Anyone else watching this?
I just happened to see an ad for the first episode several weeks ago: I’ve never been interested in bullriding or rodeos or anything before, but for some reason it struck me as worth checking out. I’m not a big reality TV fan: I’ve never watched Survivor or The Bachelor or any of those other shows. I watch the audition episodes of American Idol for the amusement factor, but then stop watching once the actual competition begins. Besides Miami Ink, the only reality TV I’m watching is Skating With Celebrities (I’ve never watched Dancing With the Stars) – and this bullriding show!
I think that part of the reason I’ve seen all 3 episodes so far is that it’s on right before Miami Ink, so it’s easy to tape both of them (they air on Tuesday nights, when I’m in class). But I do find it interesting, maybe for the glimpse into a world that’s completely foreign to me. The three guys they picked to profile are all pretty different from each other: an American, an Australian, and a Brazilian. I don’t think I particularly like any of them … in fact, they each get on my nerves in different ways. But I think I’m “hooked” now, and want to see how their bullriding season ends.
I hadn’t heard of it until you mentioned it, but it does sound like my sort of show. I’ll set the DVR, thanks!
I’ve been watching the show, and there certainly are aspects that I find fascinating.
I’m a transplant to NH, and over the past 4 or 5 years, I’ve found NASCAR. So many similiarities to that sport in bull riding, so many differences.
A few things that I’ve noticed:
They successfully ride FAR fewer bulls than I’d have expected of the elite level riders.
HUGE hunting related equipment sponsors (makes sense). I’m surprised NASCAR doesn’t have more of them.
The elite level riders really work a whole lot of events! Small events, big events, really quite busy.
The payouts for a successful ride are really pretty small! Granted, it’s “only” 8 seconds, but a $20K payout with those risks seems out of balance. I’m probably wrong on that math. Even the 43rd place car in Nextel Cup gets 60-80K! (Start the race, and pull into the pits after the first lap. That’s a pit thread by itself… dang field fillers!!!)
Interesting show, I like the attention that they pay to the relationships between the spouses/girlfriends and the other competitors, but I wish they’d talk a bit more about the “basics” of bull riding. What’s the equipment? How exactly is the “hold rope” attached? How are bulls chosen? What makes a “great ride” vs a “good ride” (a score of 85 vs a score of 92). What does it take to get a 100?
Doesn’t make me want to run off to a PBR event, but it’s an entertaining watch.
I noticed that, too: it still surprises me every time one of them gets thrown off right away. That other Brazilian guy who’s winning all of the events makes it look so easy!
I completely agree, and I hope that they get more into things like that as the season progresses. Doesn’t Brendon’s girlfriend raise bulls for a living? What an easy episode that would be!
My thoughts exactly. 