Meet the KC stars competing in the TV show "99 to Beat"
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These local celebs were all smiles. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
What do a "Survivor" winner and an air guitar champion have in common? They're both Kansas Citians who competed in the new show "99 to Beat."
Why it matters: KC showed up in a big way during the show's premiere on Wednesday, and contestants celebrated with a watch party at Chicken N Pickle in Overland Park.
- I joined in the fun and spoke with the local TV stars about how they represented their hometown.
Zoom in: Our contestants were Danni Boatwright, winner of "Survivor: Guatemala," and Cole Lindbergh.
- "Nothing has been so simple, yet so difficult," Boatwright says in episode one's opening sequence.
The show
How it works: The first episode begins with 100 contestants competing in wacky challenges that appear simple but become pressurized by their surprising difficulty, the heightened environment and the stakes — a $1 million prize.
- Most challenges whittle the field down one elimination at a time, but the final battle showed 13 players the door, leaving 84 remaining. The show's mantra is "Don't finish last."
- "Because of the circumstances… you don't get a chance to fight for your life like you do on 'Survivor,'" Boatwright tells Axios. "Mentally, it was harder."
- "This show is like a giant adrenaline spike every few minutes," Lindbergh says.
Travis' thought bubble: I did a balloon challenge at the watch party that seemed easy, but the proximity to my fellow contestants and the screaming of those watching set my nerves on edge.
What we're watching: New episodes air every Wednesday night at 8pm on Fox, Hulu and Disney+.
Repping KC
Boatwright was known on "Survivor" for wearing a big red cowboy hat emblazoned with "KC," as well as a red and yellow bedazzled jersey in her later season.
- She says "99 to Beat" wouldn't let her rep Kansas City gear, but they liked her "baseball mom theme," so she wore special earrings and decked herself out in red.
- "Kansas City is so special, and they really support their own," she says. "It's just so awesome to come from a city that has such a big heart like that."
Lindbergh says there was a big watch party in New York, but he and Boatwright wanted to have one in their hometown.
Before the first challenge, host and sports broadcaster Erin Andrews said, "This is exactly like what a Super Bowl pregame is like. You see Patrick Mahomes. You see those guys have to be chill because there's so much going into it."
Perfect days in KC
I asked Boatwright and Lindbergh how they would spend a perfect day in Kansas City.
Lindbergh: "I'm gonna go get Joe's barbecue… I'd love to go get a drink at Boulevard" and explore one of the many "great parks around the city" with his 6-year-old daughter.
Boatwright: "If I could have my dream day in Kansas City, it's at the zoo."
- "Yeah, I love sports. I love going to the Chiefs games, the Royals games… but the best day is just packing up a cooler, going to the zoo, having lunch in Africa."