Car Shows on TV

[coolwelder62]

What happened to all the car show's.It seems like when they started putting in all the BS and Drama in them they went a away.When Overhualin started it was OK,but then it got really bad.When American HotRod first started they really showed alot of nice fabrication work,then the Dumb A$$- BS and Drama took over.Rides started out really good,then it got Boring.After the 1st. week American chopper sucked the big one.Who was in charge of all these shows.It's clear they are not car guy's,or ever were car guy's.Speed has turned into the nascar channel.how about more super car V8's2 guys garage is good,HotRod TV needs new show's.It would be nice to see some show's W/ a lot of tech,Fab,Welding,Paint & body work.Power Block is OK.But it kinda seems like a Big infomercial.But it's all we have so I watch.I get all the BS & Drama I want when I turn on the evening news.

[GregWeld]

Man Scott you hit the nail on the head with the first blow!

I quit watching ANY of these shows... they're either a bunch of stupid ass drama... or they're infomercials.

The only way to get advertising dollars is to do the infomercials.... and NOBODY wants to watch the idiots do stupid stuff on the old Boyd Coddington show. That was an embarrassment to hot rodding.

I think the problem is - building a car is too long - drawn out - and there's too much down time to make a TV show. The crews it takes to film and edit etc would be twiddling their thumbs far too many days to make doing these shows worthy of the investment.

When you calculate the amount of man hours in the super fast 7 day builds Foose was doing - it was like 2000 hours of labor.... and frankly the builds looked it. A giant bunch of poo.... and uninteresting TV. I'd have rather watched a guy get his car done in normal time and had the car be worthy of the effort.:unibrow:

[Track Junky]

I've watched a few of those but never religiously because they bored the hell out of me. You cant deny The Australian Super Car series racing is exciting. I was bummed that they didn't show any Australian F1 series racing this season where the production Lambo's, Ferraries, Masseratie's, Vettes, Porches, Jaguar's, etc. raced. They are even more exciting to watch then the Super Car series.(If you can imagine that)

The last NASCAR championship race is today. Tony Stewart and Carl Edwards are seperated by 4 points in the Chase lead so I will watch that today but NASCAR definitely needs more road courses.

Nothing beats the builds on this site. If you guys started filming your builds but waited till completion to the point where they were driven hard to air it that would be exciting.

Hopefully some TV people will read this thread and agree to put something together.

[rwhite692]

It's funny how, when "reality" shows (of all types) first came on the scene, the networks and the production companies loved these shows because of the comparatively very low production costs compared with traditional TV shows (no expensive actors, drastically less writing, etc). You just have 2-3 camera guys just shoot anything and everything that happens, and then you mash it up in post-production. And in the case of car-themed shows like Overhaulin', spending 100K or so on parts and labor to build the car is way cheap, compared to the cost of producing any conventional TV show.

Now, with so much "reality" based programming, that "cheap" level of production cost, has become the new "normal". So suddenly, doing a show in the format of Rides, American Hot Rod, Etc. is too time consuming / too expensive.

[GeoffP]

I'd love to see some of our sponsor shops get together once in a while and do a video podcast how-to! A beginners's how-to on welding sheet metal would be a great start!

[GaRys69]

I'd love to see some of our sponsor shops get together once in a while
and do a video podcast how-to!
A beginners's how-to on welding sheet metal would be a great start!

I'd pay to watch those.

[MattO]

I loved 'Rides'

I felt it gave me an insight and perspective to both the builders, owners, and cars, that no magazine ever really could.

I never really watched anything else. I caught a couple episodes of Overhaulin, then watched a bit more once Arc Audio started sponsoring the stereo (the owner is a friend of mine), but that too faded from interest.

I wish I could watch more shows like on the Powerblock, but I'm never up early enough.

[chevguy]

Yup, another person in total agreement. My pick for the lowest form of automotive(I use this term very loosely) show would be monster garage. What a tosser. I actually quite enjoyed wrecks to riches, not so much the quality of build but the show in general. In racing terms in oz we have a series called the muscle car masters which is all 60's and 70's circuit racing cars(both American and Australian) which is great to watch.

[GregWeld]

Actually -- in giving the OP some thought - the ONLY automotive show I watch at all is the BBC version of Top Gear. The American version is a complete dud.

[Gordz32]

X2 on the BBC Top Gear

[DRJDVM's '69]

I still watch alot of the shows.....Musclecars, Trucks, Cut Chop Rebuild, 2 Car Guy Garage, etc.... but usually tape them.... then I fast forward through the BS stuff and watch the segments where they are actually fabbing or building something....

I just started watching 2 Guy Garage and Cut Chop Rebuild.....and they are SOOOO basic on so much of the stuff that at times its very boring....but I still pick up a tip or two here and there. They are obviously aimed at the more basic knowledge car audience.

I still watch all of the episodes of Rides whenever they air....and another favorite is Biker Build Off...... I love to watch the craftsmenship and fab skills, even when I'm really not into bikes at all.... still watch Overhaulin but fast forward through all the "prank" crap and just watch the actual build...

The american version of Top Gear is better this year but still pales in comparison to the UK version

I have to admit I do watch Inside West Coast Customs....because I love to laugh at what the general public considers top of the line builders.... the stuff they do is hideous 90% of the time....its all marketing and brand name.....

[coolwelder62]

Biker build off was pretty good.But build or bust I think it was, SUCKED.After watching that show I could tell they were never going to let the builder finish it.I think once a guy finished it.But who ever it was in the back ground that kept jacking W/ the guys should have had his A$$ kicked.What an A$$.I really like 2 guys when Brian and Kevin are fabicating.Met Kevin at optima super nice guy.Someone needs to to let the TV folks know that real car guys dont care for the drama crap.(FYI)How it's made TV does a great job of showing how things are built w/o all the B.S.

[Track Junky]

I remember I used to like watching that Super Car show with Tanner Foust and that Indy driver. That was actually really fun to watch because the fierce competition from the two was really evident and they always gave each other ****.

[ehummelman]

Agreed, I can only watch a few of them now, and only through excessive use of the DVR fast forward button. It turns out that on average from a 30 minute show, there is only about 6 minutes of actual build footage. Pathetic.
Extreme 4x4, whether you like offroad vehicles or not, has the most fabrication, followed by Muscle Car and Trucks. The reality shows that used to be OK are all soap opera trash now. Anything with Chris Jacobs, Chip Foose, Ryan Friedlinghausen, etc. is impossible to watch. I bet that 95% of those cars fall apart within 6 months too. I guess credit is due to them for making big $$ off of an otherwise tough business, but damn.

Even the DIY home repair/landscaping shows have all turned drama. I don't know how Hollywood turns bathroom renovation into Real Housewives of New Jersey, but they somehow do.:lol:

[chr2002ca]

I agree with the original poster and most of the responses. It seems were all on the same page about most of the shows.

Top Gear BBC is still my favorite. Honest and hilarious. Supercars with Foust was good too. I enjoyed Chop Cut Rebuild because they weren't afraid to show when things didn't go right or when aftermarket parts didn't actually fit, although they weren't always perfect about that. Musclecars would occasionally have some decent fabrication tips and their mid-show reviews of old classics was interesting. It was frustrating though when they didn't finish their road-race fastback Mustang(not the red and black one they gave away). Rides had some good episodes, batting about .250. I like Chip Foose as a person and his idea to assist people with making their dreams come true, but I hated the way his show would just steal the car and not let the owner have input on how it was built. I'd love to know how many of the 'targets' were truly happy that their dream of restoring their own car was snatched away from them and done by somebody else. Not all of them I'm sure. Also, his show could easily give people the idea that it was easy to take a car completely apart and restore it. Bullrun has some fun scenes it and those don't always include cars. American Hot Rod was a disgrace. Horsepower TV is definitely an infomercial. Same with 2 Guys Garage. Unfortunately, these shows are very time-consuming and not cheap to make, and sometimes it's difficult to make it interesting enough to stay on the air as a series. TopGear is the only one I watch now, along with snippets on YouTube and sites like Lat-G.

[strtcar]

It's not just car shows, it's any show that makes it more than 1 season. Take for example Gold Rush, last season was first year and it was all about finding gold in Alaska. Season 2 just started and its more drama and more people in the show, they figure hey the show is making enough money to get a 2nd season now we need to expand it into more drama to get more watchers to get more money. It's just like running a business, they will appeal to the masses to make more money and forget what the show is all about.

[GregWeld]

So........ In summation........ I think it's fair to say they've missed the "target audience"!!


HAHAHAHAHAHA

[Flash68]

I remember I used to like watching that Super Car show with Tanner Foust and that Indy driver. That was actually really fun to watch because the fierce competition from the two was really evident and they always gave each other ****.

Supercars Exposed... I used to record and watch that... was pretty good. Tanner Foust and Paul Tracy. I think Paul really hated Tanner deep down. :lol:

[Track Junky]

Supercars Exposed... I used to record and watch that... was pretty good. Tanner Foust and Paul Tracy. I think Paul really hated Tanner deep down. :lol:

It was a kick in the ass to watch those guys race and cap on each other :lol:

[coolwelder62]

Who was the master mind behind all these shows that really sucked big time.He's prob. living in a beach house in socal next to Charlie Harper.:lol: :lol:

[19richie66]

Should do a show where it's Swamp People meets Overhaulin".I can see Chris Jacobs really getting shot while trying to steal Mudbug Freddy's 1947 Chevy Pickup.Wouldn't have to worry about any of the prank garbage either cause no one has any phones.Matter of fact,Swamp People is about the only real show on there anymore.The Alligators don't have a script and could care less about sponsors.Wounder what Foose could do to a mudbuggy?

[Track Junky]

American Chopper is going to have a build off............Junior agains't Senior against.........wait for it..........Jesse James!!

Discovery Channel December 5th and 6th

[Vince@Meanstreets]

I'd love to see some of our sponsor shops get together once in a while and do a video podcast how-to! A beginners's how-to on welding sheet metal would be a great start!

it would have to be a high high end shop cause i don't think you would want to see what your average white bread and butter hot rod shop does. LOL....

speaking of shops, i'd rather watch JRD side of American Chopper, much more fab and metal work.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

American Chopper is going to have a build off............Junior agains't Senior against.........wait for it..........Jesse James!!

Discovery Channel December 5th through the 9th its on now right? at least some good old fashion JJ trash talk.

[Track Junky]

its on now right? at least some good old fashion JJ trash talk.

Hell yeah!! JJ already talkin' trash in the promo's. Lookin' forward to this one!!

[MarkM66]

Dream Car Garage was my favorite. But it's no longer on TV :(.

It was just car stuff with no bull**** storyline to go with it. :thumbsup:

[cheezer]

Dream Car Garage was my favorite. But it's no longer on TV :(.

It was just car stuff with no bull**** storyline to go with it. :thumbsup:

http://www.dreamcargarage.com/dreamcargarage-home.php

Dream Car Garage is still on TV in Canada on the Sun TV network, although I have not seen it and I am not even sure I get that network. It has lost one of it's hosts and changed a few things.

cheezer

[coolwelder62]

Dream Car Garage was a real good show.The one where they built the vintage corvette race car was Awesome.That show could have been a whole hour long IMHO.It had no drama must have been why Speed TV took it off the air.

[66SuperSport]

One of the most entertaining car shows I ever watched was "Will Race Anything" with Freiburger and Bang Shift Chad Reynolds. F'N hilarious!!! They only made one episode and it's a shame because these guys know what we want to see.

[coolwelder62]

One of the most entertaining car shows I ever watched was "Will Race Anything" with Freiburger and Bang Shift Chad Reynolds. F'N hilarious!!! They only made one episode and it's a shame because these guys know what we want to see.Are the Chris Jacobs from Overhauling Show.:lol: :lol:

[frankv11]

I would get up early on saturday or sunday to watch powerblock, muscle car, etc..... but they all turned to crap. like many have said they were 1/2 hour armorall and duplicolor commercials they would even paint whole cars with spray paint are f.... kidding me. two guys garage, and rides are also crap.
I think it was muscle car that had lou ????? ( dude with beard) he was good but had just a few episodes
they need to have a LATERAl G TV with some of the members rides being built at home/shops. first fire ups, 70% fabrication coverage, cover some of the events . they could never run out of new material with so many great (REAL) builds going on here. commercials on regular breaks only. just bring the project updates section to the big screen. you will still get the drama with ordering wheels and not getting them until 8 months later and causing a divorse over it etc. we can start with doing a story on WAYNIEZ (fnquick) and his long and patient battle with getting his car home.
man Ill watch it. ohh and throw in some good looking hotties ( not overdressed like they just got home from the club)
yeah ok keep dreaming.

[billetman]

Bring back "Rides"!!!

[kttrucks]

Its interesting that although everyone hates the "fake drama..." the forums light up when JJ is "talkin smak"... :rolleyes: To each his own...I still like alot of them, and some actually show good tips and tricks. I think Dan Woods Chop Cut Rebuild is my favorite right now because they actually go into working shops.

K.

[19richie66]

We had a show here in florida called musclecar work out that was put on by Daytona Community college.It followed a shop in daytona area that restored musclecars and built some hot rods.It was good but then it turned to all reruns.I try watch every episode of Chop,Cut,Rebuild but wish it were a little longer.Dan needs to work on his one liners.He does drive up in some cool cars though.:thumbsup: I liked pretty much all the "Rides" especially the episodes that featured Rad Rides by Troy.

[V8TV]

You can still find real tech without the BS on V8TV. We recently grouped many of the tech features by category into a tech library.. check it out here:

http://v8tvshow.com/content/section/6/223/

We'll be launching some new TV episodes on TUFF-TV soon, and all of our video is on the web as well.

Look for more videos on the build of the '68 Camaro "Reloaded" soon, and a couple new projects to start soon.

:cheers:

[rwhite692]

One of these shows should pick up Lou Santiago (formerly of Musclecar). Great guy.

I am continually amazed that West Coast Customs manages to keep growing and expanding, even to the extent of having operations in other countries, in spite of the horrific build quality for the money spent by the client.

They clearly succeed because their typical customer is an entirely "new money" kind of person with cash burning a hole in their pocket (like a pro athlete that just got signed, etc) and they have no idea what they want, or what real quality is, but they want it NOW!

Their key customers are also marketing companies that decide they need a promotional vehicle and they want it in three days and could care less about the build quality, because when the promotion is over they are going to sell the car or give it away, etc.

[Track Junky]

American Chopper is going to have a build off............Junior agains't Senior against.........wait for it..........Jesse James!!

Discovery Channel December 5th and 6th

Anybody see this one. I thought it was great. Lots of smack talk from Jesse.

[frankv11]

I second that motion Lou Santiago was doing some cool projects and over musclecars was about best show

[out2kayak]

I second that motion Lou Santiago was doing some cool projects and over musclecars was about best show

http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:forums.corvetteforum.com/get/images/smilies/iagree.gif


:cheers:

[CRCRFT78]

Where is Lou at now? He use to pop in every once in a while.

[RECOVERY ROOM]

Lou is coming back on tv with Jarod..Cant say to much more than that. On Discovery channel

[Fluid Power]

Anybody see this one. I thought it was great. Lots of smack talk from Jesse.

I watched it. I am not afraid to say that I really like JJ as a personality. The build off was a popularity contest and JJ had no chance in winning. That bike PJD built (or assembled,like Jesse said, those guys are cake decorators) was awful.

I thought rides was good with and without Jason Priestly. The subject matter was good and it was well shot.

Darren

[Track Junky]

I watched it. I am not afraid to say that I really like JJ as a personality. The build off was a popularity contest and JJ had no chance in winning. That bike PJD built (or assembled,like Jesse said, those guys are cake decorators) was awful.

I thought rides was good with and without Jason Priestly. The subject matter was good and it was well shot.

Darren

I'm a huge JJ fan and without him and his comments the show wouldn't have been even half as good. I thought it was great entertainment and JJ has some serious skills. His bike was built to ride.

I liked the PJD bike. Very creative in design. Jesse had a good point though. How far could you possibly ride that bike with its 1 gallon tank and that seat.

Seniors build was cool but just wasn't a bike.

[frankv11]

Lou is coming back on tv with Jarod..Cant say to much more than that. On Discovery channel

Looking forward to it. Crossing my fingers , hopefully is not another 1 long duplicolor / armorall commercial

[nacnac]

Lou is coming back on tv with Jarod..Cant say to much more than that. On Discovery channel

I just heard about that today too. I have no idea what kind of show it'll be but I'm thinking because it's Discovery it wont be as cheesy as Musclecar was. All i know is that they're in Florida. I'll be watching.

[nacnac]

I second that motion Lou Santiago was doing some cool projects and over musclecars was about best show

Jarrod seemed to be the brains on that show, but that's just my opinion.

[WILWAXU]

Like many others here, I'm a HUGE fan of the UK Top Gear (easily my favorite tv show). But I think the second season of USA Top Gear was much better than the first season. If they can continue to build it into a more of it's own show vs exact copy of the UK version I think it should do better.

Btw, you can follow (and download) Top Gear on this site: http://www.finalgear.com/

New UK TG season kicks off on the 28th :D

[Diognes56]

I am not ashamed to admit that I have all of the Rides and Overhaulin seasons on DVD. I liked Rides a lot, but there were aspects of Overhaulin that made it hard to watch at times.

I don't have to worry about what is on now. We cancelled our cable.

David

[kttrucks]

OK, one more comment and I'll bow out of this permanently.. :) Top Gear ( UK version) has the almost unlimited budget of the British Government TV network (BBC) While Cable shows in the US depend on advertiser dollars to fund them...most having to actually buy the airtime and hope they can monitize enough to create a profit to cover overhead. Therin lies the biggest difference in show model and direction. Without the pressure of needing to fill shows with advertisers and sponsors, or to sell the commercial space around the shows, Top Gear has the freedom to produce entertainment based shows, rather than product based shows. American cable shows are largely structured after the magazine model... Editorial content supports the advertisers...

Neither one ( BBC or American cable) is better or worse, but it is comparing apples to oranges, even with "TOP GEAR", both versions of the same name.

I still like alot of the car-shows on cable, I wish they were better funded, but that's not the case, so we have what we have. That's the beauty of youtube and the internet... somebody can come along and actually DO a better show... as long as they dont have to make their living from it or support a staff, they can (and do) make great shows. They're a little hard to find though.

For what it's worth, I LOVE my job!! even though we have to grow a thick skin and put on our big-boy pants to read some of these internet forums, and learn to let some of the smack roll off ones back, It's still a great job to have, and despite it not being all we ( or anyone else) wants it to be sometimes, Im still proud of the shows we make and the vehicles and projects we get to build and demonstrate.

It's nice that some folks like the shows, it's fine that some folks dont...I do know this.. I will work in TV as long as it will have me.! :)

Said my piece.... KT out!! :cheers:

[Ketzer]

Im still proud of the shows we make and the vehicles and projects we get to build and demonstrate.

It's nice that some folks like the shows, it's fine that some folks dont...I do know this.. I will work in TV as long as it will have me.! :)

Said my piece.... KT out!! :cheers:

You should be proud! Your sincerity and passion comes through in what you're doing on the show. If someone doesn't like it, they are free to get their own funding and host their own gig.




I also enjoyed DreamCar while it was on in the states, was a shame to see it pulled. I have watched the new format on their website but it's not the same.

Jeff-

[GregWeld]

[QUOTE=kttrucks;386596]American cable shows are largely structured after the magazine model... Editorial content supports the advertisers.../QUOTE]


And that in a nutshell is why they are an EPIC FAIL....

I'm not wasting my time watching some bozo pitch "metal in a can" bearing saver... :willy: :rofl:

[70rs]

[QUOTE=kttrucks;386596]American cable shows are largely structured after the magazine model... Editorial content supports the advertisers.../QUOTE]


And that in a nutshell is why they are an EPIC FAIL....

I'm not wasting my time watching some bozo pitch "metal in a can" bearing saver... :willy: :rofl:

You know you have several DVR units set to record all the reruns man. :D

[billscamaros]

I really don't spend much time in front of the television, but lately I've been watching the show called "Chasing Classic Cars". I like that each show is about a different car.

I also liked Tanner Foust's Supercars and the show Rides.

I would be good to see a Rides type show that focused on different builds going on in different shops around the country. Although it would have to be a pretty limited run, as they all just get old quickly.

[coolwelder62]

To the TV producer's watching this.I want to see Guy's like Dan Holohan RodgerLee,Kyle Tucker,Fabricating,bending,grinding,welding metal. guys like Jame's113 laying down some paint.Guy's like Tracy Weaver sitching up some cool a$$ interior's,Mary Pozzi,Brian Finch doing & giving some driving tip's.You can't tell that company's like Optima,Edelbrock,GM,Ford,wouldn't get aboard w/this.Now this would great Car TV.:thumbsup: