Smash Lab
Smash Lab is a new show on the Discovery Channel that first aired on December 26, 2007. The basis of the show is to take everyday technology and test it in extraordinary ways.[1] The Smash Lab team is composed of Deanne Bell, Nick Blair, Kevin Cook, and Chuck Messer.[2]
Episodes
Episode 1 December 26, 2007 - The Discovery Channel describes this episode as, "Can the team use the latest aviation break through to prevent a car or bus crossing the meridian and smashing into oncoming traffic? The team tries to re-purpose an amazing technology called an aerated concrete arrestor bed. Watch what happens ..." [3]
Criticism
 | The neutrality of this section is disputed. |
Some critics have suggested that Smash Lab may not be an objective science program so much as a forum for product placement. Episode 1 espoused the virtue of Rhino Linings, a particular brand of pickup truck bed liner, thus bringing the objectivity of the experiments into question.[2]
Critics have referred to the show as "a poor man's Mythbusters," and said that "Cast members are yuppees, aren't true geeks, seem like dialogue is all scripted, don't seem to honestly be interested in what they are doing, claim to be 'scientists and engineers' but yet just seem to be actors that are cast in the roles," and "It's as if the show was designed by someone who had heard of Mythbusters, but... they totally failed to notice why people like Mythbusters. It's not the explosions, per se, but the ethusiasm and whimsy involved... The so-called stars, largely indistinguishable from one another, by the way, apparently only exist to provide reaction shots. Which, since they aren't permitted any personality, seem scripted and wooden." [3]
In fact, almost all of the viewers' opinions given after the first episode aired were highly negative toward the show. [4]