Tonight's "Extreme Trains - Episode: Freight Train" is at (all of the times below are Eastern Standard Time Zone):
Tuesday, November 18 10:00 PM
with re-runs at:
Wednesday, November 19 02:00 AM
Saturday, November 29 03:00 PM
See: http://www.history.com/shows.do?action=detail&episodeId=373036
Here's the description:
"Join host Matt Bown on one of his favorite trains going from Los Angels to Dallas/Fort Worth. Matt endures the scorching temperatures of the Mojave Desert, gets soaked in New Mexico rainstorms and takes a ride through an earthquake-proof trench that runs the length of downtown LA. Celebrate the work of the men and women who work on the railroads, often doing tough gritty jobs in extreme conditions just to keep America moving. Also covered are the first train robbers in the US."
From - note that the menu at the top of this page allows you to re-set it for the 4 different mainland U.S. time zones (if you're not in the Eastern):
http://www.history.com/schedule.do?action=daily
Sounds like this one probably includes the run over Cajon Pass. Maybe I'll just push the "Mute" button then . . .
- Paul North.
I normally don't watch TV. The other night, one of my sons was flipping through channels, so I watched the last half of this show. My son figured out what the problem is. He asked: "Why does that guy shout out all his lines, even when he's indoors?" THE PROGRAM WAS INTERESTING. THE GUY SHOUTING EVERYTHING WAS ANNOYING.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
BNSF Freight Train starts in 15 minutes.
.......And I intend to watch. Just watching the clock here. 10 min.
Quentin
I will certainly be watching again. I hope it is not another rah rah for the coal industry. Matt reminds me of Dave from "There goes a" series. I guess it is OK to appeal to the younger set. They should have stuck a surround sound mike in the bowels of those SD40-2's. They mention the tunnels at the very end of the show but I didn't see any shots of the Gallitzin, PA. The railroaders are very typical, average joes doing a job. It is hard to glamorize that in this type of format. I am glad the show is on. It can only help the railfan community, as the general public is completely ignorant of the rr biz.
Today's show was pretty cool. It really gave a look into what really goes on in those yards and how they move the freight. I liked it.
After seeing two episodes:
Pros: Good info inside the business.
Cons: I find the Neanderthal-intellect narrator most annoying and a major detriment to the program. He has the brain of an immature 12-year-old in a 35-year-old's body and his cartoonish yelling and talking with his arms really drags the show down. Another show where the host is a dork who is totally aroused by large machines. Ever notice the funny looks he gets from those with whom he interacts, like 'Is this guy for real?'
I know it's redundant to say, but that was some really bad television. It ought to be a morning show on Nick or one of the Disney channels since it seems to be aimed at 4-5 year old kids. If anyone wonders why most railroaders look upon railfans with disdain you need wonder no more. The sad thing is that he is supposedly one of us. Considering the behavior of the host they should have called the show Get A Life. Too bad, I would have expected a LOT more from the History Channel since they ordinarily have first rate programming.
I watched episode 2 with my youngest son. I can tell you, that the viewer level they seem to be aiming at is well below the average 10 year old.
Is it possible, that the producers feel this guy's attitude is how most viewers feel about trains?
Beyond the host being an dork,I'm disappointed in the production qualities. I've never cared for MTV editing, where there's never more than 3 seconds focus on anything before zipping to some other scene. On some scenes, it was like watching a TZ by strobe light-yuck. Also, it seems they cut out a lot of footage somewhere. Why else would the host/dork make such a big deal about entering ABO canyon, and then not show any of it?
How 'bout, they swap places with the host from Dirty Jobs? The host from Dirty Jobs could do a fairly good job narrating most topics. And, throwing this guy down a sewer doesn't sound like too bad an idea.
I put it on the DVR, but it sounds like I'd be better off deleting it rather than watching.
I remember taking some classes in Radio and TV production in college back c.1980. At that time TV training materials emphasized that TV was a "cool" medium, and worked best with smooth editing and a fairly calm voice doing any narration, voiceovers etc.
Apparently that's now been replaced by jumping around like a retarded monkey who's had too much coffee.
wjstixApparently that's now been replaced by jumping around like a retarded monkey who's had too much coffee
I completely agree to all the comments referring to the extreme trains program's host....{at least from my experience in the first program}.
I turned on the TV at 10 last evening and found no railroad program....! I don't know anything more than, it was not broadcast in this area. Our station, for some reason didn't carry it....Maybe they were so disgusted with the quality of it not to continue with it...
Modelcar wjstixApparently that's now been replaced by jumping around like a retarded monkey who's had too much coffee I completely agree to all the comments referring to the extreme trains program's host....{at least from my experience in the first program}. I turned on the TV at 10 last evening and found no railroad program....! I don't know anything more than, it was not broadcast in this area. Our station, for some reason didn't carry it....Maybe they were so disgusted with the quality of it not to continue with it...
I find that strange because unlike a local "over the air" network affiliate (CBS,NBC,FOX,ABC) station that originates some of it's own programming all a cable or satellite company does is distribute the feeds for the basic cable channels (Discovery, ESPN ect.)..i.e if your Cable company carries the HISTORY CHANNEL in it's lineup it can't (the Cable provider is legally bound by contract with the network) preempt it for other programs. I have heard of some smaller cable operators in the past with limited channel lineups switching channels back and forth between networks(i.e a channel carries the NICKELODEON children's network during the day and TV LAND at night) but I didn't think that was very common nowadays......
As far as the BNSF episode I still enjoyed it although I do agree that the host acts like he's hosting a kid's show. I do think the explanation of the function of a Turbocharger was poorly written. The bottom line with the show is that it's obviously aimed at a general audience rather than us railfans, but why should that be surprising?
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
I might have run into a time period of a 5 min. or more advertising spot and went searching to other channels thinking it was moved.....and really missed it.
And for "aimed at a general audience" ......One wouldn't think it would need to be presented as per 5 yr. olds.
I wish all the representive "complaints" about the host on this thread would somehow reach the producer of the program.
carnej1Modelcar wjstixApparently that's now been replaced by jumping around like a retarded monkey who's had too much coffee I completely agree to all the comments referring to the extreme trains program's host....{at least from my experience in the first program}. I turned on the TV at 10 last evening and found no railroad program....! I don't know anything more than, it was not broadcast in this area. Our station, for some reason didn't carry it....Maybe they were so disgusted with the quality of it not to continue with it... I find that strange because unlike a local "over the air" network affiliate (CBS,NBC,FOX,ABC) station that originates some of it's own programming all a cable or satellite company does is distribute the feeds for the basic cable channels (Discovery, ESPN ect.)..i.e if your Cable company carries the HISTORY CHANNEL in it's lineup it can't (the Cable provider is legally bound by contract with the network) preempt it for other programs. I have heard of some smaller cable operators in the past with limited channel lineups switching channels back and forth between networks(i.e a channel carries the NICKELODEON children's network during the day and TV LAND at night) but I didn't think that was very common nowadays...... As far as the BNSF episode I still enjoyed it although I do agree that the host acts like he's hosting a kid's show. I do think the explanation of the function of a Turbocharger was poorly written. The bottom line with the show is that it's obviously aimed at a general audience rather than us railfans, but why should that be surprising?
These days we do more switching of broadcast stations for market protection then anything else. Not just for the network, but also sydnicated programs as well, and they are actively enforceing it more and more. It's a real pain in the neck too, not only does it require extra equiptment (timers & video /audio switshes) but someone has to program the timers on a regular basis.
Now with the major cable networks , like history, the only switching you will have is for local ad insertion. Then the network gives up a couple minuets here and there for local equiptment to play local ad videos. Now sports channels are a different thing all together. There are almost always events that are pre-empted sometime or other for copyright reasons, marketing protection, ect.. Sometimes it's done localy by timers / switches or the local guy does it manually (not to often though). More often the networks run several feeds into the recievers in the head end and the networks controll the recievers at there uplink sites.
There is also the issue of time zones too. Most all major cable networks have two feeds, one eastern time and one pacific. I looked on the History Channel's web site last night to see when it would be on and noticed that it appears every cable system NOT in the pacific time zone is on the eastern feed.
Now about the show
Man that guy as a real SPAZZZZ !!!!!!! So is the editing, Way too many speed ups and way too short cuts. I think I even got a headache watching it. This guy is not helping the railfan community's public image that's for sure. I'm with MS, put Mike Rowe on there, he would do a fantastic job (as allways).
I fell asleep
I just watched it, and I said many many times to myself, this guy is retarded (or something like that) If I was one of those real railroaders I would want to kick him in the cajon pass if you know what I mean. (sorry for the strong words there). I enjoyed watching it, but I messed the last 5 minutes of it because my TiVo thinks I like some show on Telemundo..... So it cut my show off.... The construction site was cool how they were installing the "Soil Nails" but I Know they don't want to say that eventhough it makes it "More Stable" its not "Completely Stable" If he was a trackhoe operator on my site, we wopuld never get anything accomplished..... And I was kinda disappointed that they didnt show more of Abo canyon....
RJ
"Something hidden, Go and find it. Go and look behind the ranges, Something lost behind the ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go." The Explorers - Rudyard Kipling
http://sweetwater-photography.com/
The fact that this host is a railroader is an insult to railroaders everywhere. What is his job title -- wheel chock?
Topekasub I will certainly be watching again. I hope it is not another rah rah for the coal industry. Matt reminds me of Dave from "There goes a" series.
I will certainly be watching again. I hope it is not another rah rah for the coal industry. Matt reminds me of Dave from "There goes a" series.
In some ways, yes, but compared to the Extreme Trains idiot, Dave was MUCH better! Dave knew how to be silly sometines, but he also presented all of the subjects in a serious and normal manner, and he never was jumping around and hysterical like the Extreme Trains guy.
Right when the first show started last week, I thought, I hope that guy isn't going to yell and jump around through the whole show. But, he did! I cannot believe how childish this guy is. He doesn't really seem to know anything about trains, to the point where I was actually surprised last night when he knew what BNSF meant. And this guy supposidly works for the railroad ??
I never thought I'd say this, but I think Good Morning America did a MUCH better job representing trains on their "Whistle Stop Tour" than the way the Hysterical Channel is representing trains with Extreme Trains. Crap, there were more facts in "There Goes a Train" than there were in BOTH of these episodes...
And compare "Extreme Trains" with the old National Geographic special "Love Those Trains".... Extreme Trains can't even partially measure up.
While we are 'dissing' the host for his 'Over the Top' delivery....let's face a couple of facts of TV production. The host, despite any previous railroad experience, is not the man 'running' the show. In real terms he is just an actor, an actor the follows the script laid out by the producers and writers of the show....no show is done without either craft. The 'Over the Top' delivery is what is being asked of the host by the producers and directors of the show, and I am sure it took many takes for the producers and directors to get their desired level of 'Over the Top'.
Potentially, our Host, is gagging on maggots for the 'act' he is required to put on for the cameras.
Just remember, for most of the shows that one sees on TV, the 'talent' is not in charge of the production....they are told what to do, what to say and how to say and do it, by the people whose names we see fly by on the credits faster than can be read.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACDthey are told what to do, what to say and how to say and do it, by the people whose names we see fly by on the credits faster than can be read.
I often wondered why the credits are run so fast....Now we see why.
videomaker videomaker HEADS UP ! While watching the History ch today they ran this ad,showed some eastern rwys smashing cars and stuff...Extreme Train, Tues.11-11-08 10/9 central... ROUND 2 TONIGHT ! 10/9 CENTRAL ! Freight Train LET''S DONT FORGET !
videomaker HEADS UP ! While watching the History ch today they ran this ad,showed some eastern rwys smashing cars and stuff...Extreme Train, Tues.11-11-08 10/9 central...
HEADS UP !
While watching the History ch today they ran this ad,showed some eastern rwys smashing cars and stuff...Extreme Train, Tues.11-11-08 10/9 central...
ROUND 2 TONIGHT ! 10/9 CENTRAL ! Freight Train
LET''S DONT FORGET !
Gentlemen,
I too watched the program last night and have decided to send Histoy Ch. an email asking them to ditch this host and never bring him back and to fire the writers that wrote his scripts !
I must ad that Tues night episode was better than the first one as far as subject matter was concerned...
That guy makes it excrutiating to watch, but at least there's enough good nuggets of information to make it worth the pain.
Any NASCAR fan can tell you it isn't the host, it's how he's told to act. In the 1980s & 90s then active driver Darrell Waltrip would occasionally serve as a color commentator on the lower division Busch Series races and he was fantastic.
After he quit driving he was hired by FOX to do their color work. FOX turned him into a babbling idiot.
Reality TV is to reality, what Professional Wrestling is to Professional Brain Surgery.
What they said (above).
My son enjoys the show, and that's probably why the host is the way he is. I get the feeling that the show was written in that manner to attract a younger viewer to the History Channel. I can only take so much jumping around, screaming and yelling, and his "this ride is gonna get hairy" type delivery. The show is edited like it is to appeal to those with short attention spans, you know, speeding up complex operations, such as removing the turbo from the locomotive, and doing the "quick cuts" from different elements, from the host's face, to the train, to the next segment inside the cab. To me, that kind of editing is annoying. Unfortuntately, alot of today's shows like "Extreme Trains", "Mail Call", "Tank Overhaul" and a few others are edited that way.
As far as Dave goes from the "There Goes A...." series, he was irritating, but I have to agree, that at least he was informative, and was respectful (more or less) to the people that did the type of work he was profiling. My kids have collected almost the entire series by that guy. I think we started the collection wiht "There Goes A Train" quite a few years ago, my oldest son got it for a gift (I want to say 1995 or 1996, but I might be wrong on that)
In this day and age, in order to attract a younger audience, the shows have to have alot of flashy production, and choppy editing, it apparently appeals to young kids
Not to defend the "manic" hosting style but a flurry of negative emails to the History Channel are far more likely to get the show cancelled altogether rather than getting it revamped. The host and writers work for the production company rather than the History Channel itself so maybe they're the ones you should write to.
I thot "History" produced their own stuff instead of hiring it out
videomaker videomaker videomaker HEADS UP ! While watching the History ch today they ran this ad,showed some eastern rwys smashing cars and stuff...Extreme Train, Tues.11-11-08 10/9 central... ROUND 2 TONIGHT ! 10/9 CENTRAL ! Freight Train LET''S DONT FORGET ! Gentlemen, I too watched the program last night and have decided to send Histoy Ch. an email asking them to ditch this host and never bring him back and to fire the writers that wrote his scripts ! I must ad that Tues night episode was better than the first one as far as subject matter was concerned...
"Matt" has apparently rubbed everyone watching this series the wrong way ! All the people on the discussion pgs hate him like everyone here ! I asked how to contact the exec's and tell them about it..Dont know if I will get an answer...Im going to stay with the series tho..
Can you say "the ultimate FOAMER". He was just short of "having relations" with the train unless that was edited out. Show was more confusing than the first one. I thought he was on a 7000 foot doublestack train but each time they showed the train he was on, it was a combo of DS and Trailers. I would have been more interested in watching them realign the pass to make room for the 3rd main. Oh wait, we have a thread for that. Thanks again for the updated pics. The host screaming and walking around with a strut got really old, the close-up shots of faces and the jiggling of the camera was sickening. I am 99.9% sure that I wont be watching anymore of "Extreme Hosting - Riding the rails". If there is absolutely nothing on TV, I might watch it but don't think my playstation will fail me.
http://www.youtube.com/user/pavabo
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Soo 6604 "Extreme Hosting - Riding the rails"
FUNNY ! and true. Thanks !
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