As seen on TV By: Claudio Piccolo
While watching some TV and shows like American Chopper, Unique Whips, and American Hot Rod, to list a few, I started to come to the conclusion what exactly it is I am watching. They show case a personal opinion when it comes to building a Motorcycle, Car or what ever. Now, being that I have been making my livelihood working on cars I can respect the work being done on these shows even if they do not line up with my own personal style. That being said the second conclusion is these shows are shifting more and more to the people than the work. It is almost that the shows cannot stand on the talent of the people, just the drama. I can fully understand the frustration of hitting a dead line and I can kind of understand the Drama to sell the show but all this smoke and mirrors is taking away from the true Star of the Show, and really the only reason I watch, the Workmanship and Creativity. This “smoke and mirrors” is giving the impression to the masses that the task is done in matter of hours, a lot of swearing, and never really seeing the work until final episode. Countless people have come into my shop looking for work and were disappointed in the fact that what they saw on TV falls short on what really happens in “A day in the life of a Custom Car Shop”. Now don’t get me wrong in that I love to see the finish product, BUT the real meat of the show should be the work behind that finished product. Watching the progression from thought to finish product, seeing how the hurdles were overcome and learning new ways and different techniques to get the job done.
I would like to see a car/bike show similar to a show we have here in Canada called “Holmes on Homes”, in this show we see how people paid to have work done on their homes and the aftermath that comes with having the wrong people doing the work. The show goes on to break down on what was done, what is expected, what should have be done, and HOW it should have be done the first time. I think it would be great to see back yard installs torn down to see how they were completed, I have seen my share of scary installs and always wondered how the car did not burn to the ground. Most of these newcomers do not see or feel the need to pay their dues and therefore leave 12v but I think they lose out on doing something really fun while getting paid to do it.
Claudio Piccolo
Posted under Our Rants & Ramblings
Claudio, you’ll be really impressed with the new season of Overhaulin because that is exactly what they have done, gone back to the work, not the drama. An average show is 45 minutes long, the new season has an average of 42 minutes of build time with the shortest being 38.
I also know that ARC Audio will be in all but one build as the stereo brand shown this year, probably has something to do with their Chip Foose line of amplifiers
As far as others shows, I find that even though I think he is a complete asshole, American Hot Rod has the most build content on average of most of the mainstream car shows currently being played. The Spike shows have lead the correct way to do thing as far as build content and I think Overhaulin will bring most of the other mainstream shows back to what they should be.
Don’t expect to see Rides back though………….:(
Claudio, nail on the head there buddy (pardonez moi pour les pun). Far too often, many of the “reality” shows are so very far from the truth. Yes, there are a certain percentage of us viewers that do know a thing or two about what it really is like when doing a build such as the typically featured TV “reality” series. However, what keep the general masses glued to the ‘ol radiation king in the living room is, unfortunately, the associated drama that comes with these builds and/or shops.
Personally, yes, I would dearly love more of a “Holmes on Holmes” style INFORMATIVE reality (or shall I say educational) television. What Mike has done for the home renovation industry in Canada is absolutely amazing. He has given the consumer the information and insight into the real behind the scenes of anything to do with home repair, and why it truly does pay to do the research, and find the RIGHT person for the job. A 12V related show would be great in the exact same aspect, as it would serve to further educate the consumer public. Which, in all reality, should be the true function of a “reality” television series. Guess that is why I really try not to watch them, as I tend to think my reality keeps me busy enough on a day to day basis, and therefore find it unnecessary to get my daily dose on the ‘ol boob tube.
If something similar to Unique Whips could be done, minus all the associated BS and drama………. it would be just splendid!
Shows like “pimp my ride” bug the bananas out of me. Not only is what that do ghetto, the real beauty work always glazed over.
It is also funny so see on how on many of these shows the work is pretty crappy. It’s always real obvious on shows like Trading Spaces when you see the paint runs or sloppy tiling. It’s harder to see on some of the car shows because they move the camera quickly or give you a far away shot. It’s like when you see a car across the lot at a show, but get up close and see that the carpet doesn’t tuck under a panel, the gaps are huge or loose, texture is not just bad, but *wrong*…. things like that.
Good from afar……….Far from agood
Couldn’t agree with you more Claudio.
I try and catch as much stuff on car crafting and custom motorcycle as I can and I’d way rather see the problems, solutions and progress made along the way as well as some detailed shots of the finished product. “Pimp my ride” falls way short because the camera angles and high speed sweeps of the car never let you see any detail work. American Hot Rod is better except the foreman is a punk.
That said, I’ll bet it’s pretty difficult to produce one of these shows. I always thought it would be cool to do one that not only highlights the cool things that can be done but also educates the audience about how much skill and knowledge it takes to do the job right.
Holmes on Homes… Priceless! (I love that show)
Claudio, maybe you can remind me…
Who does that guy remind me of ;~)
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