# "Bad Ink" on A&E - the bad tattoo fixers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 6, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522 "2013-08-06T19:43:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/1 "2013-08-06T19:43:37Z")
I NEVER . . . EVER watch reality shows but [this](http://lasvegascitylife.com/blog/culture-alert/dirk-vermins-bad-ink-coming-tv-august.html) looks really good. > [@](#): > > The premise allows Vermin and Ruckus to **prey on individuals with shitty tattoos** , a distinct phenomenon in the City of Hasty and Terrible Decisions. After the bad-ink owners either get spotted by or solicit the services of the duo, Vermin decides whether he’ll “work his magic and transform the cringe-worthy eyesores into noteworthy masterpieces,” as mentioned in the press release. It will be worth the price of your monthly TiVo fee to see if Dirk will be able to reverse the awfulness of[a terrible Jesus tattoo](https://twitter.com/TacticalAtheist/status/201787158753841152), or get anywhere near a [tramp stamp](http://www.heavy.com/comedy/2010/02/the-20-worst-tramp-stamps/) — **or if he and Ruckus can find less profane ways to express themselves**. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/2 "2013-08-06T19:57:00Z")
There is a similar show, I think the shop is in Miami, were two guys and a lady cover-up people’s crappy tattoos. It’s fun to watch and see how the final product looks. I check it out when I catch it on whilst channel surfing. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/3 "2013-08-06T20:36:21Z")
_Bad Ink_ is actually the third bad tattoo reality show. The genre was launched by Spike with [Tattoo Nightmares](http://www.spike.com/shows/tattoo-nightmares) (the one **Drunky** mentioned), now in its second season. TLC followed this year with [America’s Worst Tattoos](http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/americas-worst-tattoos). A&E is just jumping on a bandwagon that is already played out. I admit to being fond of Tattoo Nightmares, mostly for the artistry involved in converting the bad tattoos into something better. It definitely takes a certain level of talent. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/4 "2013-08-06T20:46:32Z")
Are they funny? This looks funny. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/5 "2013-08-07T02:01:03Z")
It’s not quite as impressive as it looks; apparently they have some sort of inks/pigments that can literally cover over a darker tattoo line, so it’s not like they have to TOTALLY work within the confines of the existing awful tattoo. (watched a couple episodes and while funny, wasn’t worth continuing to watch). ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/6 "2013-08-07T02:11:09Z")
That’s interesting - the idea that some inks would be dominant. I figure these guys probably have a pile of really awful jokes that they’ve developed over the years and will get played out eventually. But if they’re smart and quick and adapt to the situation, I think it has real potential. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Stilettos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Red\_Stilettos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Stilettos)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/7 "2013-08-07T02:59:32Z")
I’ve gotten hooked on Tattoo Nightmares on Spike. It’s pretty cool to see how creative the artists can be in covering up the bad tats. Plus, I like hearing the stories behind the original bad tattoo. People can really be idiots. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/8 "2013-08-07T03:05:14Z")
I was complaining to one of my sisters a few months back that I’d like to watch tattoo shows, but every time I turn them on it’s just the drama that surrounds the artists and not watching the actual tattooing itself (unless you watch a documentary). She mentioned Tattoo Nightmares. Since then, I’ve been watching that and it’s cousin Ink Master quite a bit. I like both of them. No (or very little) drama, just lots of tattoos and they’re usually on back to back which is how I found Ink Master. Ink Master is kind of like The American Idol of tattoos. Three judges and a bunch of artists. Each week (or whenever I’m watching the show) they’re given a challenge (a style of tattoo). They do it, they get judged, someone goes home. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/9 "2013-08-07T07:28:55Z")
I still think a good industry to invest in would concern tattoo removal. I think there’s only so far, profession wise, one can go with a neck or face tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/10 "2013-08-07T13:18:46Z")
> [@deltasigma](#): > > That’s interesting - the idea that some inks would be dominant. > > I figure these guys probably have a pile of really awful jokes that they’ve developed over the years and will get played out eventually. But if they’re smart and quick and adapt to the situation, I think it has real potential. Based on some of the coverups, they had to have done something to obscure darker lines with lighter pigments; there was no way they could have done what they did if they had to leave the old tattoo visible and dark where it was. What was funny about the show wasn’t so much their comedy schtick, but rather that the people with the tattoos were such knuckleheads that the tattoo artists were just aghast at some of the tattoos and their placement. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/11 "2013-08-07T14:46:16Z")
> [@Red\_Stilettos](#): > > I’ve gotten hooked on Tattoo Nightmares on Spike. It’s pretty cool to see how creative the artists can be in covering up the bad tats. Plus, I like hearing the stories behind the original bad tattoo. People can really be idiots. The over-the-top “reenactments” of the stories as to how the people got the bad tattoo are great fun. Last night there was a guy who went in wanting a tattoo of Lady Justice. First his friend convinced him to have her be topless. Then he suggested that instead of a blindfold, she should have a bag over her head. The artist drew the bag with a pointy end, so the tattoo wound up looking like a sexy KKK figure. By the way, Spike also has a tattoo competition called Ink Master, hosted by Dave Navarro. Neither my wife nor I have any ink, but we find the show to be fascinating. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/12 "2013-08-07T14:51:15Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > The over-the-top “reenactments” of the stories as to how the people got the bad tattoo are great fun. Last night there was a guy who went in wanting a tattoo of Lady Justice. First his friend convinced him to have her be topless. Then he suggested that instead of a blindfold, she should have a bag over her head. The artist drew the bag with a pointy end, so the tattoo wound up looking like a sexy KKK figure. I was watching that while I was typing up my previous post. I liked the girl who got the tattoo done by her blind boyfriend. The tattoo artist stopped about three seconds short of saying “Are you retarded?”. If you watch that show, the F\*\*K LOVE cover up is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/13 "2013-08-07T15:25:06Z")
My favorite tattoo change story is an urban myth I heard years ago about a guy who was a radical skinhead who, when in his teens, tattood “FUCK” across the top of his shaven head. Then he went “square”, grew his hair back, went to business school and became a banker. He reached the top of his profession … but when he hit 40, male-pattern baldness set in … … so, he had the tattoo modified from “FUCK” to “BUCK$”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/14 "2013-08-07T15:44:36Z")
> [@deltasigma](#): > > I NEVER . . . EVER watch reality shows but [this](http://lasvegascitylife.com/blog/culture-alert/dirk-vermins-bad-ink-coming-tv-august.html) looks really good. At least one of those tramp stamps in the link you provided is a photoshop job from [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com)’s joke list of “honest” tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/15 "2013-08-07T16:12:38Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > At least one of those tramp stamps in the link you provided is a photoshop job from [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com)’s joke list of “honest” tattoos. My guess is that link was provided only to show people what a tramp stamp is. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-ink-on-a-e-the-bad-tattoo-fixers/665522/16 "2013-08-12T09:08:40Z")
Just watched the first of what looks like 2 episodes and it was pretty funny. The first one was clearly designed to hook the jiggle interest crowd (aka, guys) and did a damn good job of that I have to say. The second one you alternately could relate to the guy and feel sorry for him. He was so genuine but also so clueless. In both cases they were mildly cruel but also empathetic. They struck the perfect balance I thought. The real capper was when one had a drag queen as the entertainment for his daughter’s birthday party. That was perfect and so Vegas