Watch Stars Earn Stripes

Stars Earn Stripes was a reality competition show that aired on NBC in 2012. Hosted by Samantha Harris and co-hosted by former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Wesley Clark, the show featured eight celebrities who trained and competed in military-inspired challenges alongside experienced military and law enforcement professionals.

The celebrities featured on the show included TV personalities, actors, and other public figures. Among them were former Superman actor Dean Cain, WWE wrestler Eve Torres, and Olympic gold-medal swimmer Picabo Street. Each celebrity was paired with a trainer from the ranks of the U.S. military or law enforcement, who taught them the necessary skills to complete the challenges.

The challenges themselves were designed to replicate real-life military and law enforcement scenarios. For example, contestants were tasked with jumping from a helicopter into a body of water and swimming to retrieve a heavy backpack, which they had to carry over a long distance while dodging simulated gunfire. In another challenge, they had to rappel down a building and breach a door to rescue a hostage.

In each episode, the celebrities were graded based on their performance in the challenges, with the lowest-scoring pairing being sent to the "Elimination Challenge." This usually involved a timed obstacle course or shooting challenge, with the slowest or least accurate team being eliminated from the competition.

Throughout the show, veteran military figures like General Clark and trainers provided commentary and insights into the challenges, as well as sharing their own experiences of serving in the military. The show also featured segments highlighting the charities chosen by each celebrity, with the winning team of the season's final challenge earning a $100,000 donation to their chosen organization.

One of the unique aspects of the show was its use of live ammunition and explosives in some of the challenges. This drew criticism from some quarters, with some suggesting that it glorified violence and war, and failed to properly acknowledge the human cost of conflict.

Despite this controversy, the show was generally well-received by audiences and critics alike, with many praising its high production values and the authenticity of the challenges. However, it was ultimately cancelled after just one season, with some suggesting that its pro-military stance may have been a contributing factor.

Overall, Stars Earn Stripes was an intense and challenging reality competition show, designed to test the physical and mental endurance of its celebrity participants while offering a window into the reality of life in the military and law enforcement. Despite its short run, it remains a unique addition to the reality TV landscape.

Stars Earn Stripes is a series that ran for 1 seasons (4 episodes) between August 13, 2012 and on NBC