I watched Miami Ink off and on last season, and by the end I liked it enough that I’ve been taping this season (in fact, I haven’t watched this week’s ep yet). I haven’t seen a single episode of Inked, though.
Am I missing anything? Which show do you think is best, and why?
Miami Ink, but just slightly more. I think that the artists are a bit better, and the focus is more on the tattooing aspect, whereas Inked seems to be more about the drama in a tattoo shop (Yawn). The other deciding factor is that up until recently Miami Ink used Funky Kingston by Toots and the Maytals as the theme song.
I’ve noticed a change in recent episodes of Inked versus the earlier episodes. Newer episodes seem to focus on the customers getting their tattoos, while the earlier episodes focused on the folks who worked at the shop. I preferred the earlier episodes, although I’m still watching…
Finally watched this week’s ep of Miami Ink: I like that they told Yoji that if he can’t draw, he can’t tattoo … I just hope they don’t let him tattoo in his undies! :eek:
I think that might be part of why I’ve never bothered to watch Inked: I really like the Miami Ink artists. I know that the shop will be completely booked for years now, but if I ever decide to get a 3rd tattoo I so want Chris Garver to design it. 
I’m thinking I’d like to check out Inked. It’s hard to tell for sure from the A&E site, but it looks like new eps are on Wednesday nights at 9:30. Sound right?
I prefer Miami Ink. *Inked * seems to be more about the tattoo artists and what assholes they are in real life. The guys on Miami Ink seem more serious about the tattooing itself while the Inked folks seem to be more about what badasses they are for being tattoo artists and having an assload of ink. Also, I think the type of tattoos done by the guys on Inked are lower quality–maybe it’s because they get folks who are in Vegas and would be just as happy with flash as with something designed for them. I’m just not as impressed with the talent of the Inked guys.
If I could ever decide on a tattoo I’d love to have one designed by Garver–I’d never get a fairy so at least he wouldn’t hate me. I loved the flower back piece that Garver did in Hawaii.
I hated the back piece that Ami did on this last episode–but he does beautiful koi.
Heh.
Really? I thought it was kind of badass. I loved the hair, and the stylized facial features. And it worked really well with the guy’s existing tattoo. I actually gained more respect for Ami as an artist after I saw the design (not that I didn’t like him as an artist before).
I totally laughed when he mentioned his koi. <grin>
I watched/DVRed the first season of both, and now I’ve dropped Inked entirely.
Just how I feel. I think the MI guys are more interesting than the Inked guys, too,
when they do get ‘personal’ screen time. Their work is just exponentially better, though, you’re right. Chris Garver is unbelievably good.
They don’t spend much time on the actual tattoos on Inked, because they can’t, because the tattoos are not impressive. There’s little sense of reverence for the art and tradition of tattooing, either.
Yesterday morning there was a mini Inked marathon. I think they showed a total of 3 tattoos and none of them were any good; especially the one done by Carey Hart–the shop owner and a tattoo apprentice. The four-leaf clover tat I saw was just…wrong. After watching yesterday, I’ve lost any interest I had in watching future eps. If my only exposure to a tattoo shop was watching this show, I’d never, ever consider having a tat done. Such a dysfunctional bunch.
On a side note, after talking about tats all day with mr.stretch I think we’ve decided on what I’m going to get and where. Now we’ll have to find a decent place to go, probably in Seattle or Vancouver BC–there’s no place local that I’d trust. If I plan it right, I can spend my 40th birthday getting a tattoo; that gives me almost 8 months to find the right shop and artist. It’s nice to have a plan.