Team OK Represents The State, Brings Home A Win In CBS's 'Buddy Games'

Team OK, made up of Oklahomans Brian "Huddy" Hudson, Yue Szeto, Justin Palmer, and Craig Smith, won the first season of CBS’s ‘Buddy Games’ in the finale that aired last night. 

Buddy Games is a reality show hosted by Josh Duhamel where teams compete in an assortment of physical and mental challenges outdoors in a summer camp environment. 

The show started with six teams of four. Every week, teams competed in challenges and could dish out sabotage based on wins. The two teams that scored the lowest in these challenges competed against each other to avoid elimination. Whichever team loses must choose one of their members to be eliminated from the game. If a team falls below three members, they are eliminated from the competition.

Team OK started off strong, winning the first challenge, but had to vote out Smith in the second episode. The team remained strong throughout the rest of the competition with three members and ended up winning the final challenge and being crowned the first winner of the series, bringing home the $200,000 prize. 

The friends of over 20 years said the best part of the experience was being able to spend time together because they don’t have the opportunity as much with their busy lives. 

“It was a great opportunity for us to just kind of let loose and lose the phones and just kind of be with each other again,” Palmer said. 

They felt the show highlighted their already strong friendship and the experience solidified their closeness. 

“There was never a negative moment with us, and it just comes through. We know each other's strengths and weaknesses," Szetoh said. “This is a true group of friends we have... I love these guys.”

They said the hardest part of the experience, besides losing Smith, was adapting to the outdoor elements. 

“We were in Bogota, Colombia, which is 8000 feet above sea level. And that wrecks you…you can see it a lot of the times we're all gassed,” Smith said. 

When Smith left, they said the television aspect of the experience amplified their emotions. 

“I didn't think the emotions were gonna flow like that, but when you're away from your family and friends, it was hard to lose him,” Palmer said. 

As for the cash prize, the group all said the first thing they are going to do is take their wives on vacation. 

“They held the fort down. They took care of the kids, and they deserve it,” Hudson said. 

The group said they loved being able to represent the state and hope they made their families and fellow Oklahomans proud. 

“We wanted to represent who people from Oklahoma are and that spirit, and hopefully, we did that, hopefully, that came across,” Hudson said. 

After their experience, they want to encourage others to take risks. They said they never expected to be chosen for the show but are so glad their risk paid off. 

“If you ever want to do something crazy, do it. Life is short. Make some memories. Why not? Right,” Hudson said.