Pimp My Ride

I watched this show every once One thing I like about the show is that they create a theme based on the owner's interest. The most interesting episodes deal with musical themed cars. Plus, the cars look so bad, that any change (extreme or not) is welcome. The show has had a few slam dunks. One episode where they "pimped" a volkswagon wagon was pretty cool. They seem to have more success with larger cars, because it gives them more room to play with. There were a few episodes where I was a little jealous, because the interior furniture was uniquely nice and the paint job was fantastic. It is fun to watch, although sometimes certain auto techs get a little silly and lampoonish. And that can get annoying. One thing is clear, this show is all about fun. But, overall, It is worth checking out once in a while.

You know it by heart: Xzibit goes to view one of the worst wreck of a car ever, and makes jokes about it. Xzibit drives the disaster to the West Coast Customs, to have even more jokes bout it. A brainstorming session with suggestions to make a bling bling of a ride out of that wreck. Then the car transforms from rags to riches, the car's owner goes bananas, and takes his "ride" to his, or her, friends to go bananas too!

It never changes; being like The A-Team of the 2000s, whereas "formulaic" is the only fate. Some points assure that it isn't a coincidence; like how the cars' owners are always a 20 something girl or boy. But why would I complain?

Actually, the formulism of the show is compensated by some elements. Firstly, the forever golden one: the idea of changing to better, or advancement, which we all desire to see. Not for our cars alone, but for selves and lives. Doing this, every episode, for free, in no time, diligently and richly, has to affect you directly and yet deeply, to feel good, about something ruined gone fixed, or feel that every finished thing can get another, very lucky, chance; which is the ultimate feel good of all!

Secondly, the clever hosting. Xzibit is the perfect host for such a show. Despite his swearing, which I hate, he has lovely presence and forever fresh jokes. Let alone Mad Mike; who sometimes "performs" himself as a character, which works highly.

Thirdly, the "pimping" of the car. The creative ideas of the show's team do impress. Maybe so excessive at times, but all along different. It's just the matter of many screens in the car's truck which I have never loved or understood!

So, "formulaic" isn't wholly bad, if only filled with the right elements. This show will live long, as much as it doesn't apply to "seen one episode, you've seen them all"!

It's amazing that a body shop named West Coast Customs can turn a near junkyard material vehicle into a play house on wheels. The show is hosted by rapper Xihibit,and his garage pal decorators at West Coast Customs. This show is fun to watch and give people ideas on encouraging them to fix up their hoopties(An old beat up car). From installing a photo booth in one of the cars to installing a shoe rack,these guys can do it all at West Coast Customs. These guys will find out what you enjoy and put it in your vehicle. They need to have something like that on the east coast but it'll probably be very expensive,and if I want all those accessories in my vehicle I'll just get a new one. But it's exciting to see the guest faces after their vehicles been remodeled. Never in a million years these guest think their vehicles could ever be made over into the road of luxury. Xihibit is charming and funny with the guests. Just another way to keep the checks rolling in his pocket.

Pimp My Ride comes from the now overused concept of reality TV that started with The Real World and Big Brother. However, there are 3 things that make it a great family show: the host Xzibit, the West Coast Customs crew, and the extremes they go to when fixing up cars (the "pimpification" process).

Xzibit plays a very important part as the host, thanks to his spontaneous, natural style and his peculiar, unique sense of humor; he made me laugh in the floor more than once. The other greatest player is the West Coast Customs crew. Unlike the crew from their counterparts in Overhaulin', who give a much more professional and serious image, in Pimp My Ride you can see they have a lot of fun while doing the job, giving a lot more informal, energetic, juvenile image to the show. The pimpification process is the third part that makes this show a great one. Even though some modifications are even unpractical like having three PSP's, a DVD monitor next to the dogs' dishes or a washing machine in the car, exaggeration is what counts: not everyone has one of these things on their cars, and that's what makes them so special.

I've seen many detractors wielding the argument that says these cars would get stolen immediately. Well, think about that: these pimped cars are usually worth $30-40'000 dollars of accessories, audio and rimz 'n tirez; a Mercedes-Benz, a BMW or a Lincoln car are worth the same value or more, and some are even more prone to stealing than fixed cars because of their retail value, so the likelihood that a pimped car gets stolen, at least in theory, is about the same as the one a luxury car has. Sure, they look very impressive, but think this too: a Navigator or a Cadillac also look almost this impressive.

This is what makes Pimp My Ride a wonderful TV show.

Take Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Now, replace Ty Pennington with rapper Xzibit. Replace the crew with the California based West Coast Customs, and instead of houses, their fixing cars. Put it all together, and you have one of the best reality shows on TV.

I've loved this show since the first time I watched it. What's not to like? Xzibit is an awesome host. He's an easy-to-love kinda guy. And his zingers are hilarious. What they do to the cars is outrageous. I love to see all the crazy stuff they do to the cars. Sometimes it can be a bit over-the-top, but it's still fun just to see what they can come up with. I recommend this show for anybody who likes makeover shows. Give it a chance, you just might like it.