MythBusters - TV-PG

Team puts urban legends to the scientific test.

TV Rating: TV-PG Network: Discovery Channel Cast: Adam Savage, Jamie Hyneman Genre: Educational
Available on: DVDDownload

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this intriguing series showcases problem analysis and the scientific approach to proving or disproving a thesis. It comes with repeated disclaimers for good reason, though, as episodes often include explosions, gunfire, and mixtures of volatile substances. Kids may need a reminder to not engage in such activities themselves. The hosts use human skeletons and animal parts in some experiments, which could make squeamish viewers uncomfortable.

Families can talk about how Adam and Jamie devise their test plans. Once they've identified their challenge, what steps do they take to gather supplies and prepare their testing area? What types of experts help them and in what ways? This show offers parents a unique opportunity to show kids the importance of a well-rounded education. What disciplines (math, science, etc.) do the hosts use to set up their experiments? How do you use what you've learned in everyday life?

Rate It!

Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Emily Ashby

They're questions we've surely all lost sleep over: How many balloons would it take to airlift a man? Can a playing card be hurled fast enough to inflict more harm than just a paper cut? And if you eat Pop Rocks and drink soda, will your stomach explode from all that fizzy stuff?

If the typical "hmmmm" isn't a satisfactory response to such musings, then MYTHBUSTERS is the show for you. It's hosted by Jamie Hyneman, a model maker and special-effects expert for the movie and TV industries, and Adam Savage, whose handy expertise includes carpentry, welding, and animation. The two devise experiments to prove or disprove urban legends and many other nagging questions.

Jamie and Adam use a powerful combination of physics, chemistry, biology, and geometry to lay out their experiments, and usually the steps preceding the test are as fascinating to watch as the test itself. They often call in experts in rocket science, explosives, physiology, and other disciplines for background and guidance in specialized areas.

For example, one episode tackled an Arizona legend that a car rigged with rocket propellants had once gone airborne in the desert. Using a remote-controlled 1967 Chevy Impala (the same make as the mythical car) and three Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO) thrusters, Jamie and Adam tested the car's speed on a desert road.

Another episode took on the age-old Pop Rocks question as Jamie and Adam hung a pig's stomach -- which apparently is similar to a human's -- in a human skeleton to test its durability against six candy packets and a six-pack of soda consumed simultaneously.

The team makes a good comedic duo; Jamie's dry humor is the perfect complement to Adam's quips and wisecracks. The fun, fact-filled show will answer some of those long-standing "what ifs" that may have been nagging at you, demonstrating how much fun science can be to boot. Science-minded tweens and teens will find it exceptionally entertaining.

Fans may also want to try How'd They Do That? and Dirty Jobs. And check out the MythBusters Web site for fun interactive quizzes on myth and fact.

Rate It!

Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Very occasional use of the word "sex."
Violence Explosions and firepower are used in some experiments, but no one is hurt (beyond a few scrapes and small burns here and there), and they all wear protective gear.
Language Infrequent and mostly mild: "hell," "Oh my God," etc. The occasional stronger words are bleeped out.
Message
	Social Behavior Promotes curiosity and an interest in science, but kids will need reminding not to try similar experiments at home.
	Commercialism Brand names are blurred on all soda and other food and drinks used in experiments.
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco