Truth Behind the Myths

MythBusters is a show that most of us will recognize by now even if they don't watch it. Basically, the mythbusters take myths heard in everyday society (such as are elephants afraid of mice and would cockroaches survive a nuclear bomb) and test whether there is any truth behind them. Most of the times they "bust" (untrue) the myths they test, but at times they stumble across something that's "possible" (could happen) or "confirmed" (true).

I like this show, I find it entertaining. Some of this is clearly the personalities of the shows hosts but I think discovering the unknown is also a part of this. I general believe society is at least a bit curious about what they hear or are told and they may want to know it what they are hearing is true (hence why mythbusters get so much viewer mail giving them new myths and asking them to retest old ones). Most of us wouldn't be able to test whether certain things are true because we don't have the means to but this is where mythbusters has an opportunity. They have access (or find some way to get access) to ways of which to test these myths (things like getting cars to drop from cranes). It's possible this is another reason this show is a success. People like to see things that don't normally happen or that they themselves can't do and therefore find it interesting to watch. Mythbuster, even when a myth is busted, try to take it to the next level, taking it to an extreme that would never happen. I believe this is yet another reason why mythbusters is a show that will continue to run as long as they are given new myths.