TLC and RDF Media are screwing up one of the greatest programs on television, by including this witless American Host.

The bottom line for the show is ratings and advertising revenue.

Join me next week in voicing protest by watching another show. If the several thousand of us that are pissed off by this bastardization of a great show tune out, ratings drop and RDF Media/TLC will get the message loud and clear.

-- Matt Rice (rice@geog.ucsb.edu), January 04, 2001

Answers

Soory I would sooner cut off my arm than miss an episode! They could put Rosie O'Donnel on as co-host and I would watch

-- Randy Warren (randyw-pk@home.com), January 04, 2001.

Good Idea Matt... It won't be worth watching anyway. I'll just be embarrassed for the new guy.

** Show your support and visit Robert's web site www.llew.co.uk or email him at kryten@llew.co.uk

-- Joe Debicki (jdebicki@hotmail.com), January 04, 2001.

If you tune out you will miss something so great between two teams. We had SO MUCH FUN!!!!! I thought the show was about the teams and building, doing things under the gun, working mentally and physically harder than you ever have in your life. It's about human spirit and determination, the fun of working with your friends in a tight situation, enjoying each other and the laughter! George is just one person on the show!

June Moxon, Art Attack

-- June Moxon (june-ken@humboldt1.com), January 04, 2001.

I will NOT miss junkyard wars just because of an annoying host. A bad week of junkyard wars is better than 99% of the other crap on television. The host is the only think wrong with the american version and that is not enough to ruin the show. Robert brought some humor to the show but the foundation is the science and engineering and the personality of the teams and those traits are still intact.

-- marshall philips (mdp4828@yahoo.com), January 04, 2001.

Hey, Matt. You go ahead and watch the QVC channel or Oprah. I'm glad I'm not the kind of person who watches the first ten minutes of a movie and say's I don't like it. Just because you don't like the host, you put down the whole show. You're obviously not a junkyard wars fan or you would realize that the format is the same, the production team and directors are the same, the junkyard and location is the same. Actually, if you watch next week you'll get to see all the team members totally open point blank 6 bottles of champagne into George's face... He's kind of fun to pick on.... Lighten up dude!!!!

-- Duane Flatmo (Flatmo@humboldt1.com), January 04, 2001.

You are right. The new host sucks. But Duanne is wrong. The location and format are not the same. This is a junkyard somewhere in America and a much smaller one at that. The 'construction areas' have been shabily reproduced at best. The junk you will notice is mostly all american cars etc. They are letting the teams try and practice runs which defeats the purpose of anticipation as to wether or not the constructs will work as planned. Its the dumbing down of the show in typical American fasion. People liked this show because it was British as well as clever and entertaining. Nobody in my household wants to watch anymore.

-- Jason R. Streebel (jrsgunters@capecod.net), January 04, 2001.

Duane is right. Jason is wrong.

How do I know?

Because I read http://tlc.discovery.com/tlcpages/junkyard/teams_us.html and apparently Jason couldn't be bothered.

-- YCDK (ycdk@hotmail.com), January 04, 2001.

Oh look... Some of George's friends stopped by, June and Duane. Hey, no amount of brow beating will make us like George. I'm sorry you two got caught in the middle. But George is really bad and we just can't sit back and watch them destroy a good show. We want Robert back plain and simple and if it takes a boycott then so be it!

-- Joe Debicki (jdebicki@hotmail.com), January 04, 2001.

Wanna borrow my glasses, I was there, in England, at the same set that was used for series 3. Everybody seems to be hung up about George, I never meet Robert, I did watch the shows he was on and I liked him a lot, but, I got to work with George and he was very good to work with, they left out some very funny stuff when the show was edited and I don't know why. From the calls I have received from people who tuned in because we were on, they are all hooked now. They never saw Robert, but, liked the show as it is.

-- justjay-Captain-Three Rusty Juveniles (justjay@neo.rr.com), January 04, 2001.

I spent 6 days in that pile. three of them I was prying into every corner. (one day of training, were we only got to see a little, and two days of safety inspection day)

They added some camera positions, but its the exact same yard. They added some american iron, but there was plenty of foreign cars in there as well. (like the 2cv). Last night I asked just jay why he didn't try the nice spiral screw compressor that I found fascinating on firboat build day. It was sitting on top of the pile of steel, next to the old air conditioning rig (that had been there since the UK semi's). No way would they have shipped that over. (one of our alternative designs involved using the compressor, and the big propane tanks (still hanging around from the sub build) to make a grownup version of a super-soaker)

-- Jeff - The NERDS (dp@the-nerds.org), January 05, 2001.

Jason and Joe, We're not trying to get anyone to like George. Hate him all you want, but why hate the show. I was there in September building some cool stuff with team Art Attack. It is the same junkyard in England beleive me. I think we should all try to back off from this negative stuff and keep in mind why we watch the show. We all love to watch contraptions being built from junk.

-- Duane Flatmo (Flatmo@humboldt1.com), January 05, 2001.

I watched the show for the first time last night and thought it was great! I had no idea whether the fronting talent were new to the show or not...they were both personable and entertaining...on the other hand the experts were the people I relied on for getting an idea how successfully the projects were progressing...they filled in the technical gaps I would have missed...as a first time viewer I was sold...I'll watch again even though I wish it aired earlier in the evening...

-- Kathryn DeVries (kathryndevries@hotmail.com), January 05, 2001.

Well said Kathryn! I liked Robert a lot, but there is nothing wrong with George. He had big shoes to fill, and did fine. The show is not about the hosts anyway! If these people can't stand to watch George, then let them watch something else! You guys really do sound like a bunch of women who are mad cause their favorite soap opera star got replaced! Get over it. Maybe you can watch your taped copies of "General Hospital" while the rest of us are enjoying Junkyard Wars!

-- Rhonda (mxrs@zianet.com), January 05, 2001.

I just wanted to say that I was one of those that wanted George's hide after watching JYW the other day. However, last night I watched these shows again (I tape it because it passes rather late in my area for a working day) and I didn't find George as annoying as the first time, even fun at times. I guess that once I got over the original shock of not having Robert and that I knew what to expect I could bring myself to enjoy the show. Talk about resistance to change!! And I thounght that I was above all that.

I agree with Kathryn and Rhonda that the show is still great. If all you losers think that boycotting the show is going to solve something, you're WRONG! It will just get it cancelled. Then you won't have any choice but to watch your soap operas. I'm going to keep watching and I will keep an open mind but I'll be sure to let the producers know my constructive comments at the end of the season.

JunkYard Wars/ScrapHeap Challenge rules!!

-- Daniel Aubin (d.aubin@globetrotter.net), January 06, 2001.

I agree... Boycotting is the only way to get the producer's attention. Maybe they will see the "George" shows ratings drop and put two and two together.

-- Joe Debicki (jdebicki@hotmail.com), January 06, 2001.

Matt and Joe- OK, so you guys won't be watching next week? I'll bet 10 bucks you both will be back on this board Wednesday night complaining about the show you just watched! You know it's true!

-- Rhonda (mxrs@zianet.com), January 06, 2001.

If George doesn't improve soon, it will just be a 5 party George lovefest discussion next week. Don't forget there are some very good shows coming soon from the big networks. Don't you think RDF knows that. The cachet of any TV show, with the exception of only a few, is fleeting. RDF really can't afford to keep this liability. They would be better off to cut their losses and use the SHC shows.

Remember, people will slow down for a car accident to find out how bad it is but, then they move on...

-- Joe Debicki (jdebicki@hotmail.com), January 06, 2001.

Whatever Joe. So what are you going to watch, Fox's new Temptation Island? Now there's quality television. You just don't get it... it's not a "George Lovefest", we just like the show, and are mature enough to watch it without Robert! The rest of us want to talk about the show, new ideas, etc, and are tired of you complaining about George. Get over it. I have read several messages from people on this board who never watched Robert, and love the show after the first two of the new season. How do you explain that?

-- Rhonda (mxrs@zianet.com), January 06, 2001.

Did you say "whatever"? And did you also raise your hand so I could talk to it? Hah! I expected as much.

-- Joe Debicki (jdebicki@hotmail.com), January 06, 2001.

Joe,you are acting more immature than my 3 year old little girl. How long is your tantrum going to last? You need a good hard spanking for being such a whiney pot!!!

-- Sue Crum (wscrum@zekes.com), January 06, 2001.

Go Sue!!!!!!

-- Dippy Cat (dippycat@hoymail.com), January 06, 2001.

So are you "George Boosters" just going to personally insult everyone who doesn't agree with you? You'd better get a move on it 'cause there's 40 on the petition (at last count). That's a lot of mud to sling. Are you sure you're up to the challenge, hah?!

-- Joe Debicki (Jdebicki@hotmail.com), January 06, 2001.

Joe- I am not a "George Booster", I just don't want to lose the show because you and a few others don't like the new host...and let's see, no, I was using my hands to type, so I guess I didn't raise it at you to "talk to"... the point you seem to miss is that we like the show, and don't care who the host is! I am not insulting you, I am trying to say you made your point, you hate the new host, everyone knows it, now can we just get on with life? Have you even read any of the new posts about new show ideas, or are you too busy with your crusade? As far as the 40 names on the list, I think only you and Matt have agreed to boycott! Can we just agree to disagree and still be friends?

-- Rhonda (mxrs@zianet.com), January 06, 2001.

Joe- Please don't tell me my Olive Branch left you speechless?! I expected an answer of some kind! Nice or Nasty... but something! :)

-- Rhonda (mxrs@zianet.com), January 08, 2001.