[TheForge] Buy American?

[Michael Horgan]

All interesting shows, to be sure, although I find it hard to see Junkyard 
Wars lumped in with the other shows. Junkyard Wars, at least in the 
original British, Scrapheap Challenge,as well as the early American 
seasons,  was an educational program, with graphic analysis of the 
engineering principles and tradeoff's of each design. Certainly scripted to 
an extent, although more in the post production, at least it was ordinary 
blokes doing stuff. (Ordinary in the mathematical sense, meaning at right 
angles to the most of the folks on the other side of the TV screen.)  On 
the other hand, Junkyard Wars was the reason I got Satellite TV. It's about 
the only thing I watch aside from Sesamie Street and other shows my boy 
chooses. At 2 and a half, he likes kiddy shows, and junkyard wars.  Monster 
Garage is too loud for him. <GRIN>

Monster Garage, for example always seems to come in under budget with the 
last minute donation, for example, of a set of custom wheels, that we 
couldn't touch for $5k.  And the paint jobs, done with Very expensive 
paint, "overnight", are just not from Earl Scheib! ;^)

>  At the same time, a  hot trend in
>entertainment (the fastest growing segment of the economy) seems to be
>watching other people do work, wether it is "Junkyard Wars", "American
>Chopper", "Monster Garage", "Science Island", "Trading Spaces" or even
>"Survivor".    On the other hand, it is interesting to note that even
>old shows like "This Old House" and to a lessor extent, "Home Time" have
>morphed from shows on how to do it yourself, to explanations of what
>your contractor is doing.

Michael D. Horgan , lughaid@earthlink.net
http://members.aol.com/lughaid/
posting from
  A BRAZEN FORGERY
Blacksmithing and Metalwork
Claremont, Ca.