12/17/2010

The History Channel received an estimated 5,500 applications from its initial casting call and narrowed that number to 50 qualified hopefuls. Next was a week-long audition in Los Angeles, Calif., where the shooters were tested on their mental and physical abilities. The successful participants were selected to be one of 16 competitors on the show, hosted by “Survivor” contestant Colby Donaldson.

“Top Shot” producers gathered some 300 hours of film in the course of 33 days in Santa Clarita, Calif., with each of what would be 10 episodes being constructed over a three-day period. Many historical firearms were featured on the show, along with everything from modern pistols and sporting rifles to throwing knives and even slingshots.

Contestants were not allowed to have cell phones, newspapers, books, television or the Internet during filming in an effort to promote interaction. During their downtime, cast members debated the 9 mm vs .45 ACP and came up with their own design for a new NATO rifle cartridge, according to eventual champion Iain Harrison.

Contestants were given a limited amount of practice time with the firearms used in each episode, teaming up with experts in the different shooting disciplines featured. One of those experts was former American Rifleman Executive Field Editor Garry James, who coached the cast on flintlock rifles.

After averaging 2 million viewers per premier episode in season one, The History Channel sent out its casting call this past summer for season two. The producers were looking for “anyone with mind-blowing shooting skills and a big personality to take on exciting physical challenges with multiple guns and mystery projectile weapons.”

While the show will have a similar look in its second go-around—contestants will be vying for another $100,000 prize—there will be some differences. Fans of the series can look forward to the return of the high-speed HD impact shots in extreme slow-motion.

“The producers of the show have been pretty good about asking for feedback, with regards to how it’s going to be developed for the second series,” Harrison said. “Without giving too much away, I’d say that many of the concerns of the shooting community will be addressed the second time around. This was a learning experience for everybody.”

At press time, season two of “Top Shot” was in filming and is slated to premiere early in 2011.