I don't get it...

[Surefire]

Does anyone like the following shows?

Ice Road Truckers (History)
The Deadliest Catch (Discovery)

I put these channels on to get science, history, military shows, etc. and I keep seeing these two shows dominating.

They must be doing well to be on so often.

I find both to be monotonous... not a fan of them.

What is the appeal for those that like them?

 

[Trekker4747]

Ice Road Truckers (History)
The Deadliest Catch (Discovery)

Deadliest Catch is often interesting. It's amazing what those men go through and the working conditions they live in for weeks on end so it's interesting and a tribute to see it recorded and presented in such a manner.

Never seen Ice Road Truckers.

 

[kitkat]

I've watched Ice Road Truckers a couple of times. It's mildly entertaining. If it's the middle of the night and I'm having trouble sleeping I might lay there and watch for a while. As a rule I don't really watch it much though.

Deadliest Catch, I love. I come from a family full of commercial fisherman (not the same kind, we're from Florida so it's practically a world away but still) so I do find myself very pulled into this show quite often. It's a dangerous job.

My uncle fell overboard one time out in the Gulf and it took them a few minutes to come back to where they could get him and still it took them a bit longer to get him out. This was in the winter and while it doesn't get as cold as it does in the water in Alaska he said he could feel hypothermia setting in. So, to me watching that show is a bit unnerving when I see them leaning over to get the traps and what-not but I definitely really like it and find it interesting.

To each their own though.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I find them monotonous, too. But maybe guys like watching guys with more dirty/dangerous jobs than they have?

I'd prefer if the History Channel stuck to actual history. And a show about a fishing boat doesn't seem to fit Discovery's purview very well either - aren't they supposed to be about science and exploration?

 

[LitmusDragon]

Big fan of deadliest catch. Haven't watched ice truckers.

I'm not sure if the appeal can be explained. I think it has something to do with the risk - reward part of the brain. It's sort of like how some people find gambling appealing, and others do not.

These guys aren't heroes exactly, but I do think there's something admirable about them. They work two months out of the year and take home more than I do. Who wouldn't want to do that?

 

[Surefire]

I find them monotonous, too. But maybe guys like watching guys with more dirty/dangerous jobs than they have?

I'd prefer if the History Channel stuck to actual history. And a show about a fishing boat doesn't seem to fit Discovery's purview very well either - aren't they supposed to be about science and exploration?

Your second paragraph is exactly where I'm coming from. These type of shows do not seem to fit well with their respective channels.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The Sci Fi Channel can't stick to sci fi, either. Animal Planet is the only one that stays true to their supposed topic.

 

[Surefire]

The Sci Fi Channel can't stick to sci fi, either. Animal Planet is the only one that stays true to their supposed topic.

The Science channel (not to be confused with Sci-Fi channel) does a relatively good job of sticking to science, except for a few exceptions.

 

[kitkat]

I think MTV doing bullshit shows that have NOTHING to do with music is what started the whole thing of channels just deciding to do whatever the hell they think will get them ratings. I mean, MTV was awesome....back when they actually showed music videos.

 

[StolenThunder]

I caught Ice Road Truckers and was distracted enough for forty minutes. I have no idea why it's a series of programmes though! Once you've seen a truck carrying heavy stuff across ice, that's pretty much it.

 

[Surefire]

I caught Ice Road Truckers and was distracted enough for forty minutes. I have no idea why it's a series of programmes though! Once you've seen a truck carrying heavy stuff across ice, that's pretty much it.

Exactly, which is why to me it is monotonous.

I think it appeals to people that like conflict-- the little bit I seen of it the only thing going on are a bunch of hot headed guys are constantly bickering and fighting over petty stuff, all out of machoism. My take is that the show appeals to those that love fights.

 

[Skywalker]

The History Channel has gone from the World War II Channel to the Anything-But-History Channel. It was annoying when they used to show a ton of WWII-related stuff and little else, but I'd rather have that than Ice Road Truckers and other off-topic shows THC shows nowadays.

 

[Surefire]

The History Channel has gone from the World War II Channel to the Anything-But-History Channel. It was annoying when they used to show a ton of WWII-related stuff and little else, but I'd rather have that than Ice Road Truckers and other off-topic shows THC shows nowadays.

I LOVED the WWII related stuff.

But I agree, diversity should be the plan, which it isn't.

THC is now all over the board.

 

[Australis]

For me History is too often the Hitler Channel. Here In Oz they're broadening out to include a lot of BBC documentaries.

As for Ice Road Truckers, it was on Discovery here, as well as free-to-air. Different things happened each ep, and there was a bit of tension as they race to find who makes the most money at the end of the season. It wasn't must-watch in our house, but it was OK. Pretty much the same with Deadliest Catch,

 

[Fist McStrongpunch]

The guys at work turn on The Deadliest Catch during break, and yeah, it's actually really interesting. Not something I would really ever feel like watching on my own, but I can see the appeal. I've never seen the trucker show, but from what I've seen from commercials, it would be much the same as Deadliest Catch.

 

[Cutter John]

Well I can understand Discovery, as its always been kind of a National Geographics type network, covering just about everything imaginable about life on Earth. But a trucker show on History just confuses the hell out of me. Theres nothing hostorical about it damnit!
And while they're at it, stop with the damn UFO, and Nostadomus, and killer meteor shows already!

 

[Starbreaker]

I'll watch both shows if I come across them. They're pretty interesting. I don't go out of my way to watch though.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

And while they're at it, stop with the damn UFO, and Nostadomus, and killer meteor shows already!

Don't the History Channel and the Weather Channel have very similar disaster-oriented series? I keep getting those mixed up. Since most of the disasters are weather-oriented, broadly speaking, I guess the Weather Channel has the right to them.

 

[Trekker4747]

I don't get it...

Lots of people don't.

Kevin Spacey WAS Kaiser Soze.

 

[Sakrysta]

I love Deadliest Catch. If they'd put it on Hulu, I'd be one happy camper. I don't see any disconnect with it running on Discovery Channel - I certainly "discovered" a profession and way of life I wouldn't have known anything about otherwise.

There's a modern-day-pirate vibe to it that is compelling. These people risk life and limb to hunt for treasure in the most extreme circumstances. There's a sense of adventure and high-risk that is made more appealing by its complete reality. In our modern age, so much is handed to us, delivered to our local Wal-Marts all packaged and sealed, and we have no concept of what went into getting it there. Deadliest Catch is a reminder of what it really takes to put that snow/king crab on your plate. On some of the boats, it's also a neat peek into the idea of a family business - dad passing on to his sons what he's learned about making a living and maintaining a business.

It's all very fascinating - at least I think so!