The Joys of a Show Like Mythbusters
No matter the host, no matter the myth, science prevails.
The beauty of a show like Mythbusters is their longevity in a world where a lot of television fans are very specific about what they do and don't like. Things have to follow so much of a plot or have so much drama to keep interests. They have to cover similar or the same ideas over and over, and the show definitely cannot focus on anything other than its hosts. Mythbusters breaks a lot of conventions while holding up their own television traditions though. I want to take some time to discuss some of the things that make this show great, because it really does need saying.
Science is Key
It is obvious by the fact that Mythbusters airs on the Science Channel that this show is going to show you some science. This isn't always conventional science though, which is something that adds to this show instead of taking away from it. Whether the myth being tested relies on the science question being asked or just applying science to answer the silly questions, Mythbusters makes you learn before you realize you ended up on the Science Channel on accident. The science alone is not the magic ingredient that keeps this show going though. You take a child and an adult and put them both in front of this show and they will both understand what is going on in their own way. This does not mean they are not learning the same thing though. Between the animations, explanations, and voice over, Mythbusters explains every aspect of what is going on in a way that makes you think you have a master's degree in all things science.
Letting the Subject Shine
The focal point in a lot of shows that have steady hosts and steady subjects usually ends up becoming the host. This is why a lot of informative shows tend to have just a narrator or only the expert needed for that episode on at the time. Mythbusters doesn't do that though, each myth gets a team, and the hosts rotate very rarely (only having a major shift after the startup of the new seasons), but the dynamic of how they host stays the same. No matter what team you had or have on any myth the star of each episode are the myths being tested not the ones doing the testing. They are there to guide you through your experience and how they did what they did. The lovable but plain spoken announcer gives you the sense of a friendly person inserting the translation of "too many science words" when need be, and the whole structure of every episode is like finally being in that science class that "clicks" for you. Even on the less "science-y" episodes (usually the battle of male vs female or drinking ones) the focus is the myth and not the people explaining it to you.
Viewer Interaction Galore
There are a ton of shows science-based and otherwise that take input from their viewers on many things. Mythbusters does this by not only talking to their audience in episodes, but by giving them things to work with and look at after the show, as well as asking for input. The show often asks viewers to send in not only myths they find, but any other ways to test already done myths. The show may not air all of these re-tests or myths, but they do make sure to put those that they can on whatever viewer accessible social medias and sites they can. Viewers are encouraged to participate in certain myths if they are in the area at the time of shooting, and with the latest developments in the show, viewers were encouraged to try and become the newest hosts of the show (and two did became just that). It's almost as if the viewers run the show, but without all of the worries of ruining the integrity of the show because [like I said earlier] the focus is on the myths themselves and not what any one person says, wants, or does. The science rules this show and the science can only be enjoyed, not directly controlled (not counting experiment controls).
There is more that could be gushed about the dynamics of a show like Mythbusters. No matter how one spins their outlook on this show though it can be agreed that this show makes an honest attempt to connect with viewers in a way that does what it wants to do: teach them the science behind why a myth does or does not work. Whether a person has been watching the show from conception, only just started, or only watches a few episodes here and there based off of the theme of the episode Mythbusters has something for the viewer in all of us. This is what has made this show work for so long, this is what will continue to make this show work for so long, and this is what will keep Mythbusters timeless even in a time where everything seems to be a google search away. That last statement could be contested though because a lot of Google questions are answered by Mythbusters clips and show recaps anyways. The point is, though, that this is a show that brings joy to those who enjoy learning and science; or even joy to those who don't prefer learning or science.
About the Creator
Noel Willett
I fancy myself to be a writer of all trades. So long as those trades are all opinion pieces. I do have varying interests though so my opinions vary too, and every once in a while I have advice. Follow me on twitter @no_ellawillett
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