MythBusters (Collections 1, 2, and 3)

Review by Wikipedia

Each MythBusters episode typically focuses on several unrelated urban legends, popular beliefs, Internet rumors, or other myths. The Discovery Channel hosts MythBusters message board forums on the Internet, where fans discuss previous episodes and post suggestions to Adam and Jamie for future myths to test. Occasionally episodes are produced in which some or all of the myths are related by theme. To date, three myths have required such extensive preparation and testing that they had entire episodes devoted solely to them, and four specials have been double length.

Methods for testing myths are usually planned and executed in a manner to produce visually dramatic results, which generally involves explosions, fires, and/or vehicle crashes. When a myth is potentially dangerous to an individual, the MythBusters use various stand-ins for humans in their tests. Resident crash test dummy, "Buster", or ballistics gel have long been used, along with other more recent analogues, such as dead pigs and Simulaids. When a myth is low-risk, the cast sometimes performs experiments on themselves, though injuries and mishaps are quite frequent.

The cast usually use their expertise to construct complex, sometimes Rube Goldberg-like mechanical devices with which to perform experiments. Tests are sometimes confined to the workshop, but often require unique conditions which require them to be performed at other locations in San Francisco and other places around the Bay Area.

Common filming locations around the Bay Area include decommissioned (closed) military facilities (such as Naval Air Station Alameda, Naval Station Treasure Island, Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, and Hamilton Air Force Base), and the Alameda County Sheriff's Bomb Squad and Firearm range. Other filming locations include the Mojave Spaceport in the Mojave Desert, California, and the Black Rock Desert in northwestern Nevada. However, the program sometimes travels to other more exotic cities and countries to test myths, usually for special episodes.

The tests usually follow a two-step process. Dubbed "replicate the circumstances, then duplicate the results" by Savage, the MythBusters first attempt to recreate the myth to determine if the circumstances as described achieve the alleged outcome. If that fails, they attempt to expand the parameters as much as necessary — often to absurd lengths and/or involving increasing amounts of explosives — until the desired results are duplicated. When the exact details of a myth are unclear, the MythBusters will often hold a competition amongst each other to find and implement the best solution. At this segment, the show's narrator often utters the motto "Anything that's worth doing, is worth over-doing.", especially when destructive force is involved.

The thoroughness to which the MythBusters test myths is often unclear due to the time constraints of the episodes. Adam and Jamie have alluded to this many times on the show, and during the Outtakes Special, they specifically stated that while they in fact are very thorough in testing myths and repeat experiments many times in many different configurations, it is simply impossible to display all of it on the show. Beginning in Season 5 they have prompted viewers to visit the show's website to see less edited versions of experiments, additional scientific explanations, or unaired myths or experiments related to aired ones for each episode. Also, in response to criticism over testing myths incorrectly, the team has produced several "Myths Revisited" episodes, in which they retest myths to see if viewers' complaints have merit. These episodes have resulted in overturning results of several myths, as well as upholding results for different reasons than originally concluded.

There are some myths and urban legends the MythBusters refuse to test. Paranormal concepts, such as aliens or ghosts, are not addressed because they cannot be tested by scientific methods, although one exception, pyramid power, prompted Adam to comment, "No more 'oogie-boogie' myths, please." The program generally avoids experiments harmful to animals and people that cannot be tested safely, though in one episode they bombarded cockroaches and other laboratory insects with lethal doses of radiation and the cast addressed this, saying that the insects were specifically bred for experiments and would have likely died anyway. In another episode, Kari Byron intentionally allowed herself to be stung by a jellyfish, though it was revealed beforehand by an expert at the aquarium where the jellyfish was obtained that the experiment they had planned would not be a serious threat to Kari's safety.