Chris Reed can't believe he almost passed on what has turned into an experience of a lifetime.
Reed, 37, born and raised in Greenwood and now a Realtor in Franklin, Tenn., is one of seven finalists left gunning for the $100,000 prize as the winner of the History Channel's reality TV show "Top Shot."
Reed, captain of the red team, started out as one of 16 finalists picked from 7,000 initial entries. He can't comment on how he finishes on the show, which airs each Tuesday at 9 p.m., but he has outlasted more than half the field of talented marksmen so far.
"We're bound legally not to give any details about how it ends," said Reed, a 1991 graduate of Carroll Academy. "Plus, it's fun keeping everyone in suspense. It's fun watching each episode with people because I never know exactly what it will be like after they take three days of footage and shrink it down to about 40 minutes."
There are four episodes left in the 13-episode series that tests the proficiency of the competitors with a wide range of weapons.
The show flew 50 applicants to Hollywood for a casting process last summer. From there, 16 finalists were picked to start filming in October.
"I was a little reluctant at first because I didn't want all the drama that can come with reality TV, knowing I would be secluded from my family and living in a house with 15 strangers with cameras following our every move," said Reed, an unassuming, self-described good ol' country boy. "But I knew it would be done in good taste with the History Channel.
"It's been an incredible experience. I continue to be blown away by the response I've gotten from people who watch the show. It's great to hear from people how proud they are of me and how I am handling myself on the show."
The second season of Top Shot is averaging 2.3 million viewers an episode so far - up 20 percent from season one, according to Heather DiRubba, senior manager for publicity at the History Channel.
"The jump in ratings is exciting. When we got out there to start the show, none of us had any idea how big it would turn out to be," Reed said.
"I made some good friends during the show and keep in pretty good contact with them, especially after each episode airs."
Reed, the 2009 runner-up in Field & Stream's Total Outdoorsman Challenge, has been groomed for this competition since he picked up his first bow at the age of 12. He credits an aunt and uncle, Harmon and Shirley Downs of Carroll County, for getting him started in archery and bow hunting.
Reed says another uncle, James Winters of Greenwood, first introduced him to shooting rifles.
"I just grew up hunting and shooting bows and guns and pistols. That's something I've always enjoyed doing, and I got pretty good at it," said Reed, who was a 2010 national rifle, shotgun and archery finalist.
After graduating from Carroll, Reed attended Mississippi Delta Community College and then joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was an honor graduate and company high shooter.
Reed used his shooting skill in the first episode to become one of two team captains. Firing a Sharps breech-loading rifle, he finished in the top two in a shooting test that Civil War soldiers had to pass to get into the Union Army's first sharpshooting regiment.
Firearms used in competition so far include the iconic "Tommy Gun," a .44 Magnum revolver as well as primitive weapons such as the tomahawk and blow gun. This week's competition between teams will feature a .50-caliber sniper rifle.
Reed recently attended a viewing party for the eighth episode of "Top Shot" held at Charlie Ray's restaurant just outside of Carrollton. He said it was a great night as he visited with friends and family and posed for pictures with kids and signed autographs for them.
If he is the last one standing following the season finale on Tuesday, April 26, there will be a lot more autographs to sign.
n Contact Bill Burrus at bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
By BILL BURRUS
Sports Editor
Chris Reed can't believe he almost passed on what has turned into an experience of a lifetime.
Reed, 37, born and raised in Greenwood and now a Realtor in Franklin, Tenn., is one of seven finalists left gunning for the $100,000 prize as the winner of the History Channel's reality TV show "Top Shot."
Reed, captain of the red team, started out as one of 16 finalists picked from 7,000 initial entries. He can't comment on how he finishes on the show, which airs each Tuesday at 9 p.m., but he has outlasted more than half the field of talented marksmen so far.
"We're bound legally not to give any details about how it ends," said Reed, a 1991 graduate of Carroll Academy. "Plus, it's fun keeping everyone in suspense. It's fun watching each episode with people because I never know exactly what it will be like after they take three days of footage and shrink it down to about 40 minutes."
There are four episodes left in the 13-episode series that tests the proficiency of the competitors with a wide range of weapons.
The show flew 50 applicants to Hollywood for a casting process last summer. From there, 16 finalists were picked to start filming in October.
"I was a little reluctant at first because I didn't want all the drama that can come with reality TV, knowing I would be secluded from my family and living in a house with 15 strangers with cameras following our every move," said Reed, an unassuming, self-described good ol' country boy. "But I knew it would be done in good taste with the History Channel.
"It's been an incredible experience. I continue to be blown away by the response I've gotten from people who watch the show. It's great to hear from people how proud they are of me and how I am handling myself on the show."
The second season of Top Shot is averaging 2.3 million viewers an episode so far - up 20 percent from season one, according to Heather DiRubba, senior manager for publicity at the History Channel.
"The jump in ratings is exciting. When we got out there to start the show, none of us had any idea how big it would turn out to be," Reed said.
"I made some good friends during the show and keep in pretty good contact with them, especially after each episode airs."
Reed, the 2009 runner-up in Field & Stream's Total Outdoorsman Challenge, has been groomed for this competition since he picked up his first bow at the age of 12. He credits an aunt and uncle, Harmon and Shirley Downs of Carroll County, for getting him started in archery and bow hunting.
Reed says another uncle, James Winters of Greenwood, first introduced him to shooting rifles.
"I just grew up hunting and shooting bows and guns and pistols. That's something I've always enjoyed doing, and I got pretty good at it," said Reed, who was a 2010 national rifle, shotgun and archery finalist.
After graduating from Carroll, Reed attended Mississippi Delta Community College and then joined the U.S. Marine Corps, where he was an honor graduate and company high shooter.
Reed used his shooting skill in the first episode to become one of two team captains. Firing a Sharps breech-loading rifle, he finished in the top two in a shooting test that Civil War soldiers had to pass to get into the Union Army's first sharpshooting regiment.
Firearms used in competition so far include the iconic "Tommy Gun," a .44 Magnum revolver as well as primitive weapons such as the tomahawk and blow gun. This week's competition between teams will feature a .50-caliber sniper rifle.
Reed recently attended a viewing party for the eighth episode of "Top Shot" held at Charlie Ray's restaurant just outside of Carrollton. He said it was a great night as he visited with friends and family and posed for pictures with kids and signed autographs for them.
If he is the last one standing following the season finale on Tuesday, April 26, there will be a lot more autographs to sign.
• Contact Bill Burrus at bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
