NEWS: Travel Channel 'Coaster Wars' finds a familiar expert

[chadster]

Wow, guess I don't need to watch the show now, you guys have done an excellent job filling me in, disappointed in the winners, that's for sure.

[imawesome1124]

I really think the narrator knew nothing about coasters at all. and the voting was definitely rigged for the inverted episode.

[Hugecoltsfan]

Aftershock probably won only because it goes backwards.

[cfc]

Strangely enough, I wasn't surprised that Aftershock won the poll, as the public always seems to love the "Boomerang" type rides. (Montu was the best in that group, though.)

[IanKgtr]

On the Montu Zero-g roll...

 

It's not a feeling of weightlessness, it's a feeling of infinity

 

 

 

[UrbanLegend]

At least the winner is actually an inverted coaster (cough Manta cough)

[CpBluestreakCp]

Maybe we'll see more of Robb and people who know what they're talking about in the next episodes instead of the "Roller coaster enthusiasts."

[osm]

Saw the first episode, I'll probably watch the second one tomorrow. I liked the combination of video and commentary, but I wish that they had spent more time with knowledgeable enthusiasts like Robb and Joel from The Coaster Critic, and hadn't called everyone who rode something a bunch of times an enthusiast. I LMAO'd at the kid who said Medusa "might be the best in the country." Oh, you have so much to learn. I liked the show's overall format.

[coasterfreak101]

On the Montu Zero-g roll...

 

It's not a feeling of weightlessness, it's a feeling of infinity

 

 

 

Actually the best post on the internet. And the best part of the show right there.

[VinTheAttendant]

Well, not the best series about roller coasters, but I'm just happy that there is enough interest going to keep generating these shows on roller coasters. I actually really enjoyed the camera work they did for Aftershock with the catch cars, and there's always a high energy vibe from the narrator, the enthusiasts, and the editing.

 

But of course, the geek inside of me cringed at the over-exageration of ride elements, the incorrect matching of narrator explaining the element and the clip being shown, the ride selections for the given categories, a vague understanding of the categories (g-forces are more intense the longer they are sustained, not necessarily how high or low they can get...), not enough Robb, lack of coasters outside the U.S., and the biggest insult: The almighty Montu lost to a Vekoma clone.

 

But I'll still watch the show. Maybe someday a TPR member will be able to launch his or her own series and get it right. For now, this is the closest thing we've got!

[vacoaster09]

I loved the shots they had for Aftershock. The view of the catch cars and from top of the towers!

[WildStangAlex]

Seeing Aftershock really makes me miss her. She belongs where that Buccaneer Battle is.

[chadster]

^Maybe so, but at least Silverwood can keep it running and running well

[larrygator]

Well, not the best series about roller coasters

 

Of course not, these are the best series about roller coasters.

[VinTheAttendant]

^Hahaha! How foolish of me to think that something else could be better

[cfc]

^^Larry hath spoke aright.

[IrishBuckeye]

Watched two episodes tonight.

 

Nice job Robb!

[Guy T. Koepp]

Well, not the best series about roller coasters

 

Of course not, these are the best series about roller coasters.

 

Larry for the win.I'll check them out after 11tonight, as my TiVo was recording True Blood & Dark Skies during it's inaugural broadcast.

[larrygator]

and I don't get Travel Channel anyway on my Time Warner system.

Edited July 9, 2012 by larrygator

[chadster]

Just watching this..LMAO! I think it was said best earlier in this thread...

 

gp = enthusiast

enthusiast = expert

 

"I feel very queasy right now" after riding Medusa WTF?

 

At least the camera shots are decent.

[SFMMMan17]

Lookin' good so far Robb, looking forward to the rest of the show. So far so good!

[Skycoastin Steve]

Just experiencing the filming at Kraken and Manta and seeing the producer and the people he was filming, I could have told you this show was going to blow chunks of donkey $hit. Why is anyone surprised?

[chadster]

^I guess I just really wanted to like this show but it's turned out to be a typical Travel Channel coaster show that would make even my mom laugh at comments.

 

Sorry Travel Channel, I'd say next time you film one of these interview more of the real enthusiasts and not the GP who 'likes' coasters...or at the very least don't label the GP as an enthusiast, it makes us look...good!

[jedimaster1227]

^Having also attended several of the shoots, I can say that there were times that more of the "enthusiasts" as opposed to "general public" were interviewed, but based on the segment I saw tonight that I was also present for the production of, those interviews were left on the cutting room floor.

 

The sheer amount of cameras that they had during the two shoots I attended, as well as the many takes they filmed lends reason to believe that they whittled the footage down quite a lot to make the 4-5 minute segments for each ride. On Kraken alone we rode over 25 times over the course of the 3 hour shoot, and every single one of those rides had at least one camera filming a different angle than before.

 

The show is off to an interesting start, and it is great to see Robb as the coaster expert of the series. I look forward to seeing the next episodes (especially the one with Kraken) and hope that the next week's voting doesn't blow my expectations away... I have to admit, I wasn't expecting either of the two winning coasters to be crowned today, so right now I'm 0 for 2.

[Jew]

Here's the sad reality: coaster dorks don't make for exciting TV. Robb would be one of the few exceptions to the rule, so it's a bummer they didn't use him more. However, in general, all those over the top "GP experts" make for better TV to a wider audience, since they really sell how "scary" and "intense" the rides are.