The fourth season of Tough as Nails starts on January 4 on CBS, and above is an exclusive clip from the first challenge of the season. The host tells us all about what’s going on in the challenge by talking to Phil Keoghan.
“At the start of the season, we have a challenge chosen by the team,” says Keoghan. “They have never worked together before. There is nothing they know about each other. They quickly tell each other who they are and say, “I work on pipelines.” I’m a veteran and I work as a firefighter. I work on building sites.’ Then we put them through their paces.”
The 12 contestants have to go out to inflatable boats that are anchored in 30 feet of water and replace the whole mooring system. Keoghan says of the challenge, “No one has ever done anything like this before, so they have to use their life skills to get the job done. Then, the first two people to finish get to choose the two teams of six.”
What Tough as Nails is All About?
In a nutshell, that’s what Tough as Nails is all about. Every day, workers are given problems that aren’t related to their jobs but that they can solve with the skills they already have. The first challenge is a chance for each player to show off their unique skills and surprise Keoghan and the possible team leaders with their different ways of solving problems. The host of The Amazing Race tells us that in this challenge, he wants to see some very quick thinking.
“I’m trying to show how determined they are to get the job done,” he says, giving the example of a player whose motor won’t start, so they “become the motor” instead. In the preview, another player shows that she is physically stronger than she looks. And while doing the first challenge, each player will have to keep an eye on everyone else’s skills, because the two winners will have to put together a strong team that will last the whole season.
Keoghan is happy that Tough as Nails keeps getting better and better. “I just feel very lucky to have been a part of successful formats like The Amazing Race and Tough as Nails, which was a passion project that we worked on for over a decade. When we finally had a chance to try it, it did work. Keoghan thinks that the fact that all of the contestants are the people who keep our everyday lives going is the key to its success (no eliminations are also a rarity for a reality competition series).
“Everyone should flush their toilets. Everyone wants to turn on a light by flipping a switch. The power lines fall because of a storm. “Who are the people who go out in the middle of a storm and literally hook up the lights and power again so that the old couple down the street can turn on their heaters and stay warm in their house?” he asks. “During Covid, we stayed in our homes, but who are the people who go to the store in the middle of the night to restock everything for us? Tough as Nails gives us a look into the lives of [those people], and I love that the cast is so diverse. It’s a great mix of passionate people from all walks of life who are really good at doing something that matters and affects all of us.
Tough as Nails Season 4 Cast and Roleplay
| Name | Age | Job | Current Residence/Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Bernotas | 35 | General Contractor | Norfolk, VA |
| Larron Ables | 22 | Diesel Technician | Austin, TX |
| Ilima Shim | 34 | Construction Worker | Waianae, HI |
| Beth Salva-Clifford | 42 | Shipboard Electrician | Norfolk, VA |
| Sergio Robles | 51 | Foreman | Huntington Beach, CA |
| Aly Bala | 25 | Laborer | Covington, GA |
| Jake Cope | 34 | Pipeline Laborer | Little Meadows, PA |
| Synethia Bland | 38 | Carpenter | Roselle, NJ |
| Ellery Liburd | Firefighter | Bronx, NY | |
| Jorge Zavala | 25 | Concrete Form Setter | Ontario, CA |
| Mister Frost | 36 | Welder | Spencer, OK |
| Renèe Kolar | 52 | Dry Mason | Marshfield, MA |
Final Words
The fourth season of Tough as Nails starts on January 4. The first challenge is a chance for each player to show off their unique skills. Keoghan: No one has ever done anything like this before. They have to use their life skills to get the job done. Keoghan says the fact that all of the contestants are people who keep our lives going is key to its success. The cast is diverse and passionate about what they do, from all walks of life.
