Critic’s Pick: TV Pick: ‘MythBusters’ goes out, probably with a bang
Jamie Hyneman, left, and Adam Savage at L.A.’s Nokia Theatre in January 2012 on the road with their live show “Mythbusters: Behind the Myths.”
“MythBusters” (Discovery Channel, Saturday). “MythBusters,” the longer-running and more valuable of two long-running shows ending this weekend, posts its final show Saturday. Here ends the productive if sometimes prickly partnership of Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage, which since 2003 has addressed popular claims, rumors and so-called common wisdom, along with things that (could or could only) happen in movies or video games, with as much scientific rigor as the budget and schedule will allow. (The jerry-rigged quality of some experiments are, of course, part of the series’ DIY charm; and that some tests are inconclusive does not mean that other tests would not be.)
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That science is not only good to do on its own merits, but can also be loud, messy, crazy fun, is one of the series’ big messages; it can also make us better citizens, prompting us not only to ask questions, but to attempt to answer them, seriously, carefully, without prejudice and with a willingness to be proved wrong. (Some scientists might be less than willing, it’s true, but they are by definition bad scientists.) That things aren’t true just because someone says so, that facts require demonstration, that faith is not science and science is not a faith are important to remember in a time when it seems possible that a person could become president by saying whatever baseless nonsense comes off the top of his head. (That experiment is going on now; results to follow in November, possibly by summer.)
Like many successful show business duos, Hyneman and Savage are not friends offstage, or much alike on television, but their differences give them strength and entertainment value. Good science doesn’t require friendship or similitude, only an agreement that science is good. For the last episode, the partners are reunited with erstwhile co-hosts Kari Byron, Tory Belleci and Grant Imahara, as is only fitting and proper. Something will probably be blown up, and I don’t just mean your illusions.
I’ve written about the show over the years and interviewed Hyneman and Savage. Here are some links.
President Obama on “MythBusters”
The “MythBusters” guys talk about their stage show
Q&A: ‘MythBusters’ Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage get personal
“MythBusters” to close up shop; who will bust our myths now?
It’s up to us now. Keep busting those myths.
Follow Robert Lloyd on Twitter @LATimesTVLloyd
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