Guy 1: Ever see that World Strongman Competition on ESPN?
Guy 2: Yea, they lift cars and buildings and stuff. Sick.
Guy 1: Guy won last week lifted 2 ton boulders.
Guy 2: My wife Jen could win, they make it Bloomingdales shopping bags.
B-Take:
What can be said about the ESPN Strongman Competition? It’s a classic, an almost you-have-to-see-this-to-believe-it “sports” show.
We're not adding to these guys' views on motivation and Bloomingdales. But their exchange did get us thinking about other shows these 2 guys on the train might like -- and some of us too. “GUYS” shows – whatever that really means. (Although TV networks think they know, of course; they create and program these shows specifically to appeal to men, preferably younger men with lots of disposable income.)
In truth, women can and do like many of these shows too; and many guys don’t like them at all. But for what it’s worth, and with that twisted programming-centric reservation, here are 10 of our favorites to consider. Not necessarily the ones we like the best; but shows that, for our money, are definitely in the same "GUY" programming-men's-demo universe.
Tell us what you think, and your favorites. There are tons more “worthy” than ours. We’ll then put together a complete definitive list and tee up it for broader reaction.
- 24. (Fox) Yes, last season stunk. But we’re willing to give it 1 more chance. If next year tortures us with the same number of moronic, brain-imploding plot turns and insipid characters, we’ll dismiss it, as many of its viewers already have.
- Dexter. (Showtime) Any show that features a serial killer as the good guy, the protagonist, has to be on our list.
- Dog The Bounty Hunter. (A&E) Speaks for itself. A reality classic. Anybody remember when A&E (Arts & Entertainment Network) offered something “arts”-related?
- The Shield. (FX) Michael Chiklis is one tough dude. And who knew Glen Close was too.
- The Wire. (HBO) Insane. We can barely understand what half the characters are saying but this makes Scarface play like Sound of Music. Violent, raw, intense – and actually amazingly good.
- House. (Fox) Not really a guys’ show. But we like it. And Hugh Lawrie – pill popping, socially inept, angry angry angry – is definitely one challenging original man, not to mention a terrific actor. So, it’s on our list.
- Deadwood. (HBO) For pure violence and ugly, evil, hard-to-look at behavior, Deadwood has almost no match. We can barely watch it – we also find it a bore – but it’s loaded with tough, virulent, near-psychotic guys and there’s nothing else like it on TV.
- America’s Got Talent (NBC). Kidding. This show resets the bar for utter idiocy. Probably won’t find it “on” in too many taverns or homes (at least where there are many guys around; but NBC knows that, targeting it to a different audience).
- Detroit SWAT. (A&E) Won’t be confused with Dancing with the Stars or Everybody Loves Raymond. These SWAT men and women kick butt.
- ESPN Sports Center. (ESPN) Truthfully we hate the snarky attitude. But it’s got sports news and it’s on-air virtually 24/7. We prefer online, ESPN.com. But it’s still the TV sports pace-setter.
- Buddy’s Garage. (Spike) Demolition Derby. Up close and personal, on the course, behind the scenes. Enough said.
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