Monster Garage (Discovery Channel)

In MONSTER GARAGE, self-made businessman/auto fabricator Jesse James transforms everyday vehicles into stylish, souped-up machines with the help of an ever-changing team of builders. One week he might turn a pickup truck into a gorilla transport with a group of animal experts and the next week work with a team of Folsom Prison convicts to rehab an old Chevy. Each episode includes profiles of the different members of the build tea -- for the Folsom Prison build, for example, the bios included the crimes the men were convicted of, as well as the length of their sentence. This unique approach to the car-rehab genre brings different personalities to each show, which keeps things fresh. Jesse's charisma -- mixed with a heart of gold inside a scrubby, tattooed, tough-guy exterior -- makes the rest of the show come together.

Monster Garage is one of the few shows of its kind that works with a limited budget, which adds a rougher, more do-it-yourself feel to the builds. And with its attention-getting camerawork and dramatic music, the show will probably keep teens' attention better than other similar series. That said, some cheesy staged moments detract from the episodes, and less attention is paid to math and engineering skills here than in shows like American Hot Rod and Biker Build-Off. But props are given for hands-on talents like welding and wiring. For people interested in cars, motorcycles, or anything mechanically oriented, this series can be a fun diversion.