Maybe it's because of its similarity to an old favorite - the Japanese series "Ninja Warrior" (which is way better - more intense and the contestants actually train for the honor to compete). The Wipeout commentary is campy and a weak attempt at mimicking Japanese shows of this kind (Extreme Elimination Challenge comes to mind), but people crashing and falling (in a controlled environment of course) is hilarious no matter the side chatter, and in fact tends to make the cheesy comments more entertaining than they really are. The competitors are usually a loony loopy bunch (but with a lot of heart, maybe). I especially enjoyed a recent episode with the guy who helped a woman avoid falling (upon her request), showing that chivalry isn't dead, not even in cut-throat game shows. She beat him in that segment (right after and because he helped her!), but his good karma earned from being a gentleman helped him defeat her in the final round and nabbed him the grand prize. I was totally rooting for this one - such poetic justice.
Sometimes we all need a dose of brainless fun, and watching people slip and fall IS most amusing (heck I even cracked up at myself when I slipped and fell the other day). The show also does not take itself seriously - it knows it's corny and is making the best of it. As such, I am cutting myself a break and making this show the one exception to my reality TV boycott. Laughter is the best medicine after all ...
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