Total Drama

***Total Drama*** (originally titled ***Escape From Summer Camp*** then ***Camp TV***) is a Canadian animated competition series created by Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis and the first series in the *Total Drama* franchise. The series, consisting of 117 episodes, premiered on Teletoon in Canada on July 8, 2007 and concluded on November 20, 2014. The series was followed by two spin-offs, *Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race* in 2016 and *Total DramaRama* in 2018, and later a revival series, *Total Drama Island*, in 2023.

## Plot

Each season, host Chris McLean and co-host Chef Hatchet introduce a group of teenagers to compete in challenges at Camp Wawanakwa (changed to an abandoned film lot in *Action*, international locations in *World Tour*, and Pahkitew Island in the season of the same name). The last contestant remaining wins C$1,000,000 (C$100,000 in *Island*).

### Gameplay format

* **Teams:** During the first part of the competition, contestants compete as two teams (three in *World Tour*). Around halfway through the competition, the teams are disbanded.
* **Elimination:** At the end of each week's challenge, a Campfire Ceremony (Award Ceremony in *Action* and Barf Bag Ceremony in *World Tour*) is held where the contestants vote for someone to eliminate. Chris then gives every contestant except the person voted off a marshmallow (Gilded Chris Award in *Action* and Barf Bag in *World Tour*), and the eliminated contestant must then leave in that seasons elimination device (the Dock of Shame and Boat of Losers in *Island*, the Walk of Shame and Lame-o-Sine in *Action*, the Drop of Shame in *World Tour*, the Hurl of Shame in *Revenge of the Island*, the Flush of Shame in *All-Stars*, and the Cannon of Shame in *Pahkitew Island*). Several episodes feature exceptions to the normal elimination format.
	+ Nine episodes feature contestants being eliminated as the result of a challenge.
	+ Six episodes feature contestants being disqualified from the competition.
	+ Four episodes feature contestants quitting the competition.
	+ Three episodes feature contestants competing in a tie breaker, with the loser being eliminated from the competition.
	+ Two episodes feature contestants changing the votes to eliminate a specific contestant, though only the first is successful.
	+ Two episodes feature contestants removed from the competition due to injury.
	+ Two episodes feature the winning contestant choosing who to eliminate from the competition.
	+ One episode features the winning team voting off someone from the losing team.
* **Returning contestants:** Despite being eliminated, several contestants have returned at a later point in the game or been allowed to compete in another season for another chance at the money. Additionally, challenges are occasionally offered to allow for former contestants to return to the competition.
	+ Fifteen contestants were allowed to return for *World Tour*, while two new contestants were allowed to debut, as a reward for winning Chris's secret challenge.
	+ Fourteen contestants were allowed to return for *Action* as a reward after tying in the Million Dollar Challenge.
	+ Fourteen contestants were allowed to sign up to return for *All-Stars*.
	+ Five contestants have returned by Chris's own decisions.
	+ One contestant was allowed to return due to a technicality with their previous elimination.
	+ One contestant was allowed to debut mid-way through a season after winning a wrongful termination lawsuit.
	+ One contestant was allowed to debut mid-way through a season after winning the Second Chance Challenge.
* **Musical challenges:** Introduced and only implemented in *World Tour*, contestants were forced to sing in a musical number in each episode or face immediate elimination. Contestants may also be required to participate in a musical reprise. Despite this rule, several contestants don't sing during various songs, and are not eliminated for it.
* **McLean Brand Chris Head:** Introduced in *Revenge of the Island* and utilized again in *All-Stars*, a contestant who is voted off while in possession of a McLean Brand Chris Head can use it to stay in the game. At the start of both seasons, the idol is hidden somewhere on Camp Wawanakwa (in *Revenge of the Island*) or Boney Island in the Fun Zone (in *All-Stars*).

## Main cast and characters

* Brian Froud as
	+ Harold McGrady (TDI–TDWT; cameo TDRI)
	+ Sam (TDRI–TDAS)
* Carter Hayden as Noah (TDI & TDWT; recurring TDA; cameo TDRI)
* Clé Bennett as
	+ Chef Hatchet
	+ DJ (TDI–TDWT; guest TDRI)
	+ Beardo (TDPI)
	+ Leonard (TDPI)
* Christian Potenza as Chris McLean
* Dan Petronijevic as Geoff (TDI–TDA; recurring TDWT; cameo TDRI)
* Drew Nelson as Duncan (TDI–TDWT & TDAS; guest TDRI)
* Emilie-Claire Barlow as Courtney (TDI–TDWT & TDAS; cameo TDRI)
* Julia Chantrey as Eva (TDI; recurring TDA–TDWT; cameo TDRI)
* Katie Crown as Izzy (TDI–TDWT; guest TDRI–TDAS)
* Kristin Fairlie as Bridgette (TDI–TDWT; guest TDRI)
* Lauren Lipson as Sadie (TDI; recurring TDA–TDWT; cameo TDRI)
* Megan Fahlenbock as Gwen (TDI–TDWT & TDAS; guest TDRI)
* Novie Edwards as Leshawna (TDI–TDWT; cameo TDRI)
* Peter Oldring as
	+ Cody Anderson (TDI & TDWT; recurring TDA; cameo TDRI–TDAS)
	+ Ezekiel (TDI & TDWT; recurring TDA & TDRI; guest TDAS)
	+ Tyler (TDI & TDWT; recurring TDA; cameo TDRI)
* Rachel Wilson as Heather (TDI–TDWT & TDAS; guest TDRI)
* Sarah Gadon as Beth (TDI–TDA; recurring TDWT; cameo TDRI)
* Scott McCord as
	+ Owen (TDI–TDWT; guest TDRI–TDAS)
	+ Trent (TDI–TDA; recurring TDWT; cameo TDRI)
* Stephanie Anne Mills as
	+ Katie (TDI; recurring TDA–TDWT; cameo TDRI)
	+ Lindsay (TDI–TDWT & TDAS; guest TDRI)
* Annick Obonsawin as Sierra (TDWT & TDAS; guest TDA; cameo TDRI)
* Marco Grazzini & Alex House as Alejandro Burromuerto (TDWT & TDAS; guest TDA; cameo TDRI)

Debuted in *Total Drama: Revenge of the Island** Ashley Peters as Staci (TDRI)
* Carleigh Beverly as Dakota Milton (TDRI; cameo TDAS)
* Kevin Duhaney as Cameon Wilkins (TDRI–TDAS)
* Laurie Elliott as Jo (TDRI–TDAS)
* Athena Karkanis as Anne Maria (TDRI)
* Tyrone Savage as Lightning Jackson (TDRI–TDAS)
* Caitlynne Medrek as Dawn (TDRI)
* Barbara Mamabolo as Zoey (TDRI–TDAS)
* James Wallis as Scott (TDRI–TDAS)
* Cory Doran as Mike (TDRI–TDAS)
* Jon Cor as Brick McArthur (TDRI)

Debuted in *Total Drama: Pahkitew Island** Bruce Dow as Max (TDPI)
* Bryn McAuley as
	+ Amy (TDPI)
	+ Samey (TDPI)
* Sarah Podemski as Sky (TDPI)
* Christopher Jacot as Topher (TDPI)
* Daniel DeSanto as Dave (TDPI)
* Zachary Bennett as Shawn (TDPI)
* Sunday Muse as Ella (TDPI)
* Ian Ronningen as Rodney (TDPI)
* Katie Bergin as Jasmine (TDPI)
* Kristi Friday as Scarlett (TDPI)
* Rochelle Wilson as Sugar (TDPI)

## Episodes

*For more information, visit Episode guide*

* Season 1: *Total Drama Island*
* Season 2: *Total Drama Action*
* Season 3: *Total Drama World Tour*
* Season 4: *Total Drama: Revenge of the Island*
* Season 5: *Total Drama All-Stars* & *Total Drama: Pahkitew Island*

### Specials

* "Total Drama Island Recap"
* "TDI Rundown"
* "Total Drama Drama Drama Drama Island"
* "Celebrity Manhunt's Total Drama Action Reunion Show"

### Shorts

* *Total Drama Island Exclusive*
* *CN Exclusive*
* *TDI Video Messages From Home*
* *TDI: The Special*
* *Total Drama Action* promotional shorts
* *Total Drama Action Exclusive*
* *Bridgette and Geoff Watch Stoked*
* *Total Drama World Tour* promotional shorts
* *Ask Chef*
* *Total Drama World Tour Exclusive*
* "Total Drama Casting Call"
* *Total Drama: Revenge of the Island Exclusive*
* "Chris Returns to Wawanakwa"
* *Total Drama All-Stars Exclusive*
* "Chris Picks the New Cast"
* *Total Drama: Pahkitew Island Exclusive*
* "Happy Holidays From Fresh TV"

## Spin-offs and revival

*For more information, visit* Total Drama *(franchise)*

### *Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race* (2016)

*Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race* is a Canadian animated competition series that premiered on Cartoon Network in Canada on January 4, 2016. The series features Geoff, Leonard, Noah, and Owen, as well as thirty-two new contestants, in a twenty-six leg race around the world hosted by Don.

### *Total DramaRama* (2018–23)

*Total DramaRama* is a Canadian animated mockumentary series and crossover with the *6teen* franchise that premiered on Teletoon in Canada on October 7, 2018. The series, set in an alternate universe, features versions of Beth, Bridgette, Cody, Courtney, Duncan, Gwen, Harold, Izzy, Jude, Leshawna, Noah, Owen, and later Lightning Jackson and Sugar as toddlers in the Happy Tots Daycare Centre run by Chef.

### *Total Drama Island* (2023–)

*Total Drama Island* is an upcoming Canadian animated competition series that is set to premiere on Boomerang in Canada in 2023. The series is a direct revival of the original, featuring Chris and Chef returning thirteen years after the end of *Total Drama: Pahkitew Island* to host a competition featuring sixteen new contestants.

## Availability

### Home media

*Total Drama Island: The Complete First Season* was released on DVD in Region 1 in the United States on August 18, 2009. The set includes all twenty-six episodes of the first season, all 24 *Total Drama Island Exclusive* shorts, and the special "TDI Rundown" and was presented in a 4:3 format with censored audio.

In Region 4 in Australia, the season released in volumes, with *Total Drama Island: Collection One* releasing on May 5, 2010 and containing the first thirteen episodes. *Collection Two* later released on September 29, 2010, containing the last thirteen episodes as well as all 24 *Total Drama Island Exclusive* shorts. The Australian releases were presented in a 16:9 format with the original uncensored audio. The second and third seasons were similarly split up. *Total Drama Action: Collection One* released on November 2, 2011 and contains the first thirteen episodes of the season and the special "Total Drama Drama Drama Drama Island" while *Collection Two*, released July 4, 2012, contains the remaining thirteen episodes, the 14 Lame-o-Sine *Total Drama Action Exclusive* shorts, and the special "Celebrity Manhunt's Total Drama Action Reunion Show." *Total Drama World Tour: Collection One* released on April 3, 2013 while *Collection Two* released on August 7, 2013, each containing thirteen episodes and no extras. The entire fourth season released on October 8, 2014 as *Total Drama: Revenge of the Island: The Complete Season* and includes all thirteen episodes of the season and the 13 audition tape *Total Drama: Revenge of the Island Exclusive* shorts. The fifth season, which was split into two segments, released it's first part as *Total Drama All-Stars: The Complete Season* on March 4, 2015 and it's second part as *Total Drama: Pahkitew Island: The Complete Season* on July 8, 2015. Like the third season, the fifth contains no extras.

### Streaming

The entire series is currently available for streaming on Netflix in the United States, Canada, and various other countries.

## Production

The original concept for the series, *Escape From Summer Camp*, would've featured a bunch of teens trapped in a cheesy North Canadian summer camp, and was changed when the reality show format was decided on. After, the series became known as *Camp TV* and began production in 2006. All voice actors were required to sign a confidentiality agreement to keep the winner a secret.

## Notes

1. ↑ Courtney was voiced by Rochelle Wilson uncredited in "Not So Happy Campers" and Emilie-Claire Barlow since "The Big Sleep."
2. ↑ Alejandro was voiced by Marco Grazzini from "Celebrity Manhunt's Total Drama Action Reunion Show" to "Hawaiian Punch," Keith Oliver uncredited in the post-credits scene of "Hawaiian Punch," and Alex House since "Heroes vs. Villains."

## References

1. ↑ *Total Drama* on Netflix
2. ↑ Tom McGillis, TVSA Interview on October 6, 2008
3. ↑ Cold Hard Flash on March 27, 2006
4. ↑ Channel Canada on June 24, 2007