Kelly Murphy is pictured during his 22 years of service in the Marine Corps. Now a veteran, Murphy is one of 12 competitors on a new reality show, Tough As Nails, which debuts on CBS television on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. (Kelly Murphy)
Marine Corps veteran Kelly ”Murph” Murphy credits his military training for preparing him for “pretty much anything” — including participation in a new reality TV show that debuts Wednesday.
Murphy, 48, applied in 2019 to be on the Tough as Nails show to prove to himself that he can “bring it like I used to in the Marines and show myself I can get the job done,” he said.
The show spotlights “everyday Americans who roll up their sleeves and don’t think twice about working long hard hours and getting their hands dirty, in order to keep their country running,” the CBS network says on its website.
Murphy competes against a fireman, a sheriff’s deputy, a roofer, a welder and eight others in the show, which premieres on Wednesday and will run for 10 episodes. The competitors are put through tests of strength, endurance, life skills and mental toughness at real-world job sites.
In his profile on the show’s website, Murphy lists his profession as Marine Corps veteran. He has worked as director of the Military and Veterans Center at University of Central Missouri since leaving the Marine Corps, where he served for 22 years.
“Some of my [military] background and blue-collar skills I learned came in very handy on the show,” said Murphy. “The challenges for me were all mental, not … the physical part.”
Amazing Race producer and host Phil Keoghan is behind Tough as Nails.
“I just thought would it be cool if we gathered a group of people who were the best of the best in their chosen trade, who had multiple skills, for the show,” he said.
“Like Murph, I come from working class people,” Keoghan said. “I’m hoping that when viewers see these 12 amazing people, that they can get back to what makes us the same and what makes us united,” said Keoghan.
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Kelly Murphy is pictured during his 22 years of service in the Marine Corps. Now a veteran, Murphy is one of 12 competitors on a new reality show, Tough As Nails, which debuts on CBS television on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. (Kelly Murphy)
Marine veteran Kelly Murphy, left, competes on the reality show Tough As Nails, which debuts on CBS television on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. The competition celebrates everyday Americans who roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty to accomplish a task and keep the U.S. running, CBS says on its website. (Monty Brinton/CBS)
Marine veteran Kelly Murphy, left, competes on the reality show Tough As Nails, which debuts on CBS television on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. The competition celebrates Americans who roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty to accomplish a task and keep the U.S. running, CBS says on its website. (Michael Yarish/CBS)
Phil Keoghan poses for a photo during Tough As Nails, a reality show that debuts on CBS television on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Keoghan produces the show, which celebrates Americans who roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty to accomplish a task and keep the U.S. running, CBS says on its website. (Ronda Churchill/CBS)
