No, I don't care for the USA host that much either; he just doesn't seem to 'get it'. But when you get right down to it, the show is still worth watching. That isn't what really bugs me about the show.

What bugs me is that Discovery Networks put Junkyard Wars on TLC at the same time as a bunch of roller coaster shows on Travel Channel. @#$!it, I only have one VCR! Don't put the technology shows against technology shows; put the technology shows against the endless parade of medical, police, and natural disaster shows that seem to make up most of the TLC and Discovery schedule....... 8-)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

-- Dave Althoff (dalthoff@capital.edu), January 07, 2001

Answers

Put the educational shows on at a time that more kids can watch. 10-11 pm on a school night, get real. (In the UK it shows at 6pm on sundays)

-- Jeff - The NERDS (dp@the-nerds.org), January 07, 2001.

NOOO! Not that early!! I'd never get to watch! I don't care if it was originally aimed at kids...at 30 I think I qualify as an adult...and I think it's one of the best shows on these days! 8-) Although, if it ran 8pm-10pm ET instead of 9pm-11pm, that would probably be OK...and I wouldn't have to miss "Modern Marvels" on Wednesday nights... --Dave Althoff, Jr.

-- Dave Althoff (dalthoff@capital.edu), January 07, 2001.

I'm just picturing TLC showing 30 minutes of nothing but Junkyard/Scrapheap outtakes of vicious accidents and horrible injuries.

"Chris Barrie hosts When Bodging Goes Wrong, tonight at 8pm Eastern."

-- YCDK (ycdk@hotmail.com), January 08, 2001.

For the uninitiated and otherwise impaired viewers, there is a method to the madness of Discovery, TLC, History, Travel and Animal Planet. (Wink, Wink) They're all facets of the same company. Duh. They can draw in more of a diversity of sponsors over SEVERAL channels. If you are missing one favorite show on TLC because another is on the Travel Channel, it's because they want you to make a decision between sponsors (littering your brain with oppressive campaigns). If you choose to stay with one channel, you're favoring one set of sponsors. If you switch, your zombie-like patronage will be reflected in another sponsor's quarterly earnings. This ain't rocket science---it's marketing.

VeIoci

-- Charles Austin (Veiocity@aol.com), January 08, 2001.

Point is, you've got the remote in your hand, and you're switching from channel-to-channel between FIVE (or more) channels owned by the same parent company. By switching, you're likely to hit 5X as many diversified commercials (any one of which might strike your fancy) than if you stayed tuned to ONE channel... AHHH... Marketing comes home to the herd. }=]

VeIocity@ao

-- Charles Austin (Veiocity@aol.com), January 08, 2001.

Personally, I don't think that's a particularly smart strategy. Why make me choose between the various Discovery channels in three hours that are worth watching when there are so many hours of DRECK on those same channels? Why not get me to spend the whole hour on one channel, then flip to another affiliate for the next hour? Makes it more likelly that I'll actually see the sponsorship messages...they're clever, but they're not clever enough to use the same clock on all five channels, so when TLC goes to a station break, I can flip over to Travel and see program material. Which isn't quite the outcome Velocity suggests is what they're looking for...

Don't get me started on the Flagship (Discovery) Channel web site bugs...those annoying squeeze-zoom animated chime-and-clicky-clicky things that basically say, "Why are you watching this show when you could be VISITING OUR WEB SITE!!!". Why are they trying to chase their viewers away??

(I guess I shouldn't sign this 'cause if I do it gets signed twice...)

-- Dave Althoff (dalthoff@capital.edu), January 08, 2001.

Now that you mention it, aren't all of those networks the child of one of the majors like CBS, which is owned by Westinghouse. Some would say dedicated corporate fascists. The same CBS that bought the rights to an Australian expose on corruption in America Then never aired it. How does personal empowerment jive with corporate America's desire for a sychophantic work force? Will fascists own the rights to a never-to-be-shown show? Want to make me look like an idiot corporate programmers? Keep the show going.

-- Rita Hill (ritah@rmi.net), January 12, 2001.

I BELIEVE THAT TLC SHOWS WAY TO MANY SHOWS LIKE JUNKYARD WARS THAT IS NOT EDUCATIONAL AT ALL AND SHE SHOULD BE ONE A DIFFRENT CHANNEL ALL TOGETHER AND WHAT ARE KIDS GOING TO THINK THAT IT IS OKAY TO TEAR SOMETHING APART AND MAKE SOMETHING DIFFRENT WITH IT IF YOU ASK ME IT IS PRETTY BORING OF A SHOW AND WHO REALLY WANTS TO WATCH THAT? AND THE KIDS SHOW'S SHOULD BE ONE FROM 8:OOAM UNTIL 12:00PM. THANK YOU

-- JESSICA SAUVE (JESSICA2030_CA2002@YAHOO.COM), March 08, 2004.