No, it’s not a fantasy football Superbowl match up. It’s the next very special episode of Mythbusters.
The Mythbusters needed a full two hours (minus commercials) to tackle the myths and legends surrounding pirates.
It’s no wonder they need a full two hours. Pirates have long been iconic in our culture, way before Johnny Depp and The Pirates of the Caribbean blockbuster hits.
When you hear word pirates, an image immediately pops into your head. Maybe your image of pirates is from classic tales like Peter Pan or Treasure Island.
Pirates have also forced their way into current children’s books, Halloween costumes and even Legos. Pirate jokes abound. Maybe someone even forced you to watch The Pirate Movie with Christopher Atkins. Even “The Others” on ABC’s Lost reeked of a pirate quality when they stole Walt.
Now the pirates will be taken on by The Mythbusters.
The Mythbusters
Who said learning science couldn’t be entertaining? Mythbusters is an over-the-top show where science is used to debunk or prove urban legends and myths.
The Mytbusters are Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, two special effects experts. On the show, these two guys use what they know to test what we all believe. They apply science to rumors, urban legends and other stories we all like to keep alive in oral culture.
Each experiment conducted by the Mythbusters is given a final analysis. The myth can either be deemed Confirmed, Plausible or Busted.
The fun part of watching the Mythbusters is that they always find a way to blow something up. Safely. It makes good TV.
The Mythbusters Mythbusters Vs. The Pirates
In their special Pirate Myths episode Adam and Jamie will remain true to form and test the pirate myth that more pirate casualties were caused by flying wood splinters from cannonballs hitting ships, rather than by the actual cannonballs.
The Mythbusters team of Jamie and Adam also play with sails, rum and knives. (They would insert a disclaimer here, and remind you not to try this at home).
They also look into the perplexing question of why pirates wore eye patches over perfectly good eyes.
Viewers will have to wait until Wednesday to see if the Mythbusters tackle the biggest pirate mystery ever:
“Why do we love pirates?”
Mythbusters tackles the pirates on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 9pm EST on the Discovery Channel.
