Tonight Mythbusters returns to the Discovery Channel after a pretty long hiatus. While most people probably write off this show based on the fact that you will actually learn something watching it, that shouldn’t persuade you away from giving the show a shot. I actually stumbled upon Mythbusters around two years ago. Mythbusters is truly a unique show since you can actually learn something from it while also being entertained.
Being a lucky television critic I was fortunate enough to see tonight’s two hour destruction derby special already and I have to say that it is pretty good. While it is a little long (it probably could have been an hour and a half), fans of the series or anyone who would like to learn more about cars should definently check out the episode.
In this week’s episode the team investigates four myths. First Jaime and Adam test a movie myth on how to avoid flipping a bus while making a sharp turn. Jaime and Adam also retest the myth of whether a compact car can be fused between two semis if it is crushed in a head on collision. Keri, Grant and Tory look at some Hollywood crash cliches to see if they actually could be true. They also test if a car can beat gravity in a 4000 mile race.
I really didn’t have that high of expectations for any of the myths but I have to say that some of them surprised me. I won’t say which ones though since it will spoil all the fun of the episode.
Discovery was also kind enough to give The TV Legion some details on the rest of the season along with some interesting facts from Mythbusters past. You can check them out after the break.
Interesting Mythbuster Facts
Total number of episodes (by end of 2008): 122
Total hours of programming (incl. specials): 163
As of August 2008 (to Episode 100):
Total myths tested: 599
- 355 busted
- 137 confirmed
- 107 plausible
Total number of experiments (approx): 1,950
Total number of explosions (approx): 655
Total number of hours filmed (approx): 5,000
Total number of vehicles destroyed: 77
Poundage of explosives used (in tons): 9
Episode Descriptions
Wednesday, April 8 – Demolition Derby (2 hour special)
In this two-hour special episode kicking off the series’ 7th season, the MYTHBUSTERS are on a mission to mash metal – testing four fables of automotive mayhem. First, Adam and Jamie find out whether a key scene from an iconic motoring movie is fact or fake film physics – can shifting the center of gravity on a speeding bus stop it from turning over in a seemingly impossible, speedy right hand turn? Next, Adam and Jamie revisit a two-truck head on collision where a compact car was eventually discovered pancaked between the fused wreckage of the trucks. Meanwhile Kari, Grant and Tory look at four familiar Hollywood chase scene clichés and also analyze a popular car commercial that suggests their luxury product can beat gravity in a 4000-foot race. A car is dropped from nearly a mile in the air while Grant races a car on the ground to see who reaches the target zone first.
Wednesday, April 15 – Alaska Special 2 (airing during ALASKA WEEK)
On this blisteringly cold episode of MYTHBUSTERS, the team packs up their sleds, their brass monkeys and their ingenuity for their second Alaska special. Adam and Jamie kick things off by plunging head first into an engineering conundrum and arguably the most challenging build in series history: could a boat be made out of pykrete (a composite material made of sawdust and ice)? And Grant, Kari and Tory test whether a car could be split down the middle by a v-shaped snowplow.
Wednesday, April 22 — Banana Slip, Double Dip
Adam and Jamie take on one of the oldest gags in slapstick comedy — Is a banana peel really a guaranteed slip and fall? Next, the guys test a myth fans have wanted to see since it appeared on Seinfeld — is a twice-dunked chip actually germ warfare? Meanwhile, Kari Grant and Tory test the myth of do-it-yourself diamonds. Can you get rich at home by using peanut butter and a microwave, molten iron and graphite or other recipes found on the internet to make diamonds?
Wednesday, April 29 — YouTube™ Special
In this episode, the MYTHBUSTERS test fan myths sent in via their YouTube™ channel (http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=290018A7BF3DC8FB). Jamie and Adam test to see if an everyday household match has the explosive punch to fire a homemade cannon. Then, in one of the team’s biggest builds ever, the Build Team build a 7-foot diameter ball of Lego to see if you can successfully roll it down a hill, Indiana Jones style. And Adam and Jamie use a series of tests with a flexed-up muscle car to see if they can set a tire on fire by burning rubber.
Wow! You really covered this topic well. Are there other resources that I should check out?
Great series guide, I particularly like the banana slip episode, most amusing!
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