Powerhouse TV

The show production and TV recording of the three-hour episodes, aired on Fridays at 8:15 PM on RTL, involved a massive effort for setting up 80 tons of scaffolding steel for obstacles with water basins. This included stage, lighting, and television technology in two studios, the main mall, and the outdoor area, several production offices, and lounges in the MMC Studios in Cologne. The entire production, including setup and dismantling, took a month.

In the Cologne Coloneum, three competition venues were set up in the MMC Studios with the described effort. The first set was constructed in two of the largest interconnected MMC Studios 30/31, with a production area of 2,118 square meters and a height of 10 meters. The second set was located in the 138-meter-long and 28-meter-wide main mall. The 32-meter-high "Mount Midoriyama," the third set, was built from scaffolding steel in the outdoor area behind the studios.

From the side mall, one could enter the image and sound direction rooms and the image technology area. The sound direction had access to signals from several atmosphere microphones, three microphones with hand transmitters, and three in-ear systems for the moderators. Candidates who fell into the water were handed a microphone hand transmitter by a recording manager as soon as they emerged dripping wet from the basin.

The twelve celebrities began the first stage in Studio 30/31 at 2:00 PM. The course instructors were ready to explain the proper use of the obstacles and what was not allowed. Touching the water beneath the obstacles or holding onto a forbidden part of the structure meant disqualification, indicated by a loud signal tone and the entire studio lighting turning into a sea of red lights for a few seconds.

The celebrity athletes were also instructed about where and when the pyrotechnics with flames next to the obstacles would be ignited. Lastly, the protagonists were informed about the location of cameras, which camera operators would accompany them, and which camera cranes would follow them. A professional test ninja demonstrated that the obstacles could indeed be overcome within seconds.

Once the approximately 350 spectators were placed in the studio and the moderators Laura Wontorra, Jan Köppen, and Frank Buschmann had passed makeup, the recording of the Celebrity Special began at 4:00 PM with the opening. The celebrities were assigned to the moderators in three groups. They entered the studio through a tunnel and gathered for the opening in front of the start platform, after which the competition began.

Luca Hänni started tenth. The first obstacle was named "Fünfsprung 2.0." The athletes had to use all five steps in the correct order, where hands and feet were allowed. This was followed by the "Wheel with Ring" and the third obstacle, the "Climbing Boxes".