftermath show reveals the location of the finale: Hawaii. Owen, Courtney, Blaineley, and Duncan are brought out. Before the peanut gallery is split into three teams and a final challenge is revealed; a representative of each team competes in a surfing competition to win the finalists a possible advantage for the finale. Geoff regains his co-host Bridgette, but with some added company.
79
25
"Planes, Trains & Hot Air Mobiles"
Shelley Scarrow
March 27, 2011 (2011-03-27)
November 8, 2010
325
N/A
After Chris disqualified Sierra for blowing up the plane, Heather, Alejandro, and Cody must engage in a full-out, no-rules race to Hawaii. While Alejandro confronts Heather about her treachery, Cody develops a strong bond with Sierra, who he initially tried to avoid. Ultimately, while Heather guarantees herself a spot in the final two, Alejandro and Cody tie for second place and must battle for dominance in the final challenge.
Heather, Alejandro, and Cody come up with a plan to determine who will win $1,000,000. Cody and Alejandro must compete in a tie-breaker to win the last spot in the final two; they had to do a traditional fire dance tie-breaker challenge. Alejandro wins when Heather tricks Cody, eliminating him. After Cody gets eliminated, Chris announces the final challenge, which involves one of Hawaii's active volcanoes. Heather manages to trick Alejandro, bringing them to their ultimate downfall in the game. Alejandro's ending: (Canada, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Africa, Denmark, Sweden, and Hungary). Despite outsmarting Alejandro and kicking him down the volcano on a block of ice, Heather accidentally drops Alejandro's tribute into the volcano, meaning he wins on a technicality. A feral Ezekiel appears and attacks Chris for the case. Everyone runs from the erupting volcano, trampling Alejandro, who asks if he is going to get his money. Then, Alejandro is completely covered in lava flowing down the mountain. When the rest of the cast members are heading for safety by swimming farther out into the ocean, they swim away when flaming rocks start bombarding them.Heather's ending: (United States, Oceania, Latin America, France, Italy, Israel, Serbia, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Norway, Britain, the Philippines, and Portugal). She throws her actual tribute into the volcano and wrestles Ezekiel for the million dollars, but fails. After Alejandro is trampled by the cast and covered by lava, the eliminated contestants (except for Blaineley, Alejandro, and Ezekiel) all leave Heather behind to complain that she didn't win. Post-credits scene: After the credits, Chris placed Alejandro into the Drama Machine after he was trampled and burned so he could sign release forms. Then, he arises and asks Chris if the money is safe and Chris tells him about its fiery demise, causing him to shout in horror, parodying Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.
Episode finale variations
The show's producers created two alternate endings for the final episode, such that the winner seen in one country's broadcasts is the runner-up in other countries (and vice versa) where the show airs. Heather was shown as the first winner when Australia aired the season for the first time worldwide.[citation needed] Heather was also depicted as the winner in airings from Brazil, France, Israel, Italy, Latin America, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Spain (including Catalonia), and in the United States.[citation needed] Canada then aired Alejandro as the winner, which was later aired in Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, and in Sweden.[citation needed]
Characters
The main Total Drama World Tour cast consists of host Chris McLean, assistant Chef Hatchet, and the contestants. The remaining contestants from Total Drama Island and Total Drama Action also appear in the show but serving in lesser capacities as commentators on The Aftermath.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (July 2012)
The season began production in 2009 when Fresh TV commissioned Teletoon to order new Total Drama episodes for an upcoming third season.[1] This season was to be called Total Drama: The Musical when it first entered production. Keith Oliver and Chad Hicks directed this new season while two new voice actors, Marco Grazzini and Annick Obonsawin had to be hired if they wanted to voice the two new characters, Alejandro and Sierra. The season's title was later changed to the current title, Total Drama World Tour in 2010 upon the airing of Celebrity Manhunt's Total Drama Action Reunion Special due to the singing no longer being the main focus for this season.
Reception
Awards and accolades
Total Drama World Tour won numerous awards in 2011, from such outlets as the ToonZone Awards and the KidScreen Awards. At the ToonZone Awards, it won "Best Foreign Series", "Best Music Score on a TV Series", and "Best Voice Actress" for Annick Obonsawin. It was additionally nominated for "Best Original Song" for Oh My Izzy (sung by Scott McCord and Megan Fahlenbock), and "Best Voice Actor" for Carter Hayden.[19] In the 2011 KidScreen Awards, the season won "Best Animated Series", "Best Voice Talent", and "Best Tweens/Teens Program".[20]
Critical reception
Despite the many accolades and the enormous fan appraisal that still goes on to this day, and critical acclaim,[21] some events of this season were severely criticized, such as the under-use of characters who had smaller roles in the preceding seasons, and the overuse of characters who had already won a preceding season or, at the very least, made it far into them. Other aspects of the season that had a negative reception were the creator's handling of Ezekiel (where he was turned into a feral monster over time), as many fans felt he was not given jusitifable character development; the constant losing streak of Team Victory and the love triangle between Duncan, Courtney and Gwen. The love triangle was eventually addressed in a video with the show's creators on Christian Potenza's YouTube channel, revealing that the breaking up of Duncan and Courtney was actually a network request, rather than a decision on the creator's part.[22]Total Drama World Tour currently holds a 7.8 on Metacritic, which indicates "generally favorable reviews".[23]
Media
DVD releases
Australia is the only country that released Total Drama World Tour on home video, which was released on a Region 4 DVD. The first part of the season was released in a Collection 1 DVD on April 3, 2013[24] while the second half of the season was released in a Collection 2 DVD on August 7, 2013.[25]
Online website
Teletoon hosted a Total Drama World Tour based website starting in 2010 called Total Drama Online where people could play games and earn badges to win prizes, but was only available in Canada.[26] The site was then replaced with universal games available to everyone in 2013, but removed all special features from the site.[citation needed]
