BattleBots

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.

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?

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?

Before I go into the show Battlebots, I'd just like to point our friend TheUnholyArmpit to this web-page: http://robotcombat.com/history.html Combat robotics STARTED in San Francisco, not the UK. Yep, we copied you..

I first got caught up in the Battlebots craze in it's second season. Every preceding season after that I watched every week, never missing an episode. By it's 4th season Battlebots was Comedy Centrals 3rd highest rated show, following South Park and The Man Show (both extremely hard to beat). Then somewhere between the 5th and 6th seasons there was an executive change in Comedy Central and Battlebots got moved to a new, and worse, air time with no notification. Well of course if no one knows when the shows on, no one can watch it and the rating sank. This gave the new CEO enough leverage to cancel Battlebots in mid-season, or we can only assume that's what happened.

But there's still hope. After years and years of legal battles, the creators of Battlebots are now looking for a new channel to air their show. There had been rumors that a few channels were interested, including Bravo and possibly WGN. For us Battlebot fans we can only hope. That is, unless you feel like building your own bot or just going out to see a competition in person. There are now hundreds of events held every year for bots that weight 150 grams (~5.3 ounces), 1 pound, 3 pounds, 12 pounds, 30 pounds, 60 pounds, 120 pounds, 220 pounds, and 340 pounds. There's a list of upcoming events as well as bots competing in them here: http://www.buildersdb.com/index.asp

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.