Spoilers What's on TV?

[mscriv]

Is The Island anything like Survivor?

Yes and No. It's similar in that it's a group of men on an island trying to survive with no food, water, or resources. It's different in that it's not a reality game show at all. There are no teams, competitions, and no prize money. Bear Grylls is associated with the show, so if you are familiar with him then you know that he is all about "survival shows". The neat thing is that they have included professional cameramen among the group and thus, the group itself is responsible for documenting the experience. So, literally the show is about how this group of men are going to make it. As a counselor and an admitted reality TV junkie, I enjoy watching shows about interpersonal dynamics and relationships so that's the appeal for me.

 

[Huntn]

Yes and No. It's similar in that it's a group of men on an island trying to survive with no food, water, or resources. It's different in that it's not a reality game show at all. There are no teams, competitions, and no prize money. Bear Grylls is associated with the show, so if you are familiar with him then you know that he is all about "survival shows". The neat thing is that they have included professional cameramen among the group and thus, the group itself is responsible for documenting the experience. So, literally the show is about how this group of men are going to make it. As a counselor and an admitted reality TV junkie, I enjoy watching shows about interpersonal dynamics and relationships so that's the appeal for me.

I probably won't watch it, but it seems to be much more appealing than the Survivor premise which turned me off, not so much about survival, but eliminating those who threaten to win.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Just watched a programme on BBC2 called "Armada 12 Days To Save England" which purported to be a historical documentary (and was very watchable) but was, in reality, a sort of modern day Boy's Own hagiographical historical account, backlit and suffused by a tone of heady English nationalism.

Oh, dear. Expected a bit better from Aunty.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

On Sunday night, I watched a very good documentary on the BBC.

It was called 'BBC At War' and was the first of a two part documentary about the BBC and the Second World War, and dealt with matters such as telling truth in war, the differing interests of the Government and State broadcasting, the damage of one's credibility if found to be lying at the behest of the Government, the slick nature of German propaganda (Dr Goebbels was extraordinarily talented), clashes with the print media, challenges of censorship and so on. Very interesting, and some very good interviews.

 

[mscriv]

American Ninja Warrior is back for the summer. I was a fan of the original show from Japan that aired on G4 TV previously. The athletic abilities of these people is incredible to watch. It's really interesting how popular obstacle courses are and how they are becoming a part of the fitness culture. Obviously, there is nothing new about running an obstacle course as the military has used them in training for decades, but the craze with fitness and adrenaline junkies is really taking off.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Just watched the second part of a two part documentary called "BBC at War".

This - while interesting - wasn't quite as intriguing as last week's first episode. Actually, it was both less objective and less analytical, and, while an interesting account, it lacked the incisive insight of the first episode.

 

[Moyank24]

American Ninja Warrior is back for the summer. I was a fan of the original show from Japan that aired on G4 TV previously. The athletic abilities of these people is incredible to watch. It's really interesting how popular obstacle courses are and how they are becoming a part of the fitness culture. Obviously, there is nothing new about running an obstacle course as the military has used them in training for decades, but the craze with fitness and adrenaline junkies is really taking off.

My 8 year old daughter LOVES that show. We watch it together every Monday, and while she watches it she creates a little obstacle course in my living room that involves jumping from couch to couch.

The gym that a lot of the guys train at in Houston has a kids class and as soon as her schedule clears up (she's in gymnastics right now), I'm going to take her there so she can run a real course!

 

[mscriv]

My 8 year old daughter LOVES that show. We watch it together every Monday, and while she watches it she creates a little obstacle course in my living room that involves jumping from couch to couch.

The gym that a lot of the guys train at in Houston has a kids class and as soon as her schedule clears up (she's in gymnastics right now), I'm going to take her there so she can run a real course!

So much fun! My boys, (10 & 6) love it too. One of the trampoline parks here in the DFW area has set up a Ninja Warrior like course in their park for kids and adults to run. A similar, but more adult oriented show is Steve Austin's Broken Skull Ranch. He puts fitness folks through this incredible obstacle course he has built on his private ranch. It's entertaining as well.

 

[Moyank24]

So much fun! My boys, (10 & 6) love it too. One of the trampoline parks here in the DFW area has set up a Ninja Warrior like course in their park for kids and adults to run. A similar, but more adult oriented show is Steve Austin's Broken Skull Ranch. He puts fitness folks through this incredible obstacle course he has built on his private ranch. It's entertaining as well.

That's awesome. We have a ton of those trampoline parks around here. I should see if they have similar courses set up.

 

[impulse462]

Just started True Detective season 2. I honestly dont really get what happened in episode 1, but it looks like itll be good.

 

[S.B.G]

Just finished watching the pilot episode of HBO's new comedy series, The Brink. It was only 34 minutes long, but quite funny. Tim Robbins was terrific and had me busting out with laughter several times. Jack Black was really good too. Plus, the actor who played Pornstach in OINB is an F/A-18 Naval Aviator and had a few funny parts as well. This is definitely going on my watch list or DVR recording schedule.

Top U.S. government and military scramble to prevent World War 3 from happening amidst the chaos of a geopolitical crisis.

 

[JamesMike]

Watching 'The Da Vinci Code', have read the book, it will be interesting to see if the movie follows the book.

 

[continentalwhoswho]

Watching Continental Whos Who TV. I may have to stay in all night...

 

[S.B.G]

Watching Shark Week on Discovery Channel, makes me never want to go in the ocean again! I'll stick to a pool, or my lovely Great Lakes.

Places I've swam, or SCUBA dived are, the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, waters off Australia, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Thankfully I never encountered any sharks!

 

[JamesMike]

Watching Shark Week on Discovery Channel, makes me never want to go in the ocean again! I'll stick to a pool, or my lovely Great Lakes.

Places I've swam, or SCUBA dived are, the Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan, waters off Australia, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Thankfully I never encountered any sharks!

When I was in Somalia, the sharks off the coast were the most aggressive I have every seen, they would chase you almost on to the beach!

 

[S.B.G]

When I was in Somalia, the sharks off the coast were the most aggressive I have every seen, they would chase you almost on to the beach!

They're re terrifying creatures.

 

[JamesMike]

They're re terrifying creatures.

We had two people; a UN lady and a American Ranger who had their legs cut off.

 

[mscriv]

They're re terrifying creatures.

Watching footage of Great White sharks is just incredible. The species truly defines the term "Apex Predator". I do really enjoy Shark Week.

 

[Huntn]

When I was in Somalia, the sharks off the coast were the most aggressive I have every seen, they would chase you almost on to the beach!

They're re terrifying creatures.

I've read all my life how sharks don't really want to eat people, then Jaws, then a Readers Digest article about 3 people and a capsized boat off Australia and one shark, and a lady doing a morning swim off Oahu, cemented my convictions. Some sharks love dining on humans...

 

[Scepticalscribe]

When I was in Somalia, the sharks off the coast were the most aggressive I have every seen, they would chase you almost on to the beach!

Was there anything in particular that seemed to have an effect on their aggression? Territorial instincts? Breeding season? Just that particular strain of shark? Thinking that swimming humans are floating dinner tables?

They're re terrifying creatures.

Agreed.

But - in strict evolutionary terms - they are a weird life form that reached its apex of development extraordinarily early. There are very few other creatures from the era when sharks evolved still sharing the planet with us.

We had two people; a UN lady and a American Ranger who had their legs cut off.

Nasty.

I've read all my life how sharks don't really want to eat people, then Jaws, then a Readers Digest article about 3 people and a capsized boat off Australia and one shark, and a lady doing a morning swim off Oahu, cemented my convictions. Some sharks love dining on humans...

Well, I expect that some individual sharks may have acquired a taste for human flesh, a taste that snatched opportunity and experience may have served to confirm. However, I don't think that humans form a part of what may be considered a typical shark's diet.

 

[Huntn]

Was there anything in particular that seemed to have an effect on their aggression? Territorial instincts? Breeding season? Just that particular strain of shark? Thinking that swimming humans are floating dinner tables?


Agreed.

But - in strict evolutionary terms - they are a weird life form that reached its apex of development extraordinarily early. There are very few other creatures from the era when sharks evolved still sharing the planet with us.



Nasty.


Well, I expect that some individual sharks may have acquired a taste for human flesh, a taste that snatched opportunity and experience may have served to confirm. However, I don't think that humans form a part of what may be considered a typical shark's diet.

My perspective is that they are primitive viewing everything in the water as potential food. Anyone remember the Shark Month episode on Discovery, where they are standing in 3' of water with the "friendly" sharks and one decides to take the guys calf? Mmm, veal.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My perspective is that they are primitive viewing everything in the water as potential food. Anyone remember the Shark Month episode on Discovery, where they are standing in 3' of water with the "friendly" sharks and one decides to take the guys calf? Mmm, veal.

Well, yes, agreed; indeed, having reached an apex of some sort of evolutionary perfection (that streamlined body, designed for speed and motion, that mouth full of steak knives for teeth) very early, I doubt that further intellectual development was deemed necessary, and I doubt that philosophical considerations trouble them overmuch when contemplating dinner. Omnivores, primitive and perfect.

 

[JamesMike]

Was there anything in particular that seemed to have an effect on their aggression? Territorial instincts? Breeding season? Just that particular strain of shark? Thinking that swimming humans are floating dinner tables?


Agreed.

But - in strict evolutionary terms - they are a weird life form that reached its apex of development extraordinarily early. There are very few other creatures from the era when sharks evolved still sharing the planet with us.



Nasty.


Well, I expect that some individual sharks may have acquired a taste for human flesh, a taste that snatched opportunity and experience may have served to confirm. However, I don't think that humans form a part of what may be considered a typical shark's diet.

There had been a meat processing plant that dumped remains into the ocean, which attracted the sharks.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Just watched http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2544766/. Amazing historical movie.
There is a Russian movie (2008.) with a similar title (Адмиралъ) about the life of Alexander Kolchak. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_(film)) It is one of my favorite pictures.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

There had been a meat processing plant that dumped remains into the ocean, which attracted the sharks.

Ah, that might explain it.

Just watched http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2544766/. Amazing historical movie.
There is a Russian movie (2008.) with a similar title (Адмиралъ) about the life of Alexander Kolchak. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral_(film)) It is one of my favorite pictures.

Do you actually admire Kolchak, or like the movie?