President Obama takes on Mythbusters tonight

Posted on Wednesday, December 8, 2010, by Eric - TV Geek Army "Revered Leader"

President Barack Obama checks in with a guest appearance on MythBusters tonight (9:00 on Discovery). After which he will also be participating in MTV’s Challenge: Cutthroat and the Cooking Channel’s Bitchin’ Kitchen at 10:00.

mbusters

Actually, that last bit isn’t true but our so called Entertainer-in-Chief (a term that I’m embarrassed to use, really, but there it is) does hang out with show hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman this week on Mythbusters as they infotainmently (I like that word better, as I just made it up) experiment with oddball questions that no one would ever think of (“Would a BBQ propane tank can heat up enough in a fire to launch through a garage roof?” as Slate notes) and play out the consequences in a controlled if real world setting.

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Here’s more from Slate on what the deal is:

Obama tasks the Mythbusters to take a stab, their second, at reconstructing Archimedes' heat ray, supposedly an array of bronze shields or perhaps mirrors that, reflecting and concentrating sunlight, incinerated approaching ships during the Siege of Syracuse. Why did the White House and Discovery pick this myth to re-bust? Is there a metaphor about national security in there? A parable of collectivism? Is this the light of the unum out of the pluribus? Does the Pentagon think this technology might have practical applications?

There’s plenty of reaction to the president’s latest basic cable appearance (see: The Daily Show, “President Barack Obama”: the audacity of conversation), but what I really want to know is something that no one else is asking: will there be any reference to Archimedes’ heat ray (i.e. “death ray”) technology being granted to human beings by ancient aliens (see: our coverage of The History Channel’s Ancient Aliens episode, “Alien Tech”)? Now that’s something I’d pay to see the president comment on. Tax cuts, shmack cuts, you know?

Here are some other regrettably earth-bound reactions to President Obama’s appearance on Mythbusters tonight:

Boston Herald: Sarah Palin isn’t the only politician who can use cable TV to her advantage. President Barack Obama makes a cameo on Discovery’s long-running “MythBusters” with a request for hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman.

Wired: It’s cool to see Mr. Obama on the show, and it’s certainly great to have a president who’s as committed as he is to science education. But it plays as a gimmick, with Mr. Obama appearing only at the beginning and end of the episode, and then in short segments filmed at the White House that are obviously scripted. I’m pretty sure few people — even kids — will believe that the president actually thinks it’s of vital importance that Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman retest the Archimedes Solar Ray for a third time.

Baltimore Sun: If a presidential appearance on a TV show is an event, President Obama's guest shot on "Mythbusters" Wednesday would have to be categorized as a minor event. His participation in the Discovery Channel program is little more than a few extended cameos.

Chicago Sun-Times: The result is a reminder of why, eight seasons in, “Mythbusters” is better than ever. The juvenile geniuses start out with cardboard, pencils and putty, and work their way up to 500 volunteers manned with bronze mirrors. Among the delights: Monty Python-esque graphics, a Segway pimped out as a chariot and flaming tennis balls.

And check out a preview here:

Tags: news mythbusters

By Eric - TV Geek Army "Revered Leader"

About the author

Eric is the publisher and revered leader of TV Geek Army… at least in his own mind. TV Geek Army is a place for serious TV reviews and news for serious fans of great television. Contact: eric-[at]-tvgeekarmy.com

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