AXE man Drama?

kebo · Jan 22, 2012

The show about the shippers is called Shipping Wars, I believe. It's not too bad, but again, some of the stuff they do on it is also staged or altered to up the suspense or drama level. Like purposefully driving through a 2ft deep flooded street with a $50k restored 1930 Model T inside the enclosed trailer. Or leaving behind a wooden box with $5000 worth of Gyrocopter blades at the last point you dropped off a load. Or having a woman driver with ZERO bull experience driving two wild broncing bulls across country and having to unload and load them up twice during the trip.

Also, the dumbest "reality" show they've put on yet was the Repo show, or whatever the name is. That show is so concoted with drama and crap that I quit watching it a LONG time ago. That big meathead muscleman is dumb as dirt. The fat guy is ok, but his hefty daughter is skanky looking with all that metal in her face and the tat's on her. There was one episode where they went to repo a car and when they found it, there were three young people out in the woods who were doing a Sir King Arthur role playing thing. One of them was Camelot, the girl was Fair Maiden Marion I think. They were all three prancing around like fairies anyway!!!

Really though, I like Deadliest Catch the best of them all. I do believe that show is about as close to reality as you can get. Some of the infighting they do might be trumped up a bit, but the danger is ever so real and it clearly shows the toll that fishing out on the Bering Sea can take on a persons mind and body.

I also like Flying Wild Alaska. Jim Tweeto's daughter Ariel alone makes it worth watching lol. She's a cutie, not afraid to try anything, and has tons of personality. She's perfect for that role! She's been learning to fly and on the last episode finally got her private pilot's license. She's still got a long ways to get before I would fly with her though lol

There's a new show called Bering Sea Gold about to start, where the people are diving in the Bering Sea to look for gold. Might be interesting. I'll have to watch a few episodes anyway!

tnmike · Jan 22, 2012

Ditto the comments on Ariel Tweeto. She is as cute as a speckled pup.

woodlandfarms · Jan 22, 2012

I have been thoroughly enjoying this thread. While there wasn't any new insight, it was good to see how people responded to these shows.

See, I make my living as a producer. So does my wife. She has a reality show on TV as we speak, we will see if it gets picked up for next year or not. We are also currently developing another show for another network as well. It won't be mindless but at the end of the day drama makes tv so we will have to have some drama. I make most of my money from movies and tv commercials but have done reality in the past (Biker Build Off was one), but the business model is changing, and there are less movies being made and more tv shows, including reality tv.

I could add a lot to this subject, but it is not necessary. A few things I would say, I don't defend any of the shows in terms of quality or merit, but I wil defend to my dying breath the right for them to be on the air. Hollywood is very sensitive to the viewer, because at the end of the day, if you are not watching we aren't making money. It blows my mind what people watch (I am not being highbrow, I love robot chicken) but at the end of the day there is enough of an audience for advertisers to buy space so the shows keep getting made. I don't think there are too many people in hollywood who would not like to see reality tv go the way of the dodo bird, but that is not what audiences want right now. A deep look at socio economic pressures reveals a lot, and how people look to entertainment and what types of entertainment for escape. Maybe as the economy shifts people will not need to see people less fortunate than them, and will be looking for escape in the way of comedies (what ever happened to sitcoms?) or just 2 hours in a movie theater watching something more than explosions and shaky camera shots.

All the best

Carl Beyer

MikeD74T · Jan 22, 2012

Carl, If you were involved with real bike builders, rather than OCC vs Jr vs Jessie James, I commend you. That bunch is just more Ax men whose advertizers will only get my money from product acceptability cause life's too short (especially at age 62) to watch that crap. On the other hand there's no shortage of stupid people so casts & audiences will probably flourish. MikeD74t

woodlandfarms · Jan 22, 2012

The Biker Buildoff show was a competition show a number of years ago. Two builder had just a few weeks to build a bike, then ride it to a bike ralley and have it judged. The builds were real, the talent amazing, I made friends with a lot of bike builders, a few friends of the local bike 'club" and had an all around amazing time. There was no drama, just real craftsmanship. I have never had much respect for West Coast or OCC guys. But fame is HARD work. and a lot more lucrative than real work. Its hard to have talent and keep doing what you love when someone is offering you 100K to show up at a party.

Carl

CBW1999 · Jan 22, 2012

I seem to recall seeing an episode that Indian Larry was in before he died. Can't remember if he was building or just consulting for someone but- I remember a frame being made out of heavy chain. Welding one link at a time as they went to get the shape they wanted- THAT WAS AMAZING!

JayC · Jan 22, 2012

Since this thread has seemed to turn into a "realtiy" TV thread I'll throw this show into the ring... :laughing:

Has anyone watched American Guns? As far as the smithing goes, I'm not too knowledgeable about it so I don't know how good that is. I kind of liked the show otherwise. They did some interesting projects and featured some interesting weapons. I was reading some gun forums, and they really rip on the show. Quite a few don't like Gunsmoke.

crazyal · Jan 23, 2012

woodlandfarms said:
The Biker Buildoff show was a competition show a number of years ago. Two builder had just a few weeks to build a bike, then ride it to a bike ralley and have it judged. The builds were real, the talent amazing, I made friends with a lot of bike builders, a few friends of the local bike 'club" and had an all around amazing time. There was no drama, just real craftsmanship. I have never had much respect for West Coast or OCC guys. But fame is HARD work. and a lot more lucrative than real work. Its hard to have talent and keep doing what you love when someone is offering you 100K to show up at a party.

Carl

Seen it (probably all of them), liked it, good job rising above the whole OCC mess. I would much rather see someone try to top the last show with talent than trying to out argue and out smash last weeks show. I really liked the part of making them drive the bike for a few hundred miles (or more). That separates the boys from the men.

Brushhill dave · Jan 23, 2012

I think you guys are missing the worst of the worst. The one where they operate a noodling outfit. Mrs. Brushhill and myself Wasted about 4 minutes watching this joke the other night!!! The process of catching a fish with your bare arm is cool and interesting, but I don't wanna know that you feel the need to get closer to your sister! Come on just stick your arm in that hole already! The only reality of gold rush is when the boys mother showed up and threatened to drag his butt home!
Dave

creekbend · Jan 23, 2012

What about Cajun Pawn Stars? I have watched it twice, and it appears to be adapted from and a copycat version of the original Pawn Stars. I find it strange that there are not many customers coming or going or present in the shop. It appears that the buyers or sellers are a select few that the producers have hand picked for their amusing characteristics and items for sale. :thumbdown: Just my opinion. Maybe there is a "captured audience" in regards for the viewers?