Has anyone had the opportunity to watch the new Discovery series, "Smash Labs?" I personally think it is an enjoyable blend of science and entertainment. I seem to be the [URL="http://blogs.discovery.com/smash_lab/2008/01/an-open-letter.html"]only one in the world who feels that way[/URL]. The show has been a less then critical success and rabid "fans" have converged on the Discovery boards to rant and rave.
The most general complaint that I have read is that the show lacks "real science." It is often compared to Mythbusters being they both use gratuitous slow motion footage and seem to be reaching for the same audience. I personally feel Mythbusters has run its course. I think the "Myths" are moving further away from science and closer to absurdity. Also, when they went from a continuous format, to breaking the teams up, I have had to use a lot of fast forwarding to get through the episodes as the stuff I really want to see is always at the beginning and the end of the show (with a bunch of ridiculous filler in the middle.) Am I the only one that has trouble watching Kari Byron read her lines? Give me Deana Bell any day of the week!
In my opinion, Smash Labs is a compelling Discovery program that has brought in fresh faces and new ideas. I watched the first 4 episodes and really enjoyed them, only to find out after the fact that people seem to hate the show. To bad for them. They are missing out by missing the point. Smash Labs is not Mythbusters, nor is it a graduate course in engineering. Rather, it is a fun show with some science content and entertaining themes that will keep me coming back.
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