Just for the record, George really sucks. It's refreshing to finally see some of the british episodes on Monday nights.

Don't get me wrong, the idea for the show is great. I just think the choice of US host was terrible. The reason the show was interesting was the british hosts and some of the teams. Ideally, I'd like to see the original british hosts along with 1 US team and 1 british team.

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

Answers

my......what original statements!....obviously you just found this buttetin board and hadnt taken the time to read some of the previous posts!.......at least you could have read the last 1000 posts that already deals with this dead horse of a topic!.......its dead.....just let it go!

-- tim (milehiharley@hotmail.com), February 04, 2001.

Just for the record, you suck. Please quit kicking a dead horse.... The new shows look like a pitiful British version of Mad Max meets Pee Wee's playhouse. Sorry. The American version is far more interesting, brighter and more fun!!!

-- John Gap (mindthegap64@hotmail.com), February 04, 2001.

John, dont confuse the latest TLC offerings for new shows. These are the original first few British pilot episodes, that kicked the show off when it first started. They do not represent the final format of the British show, which were so well received and enjoyed here in the US that they were responsible for the creation of the Americanized version.

-- Doug Ford (krink@cst.net), February 05, 2001.

I know these are the very first ones. I guess Matt DID watch the American series even though he said he wouldn't...Ha

-- John Gap (mindthegap64@hotmail.com), February 05, 2001.

Pleases allow me to kick a dead horse one more time when I say (again and again) that I find it very discouraging that so many seemingly intelligent people mistake a British accent for wit. These people seem to feed their own delusions, finding themselves to be cultural just because they prefer a British show over it's American counterpart.

-- www.geocities.com/kablamotheclown (kablamotheclown@yahoo.com), February 05, 2001.

Mr Clown: although I agree that the question of whether George sucks has been run into the ground, I think it's unfair for you to dismiss it as merely because of some perceived British superiority. There are legitimate complaints about George's style. Since you've repeated yourself, I'll repeat myself: Roger never called the viewers "Lil' Junkyard Doggies."

-- Eric (earsjohnson@usa.net), February 05, 2001.

Eric, Being called a "Lil Junkyard Doggie" isn't a bad thing. It's a cool title. Maybe it's bad in Englandville to be called that??? Oh, I'm sorry I called it Englandville. Hope that didn't offend you.

-- Duane Flatmo, Art Attack (flatmo@humboldt1.com), February 05, 2001.

I've watched the show for several years. I always liked the British version best mainly because it's their show, their idea, and their junkyard (scrapyard). What made the shop famous in the first place? The things they're doing relate to their culture, and they don't have to deal with projects on the same scale that we like to get into.Americans occasionally also get to demonstate just a hint of the ugly American that I don't personally relate to.I think that Americans are out of place in a British junkyard while in charge of the project,team member OK.It is fun watching the interplay between the two.Americanizing a British show just doesn't work, I mean what made the show famous in the first place? I'm sure the British hate it as well if they see it. When it's necessary to plant American cars and rockets and stuff like that, that ain't getting it,and I think the producers are messing up if they start doing things like that. They shouldn't be using SCUBA gear unless it comes from the scrap heap. The whole thing should be based on junk-- period.

-- Larry W. Teague (lteague@fltintl.com/), February 05, 2001.

The trouble is, that the junkyard was seeded by the same British production crew that seeded all the other shows. Blame them. I feel the same way as you. There shouldn't be any seeding. The carving of a plank of wood on the hovercraft episode to make a prop was priceless. When we did the boat episode...I would have been happy if there were no props in the yard. Making a prop isn't that hard, and that would have been a great test....who's prop worked the best. The show is now being filmed in LA. I know that the same British crew is making the show. The Producer, Jeremy Cross asked me if I had any suggestions for this years show and I told him, "Don't make it too Hollywood"!!! It has to have the same low brow, junky, gritty, rusty feel. One of my favorite saying's..." Don't put Glitter on a Rose"

-- Duane Flatmo,Art Attack (flatmo@humboldt1.com), February 05, 2001.

Flatmo, I'm American. Specifically, I'm a 40 year old American engineer for a multinational corporation, with a Master's Degree in mechanical engineering. I'm NOT a lil' junkyard doggie. That might be an appropriate thing to call an audience of six year olds. Or maybe extremely dim-witted redneck adults.

-- Eric (earsjohnson@usa.net), February 05, 2001.

Eric,

Who is this Roger guy? Did I miss someone.

Peter

-- Peter Gunn (petergunn22@hotmail.com), February 05, 2001.

Yup this is a perrennial topic, and I will repeat my perennial suggestion if they must have US accented hosts: Tom and Ray, aka Click and Clack the tappet brothers. The guys on the NPR radio show.

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

Peter: Roger, Robert, whatever. Those British guys all look the same to me.

-- Eric (earsjohnson@usa.net), February 05, 2001.

Did someone call to a Lil Junkyard Doggie? I guess if we were American engineers for multinational corporations, with a Master's Degree in mechanical engineering....we might be offended. Unfortunetly we aren't building the space shuttle on this show and aren't too snobby to be poked fun at. I get alot of parts from junkyards and "Junkyard Dog" is a term used by alot of people. "Get along little doggie" is a western term which George tried to put together. Lighten up, American engineer for a multinational corporation, with a Master's Degree in mechanical engineering!

-- Duane Flatmo, Art Attack (flatmo@humboldt1.com), February 05, 2001.

Did someone call you a lil junkyard doggie?......That's what I meant to say.

-- Duane flatmo (flatmo@humboldt1.com), February 05, 2001.

Eric,

It sounds like that suit collar of yours is a little tight around the neck, it's showing up quite red. I'm sure no one will see any planted items on tonights show and I'm POSITIVE that Robert will say nothing stupid tonight.

Mr. Sue

-- Mr. Sue (mrsue2u@hotmail.com), February 05, 2001.

Can we call a truce? If you have NOT auditioned for the role of host we (Me included) won't cry about the host.

-- Stephen A. Binion (Stephenbinion@hotmail.com), February 05, 2001.

Truce.....

-- Duane Flatmo, Art Attack (flatmo@humboldt1.com), February 05, 2001.

Truce with my heels dug in.

-- Mr. Sue 2u (mrsue2u@hotmail.com), February 05, 2001.

I think I gave the wrong impression. I actually don't take myself seriously at all. My point was simply that in my opinion the people who watch this show (giving myself as an example) are reasonably intellegent, technical people -- not testosterone-impaired, brain-damaged, children. I like to think most of us watch the show because we appreciate the inventiveness and resourcefulness that the teams show, not just because the machines are big, loud, and dirty. And if I'm right, then George is pitching to the wrong audience with his backwoods "Lil' Junkyard Doggie" schtick.

But hey, maybe I'm wrong. In that case, by all means bring on the condescending corn-pone nicknames. And the fart jokes, and the mud-wrestling bikini babes, and the Stallone-clones! And fer Gawd's sake, get rid a them faggy artists and eggheads.

(p.s. Mr Sue: I wear jeans and tee shirts to work. They just don't have beer stains on them.)

-- Eric (earsjohnson@usa.net), February 06, 2001.

I understand where you're coming from Eric. I watched the episode again and he does say "Lil Junkyard doggies" to the audience a few too many times. I think he has to walk a fine line. Relating to the kids who watch the show as well as the adults. There are more people watching though who are in the middle ground. You mention the extremes......either really smart engineer types or at the other end of the spectrum, the mud-wrestling bikini babes, and the Stallone-clones. The audience is a wide range of different people and there is no way in hell that George will please everyone. Hopefully the content of what is being built will overcome a few quipps by the host.

-- Duane Flatmo,Art Attack (flatmo@humboldt1.com), February 06, 2001.

Flatmo, thank you for looking at it from my point of view. Yes, George has to aim for the middle ground -- kids as well as adults. I'm not asking him to present differential equations (that wouldn't be entertainment). Let's face it, most of the science discussed on the show is pretty basic to most of us here, but we still enjoy it because it's presented entertainingly.

But I maintain that you don't relate better to kids by talking down to them. If you look at quality children's educational progams, the kids are treated as intelligent people who just don't know that much yet. The explanations are simple, but not insulting...rather like the explanations on JYW.

My sense whenever I watch the show is that George doesn't show that level of respect for the viewers -- *any* of the viewers, including the children. He acts like he has to dumb-down if we're going to get his "humor."

Yes, I still watch and enjoy the show. And no, I don't want to see George fired. My hope is that if the producers do, in fact, read this board, they will tell him to knock off the Gomer Pyle routine and get on with it.

-- Eric (earsjohnson@usa.net), February 06, 2001.

Eric, I see you have fallen into that old trap of mistaking an advanced education fo intellegence. Of all the collage educated people i have ever known the term :OVER EDUCATED IDIOT: seems to come to mind most often. please , next time you bless us dumb rednecks with your wisdom and phrases like "differental equations" thrown in to stump us dimwitted rednecks, remember this,if we weren't arround to actually do the work, you know skint knuckles,greasy fingernails and welder burns then guys like you woulden't have a job.

-- joe perdue (sus806@a0l.com), February 06, 2001.

Damn Right! Blue Collar guys built this country and MAINTAIN it.

-- Stephen A. Binion (Stephenbinion@hotmail.com), February 06, 2001.

Why would you attribute that attitude to me?

I have the greatest respect for the guys who actually do the hands-on work, and most of them are by no means stupid. There are lots of kinds of skills and lots of kinds of smarts, and people display them in all kinds of different ways.

I don't regard the average Joe as some kind of a dim-witted loser. My point is that George seems to.

(In one of my favorite segments of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a civilization announces that their planet is doomed. They plan to divide themselves into three spaceships: The "A Ark" containing the great thinkers, planners, and artists; the "C Ark" containing the workers and craftsmen who actually make things happen; and the "B Ark" containing the middle managers, marketing executives, and other pencil-pushers and bureaucrats. The occupants of the B Ark are shot into space, but for some reason the other two Arks are never launched...)

-- Eric (earsjohnson@usa.net), February 07, 2001.

Joe, are we feeling a little defensive that we never finished high school?

-- Blue (ike@smtp.esarom.com), February 08, 2001.

I don't like the American guy on the American program. He acts like a third-grader.

-- J. Linney (imr4759@netsync.net), February 08, 2001.

The idea to have the Maiazzi brothers, (apologies for spelling. this is the closest I can do by ear from the radio) Click-and-Clack-the Tappet Brothers, as hosts is sheer genius. The boys could buy new boats! and my chiropractor will too when I put my back out from laughter.

Easy co-operation between team members is a joy to watch and appears key to team success. Outright slams block communications.

It was an epiphany to see the Brits exhibit the resourcefulness in hands-on problemsolving that Americans claim as their own. Always thought that dirty-hands activities were too american for the Brits.

-- Nancy Yates (imr4759@netsync.net), February 08, 2001.

Okay, what the heck. I've been holding back but have decided to throw in my $.02 on the subject, as BOTH an actor (legitimate, not someone who just lives in LA, does extra work and uses the title) and an engineer. Also as someone who's auditioned for (and been cast in) host-type gigs. To cut to the chase...although George sometimes uses odd phrases like "Lil' Junkyard Doggies" - AND OTHERS - that stick out from the "usual" commentary that has prevailed on this show through the past seasons, his biggest problem lies in the PAUSES that appear to be part-n-parcel in his style of presentation. These pauses result in DEAD AIR. On TV (heck stage too for that matter), this is a BAD THING if you don't have a readily-visible, emotional connection between two characters to FILL THAT DEAD AIR (there is more to this, but I'm simplifying). This connection has to be formed and developed early on in a scene and let's face it, this type of development doesn't happen in JYW because it ISN'T APPROPRIATE. They ain't "acting" after all. On the plus side of the craft (acting) George has roughly the same amount of energy and spontaneity as Robert, and this is probably one of the reasons he was cast.

There's also an element at work here that extends beyond any two actors and deals more with our societies and cultures. The British, in general, speak much faster (that is, at a greater "clip") than we Americans do and tend to select words and phrases that seem overly polite, conservative and refined to our American ears. The former only exaggerates George's pauses even further (I mean am I THE ONLY ONE who can clearly hear the difference in pace during the introductions between he and Cathy? G: "Today we want you Junkyard warriors to build the greatest hovercraft ever created! " C: "In today's challenge, the two teams must build their hovering vehicles with enough precision..." you get the picture). The latter is why we Americans tend to find most Brits to be humorous, charming and in possession of a wit that somehow extends beyond ours. I've shared the boards with several of 'em and have almost always found them to be highly trained, skilled actors who are keenly aware of the aforementioned difference in our backgrounds. We usually share a good laugh over it and get in some "authentic" dialog practice, but now I'm gettin' off the subject.

Just as well, 'cause I hate kickin' a dead horse too! However, with the exception of one, maybe two posts, it's been painful to watch all of the "George sucks!" posts that were given from people who know so little about acting. No, I don't mean to sound pompus about the deal, it's just akin to reading those "Can I weld steele and allumminim together with the $40 IGM welder my dad bought at K-Mart?" posts. But don't get me started...

Okay, gotta run. Lunch is almost over! ;)

Jerry Adair - Leader, The Desert Rats

-- Jerry Adair (adair@iglou.com), February 08, 2001.

So, Flatmo, I really do quite like ol' George. How does a English Babe get any details on him?? By the way, I don't know who this Robert guy is but obviously he did a good job. I've only had the chance to see JYW whilst George and Cathy presented, I think the show is excellent. I must admit I do leave work 10 mins early so I get home in time to watch. I don't know whay all the fuss is about slating George, I think he is an excellent host and, your right, he does have a broad age difference to entertain and, so far as I'm conserned, he's doing a really good job at it. And I'm not just saying that cos I fancy the bloke! Hope to hear from ya, or even George himself, you've got my email address.

-- Lou Paynter (lou_paynter@hotmail.com), February 22, 2001.

Hello Lou, As a team we had a great time with George. There's alot they don't put on camera. Jokes in bad taste flying all over that junkyard. Things that we knew would never see the light of day. Basically George is a hoot and it was alot of fun comedically sparring with him. I remember one round he came in and asked about our rocket. I said that it would come floating down from the sky so softly that I was going to catch it in my mouth....He said" Ya, it's big enough!" The next minute he said that our parachute strings looked like clown shoe laces....I quickly said" Ya, you would know!"

-- Duane Flatmo, Art Attack (flatmo@humboldt1.com), February 22, 2001.

Many thanks for that Flatmo, he really does sound like a character. Such a shame I live in the UK, it would be really nice to meet, at least, you both and have a giggle. Love to you all!! Hope to see JYW in the UK again soon, or you guys could come over to our turf for a while.

-- Lou Paynter (lou_paynter@hotmail.com), February 23, 2001.