BattleBots

When I first heard of this show, I thought it would be incredibly stupid. Then I started watching, (we just got it here in Canada) and now I can't stop watching!

Call it my Y chromosome if you must, but I just like seeing stuff get destroyed. Add the fact that these robots are built by regular (though some are professionals) people, and that broadens the appeal.

If you've never seen the show, here it is broken down (no pun intended):

People build these robots that are designed to hurt and then turn them on each other (robots, not the people). The fights take place in a bulletproof cage (to prevent shrapnel from flying into the audience) called a "Battle Box", they last for three minutes (or five minutes for a battle royal), and the judges award points based on aggression, damage inflicted, and hits. Obviously, the bot with the most points (or KO) wins. Champions in the four weight classes receive $5000 and giant gold nut.

If there's one thing I dislike about the show, its the vignettes between matches which I suppose are there for comedic purposes. Well, it is on Comedy Central (The Comedy Network north of the border) after all. Still, the time these vignettes take up could be better used for more matches. Instead, we are "treated" to Mecha Tentoumushi on "The Tonight Show", a short on how TURBO is a great chick magnet, and watching Donna D'Errico's replacement (I forget her name) take Mauler's builder out to a fancy restaurant to teach him some class. Gimmie a break!!!

That being said, I still enjoy "BattleBots" and will continue to watch. My favorites from each weight class are Backlash (Lightweight), Deadblow (Middleweight), Mauler (Heavyweight), and Rammstein (Super Heavyweight).

In fact, I like this show so much, I'm thinking of entering myself. I'll even do those stupid vignettes if that's what it takes.

So in closing, watch "BattleBots". Its a half hour of good time fun.

After all, what other show features a big gold nut?

BattleBots rocks! Especially this season with some extremely dangerous hazards in the box. Wow! It's like small-scale demolition derby on steroids. Watching robots get absolutely shredded (which they have been lately) is more entertaining than I ever would have imagined. Coupled with brief scientific analysis by Bill Nye to satisfy those scientifically minded, BattleBots is can't-miss entertainment for virtually any sports/combat fan.

A fun show but the actual robotic combat isn't long enough. The show is 30 minutes and sadly most of it is taken up by commercials. It appears that the actual tournament took place over just a couple of days and all the bouts were edited into these half hour shows. If more bouts could be shown in one episode it would be a big improvement. The robots are very interesting to see as well as some of the creators. The Tilford family with their "Mauler" and Jim Smentowski with his "Nightmare" and "Backlash" were certainly some of the best.

The problem with most of the robots on this show is that the builders work too long on armoring them up and then forget to give them a decent weapon. The battles usually either are 2 seconds long, consisting of one robot pulverizing the other with the first hit or they last forever with the robots just slamming into each other to no avail. I could see a future for the sport if they put stricter guidelines on the robots people submitted. As it is, there's a few which are basically Radio Shack remote control cars with a head welded on top. The show also needs to be longer than it is, only 1/2 an hour with 3 fights. Much more time is spent gearing up for the fight which could last as little as 5 seconds long. One thing I don't understand though... why was this show put on Comedy Central, of all networks?

Americans, dont you love `em? They see something they like, and then try to copy it. Thing is, they are like parrots, copying what ever they see with no comprehension of what they are doing. And this show is another example of this. Some US TV exec sees Robot Wars, thinks "we can do that", and makes a right mess of it. Robot wars has some structure behind it, the biggest part of the show is taken up with (sometimes brutal) competition - The US counterpart is mostly posturing. I could go on all night but, lets just put it this way.... Robot Wars` female presenter (Phillipa Forrester) has a PHd, Battle Bots has some woman out of Playboy. Watch the original, Robot Wars is still the best.