Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS ©2021 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Tough as Nails is returning to CBS next month with its third season, and the network has announced the contestants for the competition series. Phil Keoghan is hosting the series with 12 new contestants showing just how tough they are in each episode.
“TOUGH AS NAILS, the reality series that celebrates everyday Americans who get their hands dirty while working long, hard hours to keep the country running, returns with 12 new competitors ready to test their strength, endurance, life skills and mental toughness, on the third season premiere, Wednesday, Oct. 6 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. The cast includes a fire captain, crop duster, lineman, and ironworker, among others. Phil Keoghan is the creator, host and showrunner.
These competitors who are the best of the best in their chosen trades and come from different walks of life, but all roll up their sleeves every day to make an honest day’s living, will kick off the third season from Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base in Southern California, when season one’s winner, Marine veteran Kelly “Murph” Murphy, returns to lead the crews through a series of military-style challenges. Throughout the season, crews will have to complete their jobs at other renowned locations, including Mt. Baldy, the highest peak in Los Angeles, the U.S. Coast Guard in San Pedro, and the Irwindale Speedway, a motorsports facility, leading to one competitor being crowned the champion and winning the coveted TOUGH AS NAILS belt. However, anyone who “punches out” of the individual competition can still win additional cash prizes in the team competitions that continue throughout the season.
“It is a privilege that we are now in season three of TOUGH AS NAILS and can continue to honor America’s hardest-working people, the essential workers who have helped us get through a really challenging time,” said Phil Keoghan, host and executive producer. “It feels good that this is a show for the people and about the people that we should all acknowledge and celebrate. While there is only one TOUGH AS NAILS champion in the individual competition, I think what viewers are really gravitating towards, and what makes this show special, is the team competition and the legacy that is being built with Savage Crew and Dirty Hands. At a time when there is so much division in the world, it’s good to see a group of people from all walks of life, who have never met each other before, unite and work together for a common goal.”
The TOUGH AS NAILS competitors are:
Name: Kelsy Reynolds
Job: Crop duster
Age: 30
Hometown: Mansfield, Ill.
Name: Christine Connors
Job: Ironworker
Age: 29
Hometown: Johnstown, Pa.
Current Residence: Glendora, Calif.
Name: Takeru “Tak” Tanabe
Job: Construction foreman
Age: 35
Hometown: Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i
Current Residence: Kona, Hawai’i
Name: Jerome Kupuka’a
Job: Heavy equipment operator
Age: 48
Hometown: Ewa Beach, Hawai’i
Current Residence: Kapolei, Hawai’i
Name: Lamar Edwin Hanger
Job: Carpenter
Age: 54
Hometown: Orange County, Calif.
Current Residence: Eastvale, Calif.
Name: Lia Mort
Job: Jill-of-all-trades
Age: 54
Hometown: Lititz, Pa.
Current Residence: Richfield, Pa.
Name: Dequincey “Quincey” Walker
Job: Diesel mechanic
Age: 34
Hometown: Lamar, S.C.
Current Residence: Florence, S.C.
Name: Kalimba Edwards
Job: Fire captain
Age: 43
Hometown: Wallace, Neb.
Current Residence: Minneapolis, Minn.
Name: Mike Shaffer
Job: Lineman
Age: 32
Hometown: Brewerton, N.Y.
Name: Elizabeth Rillera
Job: Contractor
Age: 37
Hometown: Shelton, Wash.
Current Residence: Olympia, Wash.
Name: Sarah Ham
Job: Cement mason
Age: 30
Current Residence: Queens, N.Y.
Name: Alfredo “Alfie” P. Rivera
Job: Construction supervisor
Age: 55
Hometown: Santiago, Chile
Current Residence: Lilburn, Ga.
TOUGH AS NAILS is produced by Raquel Productions Inc. in association with Tough House Productions Inc. Created by Phil Keoghan and Louise Keoghan, who are executive producers.”