Thread: New Show - Rods N' Wheels on Discovery

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my stomach would not let me watch it

On a side note
Shows like this are an insult to "real builders"

I would agree to what a lot of you have said, however, I just try to pull the good info out and I think there is SOME good info. I was intrigued by the finished 32 3 window. I think they (all these reality car shows) could take some time and show some basics and discuss the why "we made this decision" or what "prompted us to do this this way". It might actually make the show educational......but educational shows don't sell product, hype and drama sell. The Graveyard Cars show has been basically a joke, but this season they have actually tried to introduce some educational things. The bull$h!t still continues though. Chasing Classic Cars is better in that regard as far as educating what to look for etc. But they don't talk/show much about restoring them. Part of the reason, I believe, is restorations take so long. The general public couldn't sit and watch what little progress could actually be shown, even in a complete season.

Randy, I watched the first episode last night, and my main complaint is that they focused totally on the family relationships and showed very little about the work being done. It's obviously a successful shop from all the projects going on, but they didn't do the shop justice, IMO. If I were a guy looking for someone to build a car for me (not gonna happen....) and if I lived in the area this show would keep me from even considering these guys, which is kind of sad. Tom, you're right about the drama being what sells to the general public, and I agree that Chasing Classic Cars is one of the better car shows out there, even if they don't show much of the actual work. They do show enough to keep it interesting, and they leave the drama to others. Another one that has promise is the new AmeriCarna, which is a Rick Hendricks production. Their first episode had some interesting information on woodies, but doesn't focus on the restoration process much, either. What we need is a "This Old House" approach that gets down & dirty in the details, like "This Old Car", with a shop of true craftsmen showing the nitty gritty details of turning a neglected classic into a restored beauty! PBS, are you listening???

Roger, how about a show similar to Pawn Stars? In reality, people bring their crap to the Pawn Stars show for the opportunity to be on TV......so we start a show called "Tin Stars" and people tell us where all the 32 Fords are hidden in barns....we drive around the USA "discovering" neat stuff hidden in garages and barns. Then, after it is discovered, the owner gets his thrill of being on TV and we get the car. Ohhhh, no drama, no shouting, just cars and spiderwebs

Corky Coker's doing one sort of like that, but they've already messed it up with the editing. "Barn Finds" is a coming on the Travel Channel, with Corky and his son-in-law traveling around scouting old iron and bargaining for cars to go back to his shop. Editing in the first Hot Rod TV episode made Corky look like a total cheapskate, haggling over $200 on a $10,000 deal when you know he's got $50k in his pocket. Corky's pretty well sold on Corky anyway, but this makes him look like a total buffoon. Maybe Travel Channel's episodes will be better....

If you can get us a gig give me a call. I like your idea better than anything I've seen to date, and I can travel....

Maybe we can get Uncle Bob to go with us, he has all the money.

Thank you guys so much for watching and for your honest comments!!! I have no particular skin in this game except a buddy of mine got the gig to be part of the cast. I'm very happy for him, but I also have to agree with many of you that there's a lot of extra drama & crap in many of these shows that serves as a huge distraction to those who would rather just watch how they build the cars! No doubt they're trying to draw in a larger audience, I suppose, but it seems like they could strike a better balance between the antics and the antiques, ya know?

Maybe they'll get some of this sillyness out of the way in these first few episodes and get down to showing us how good they are at building nice cars!!!

Thanks again! You guys are awesome!

Friend of my owns/runs a hot rod shop here in Florida. History channel contacted them in regards to a show. He and his wife were very excited at the prospect. History channel came in, set up and started filming. My buddy pulled his shop out after one week. The producers wanted to bring other people in for "character interest". In other words, someone to act stupid and cut up. The also wanted to dramatize the relationship between his wife and him, sometimes not the best.

The problem is that these shows are not produced by CAR people. They are driven by a "proven formula". All it takes is for the viewing public to "hook" onto one or two characters and they got a hit. Call it guilty pleasure.

I used to watch Norm Abrams on New Yankee Workshop. The show ran for 21 years without any added drama.

BTW, I have watched Rods N' Wheels. It's as good as anything else at 2:00AM. Mind numbing enough to get you to sleep.

Originally Posted by TerpnGator

Friend of my owns/runs a hot rod shop here in Florida. History channel contacted them in regards to a show. He and his wife were very excited at the prospect. History channel came in, set up and started filming. My buddy pulled his shop out after one week. The producers wanted to bring other people in for "character interest". In other words, someone to act stupid and cut up. The also wanted to dramatize the relationship between his wife and him, sometimes not the best.

The problem is that these shows are not produced by CAR people. They are driven by a "proven formula". All it takes is for the viewing public to "hook" onto one or two characters and they got a hit. Call it guilty pleasure.

I used to watch Norm Abrams on New Yankee Workshop. The show ran for 21 years without any added drama.

BTW, I have watched Rods N' Wheels. It's as good as anything else at 2:00AM. Mind numbing enough to get you to sleep.

People love drama... maybe some do,,I don't..I watched a full series of American Hot rod,and kept hanging on,,hoping it was going to get better,,but,no.. Fail.. Can't stand the BS and drama that these outfits like to build in to their ''reality shows''..If I want to see that,,in reality,,i will go and watch over a neighbor's fence.. I would love to see a show that hasn't been sensationalised by the director/producer,whoever..

Here's a little more background info on these guys if you're curious....Simi shop cruises into cable TV | www.simivalleyacorn.com | Simi Valley Acorn | www.simivalleyacorn.com | Simi Valley Acorn