MythBusters
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MythBusters is a science entertainment television program which airs on the Discovery Channel. It stars Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage. In the program, Hyneman and Savage use scientific methods to test the validity of rumors, urban legends, adages, movie scenes, and Internet videos, collectively referred to on the show as "myths". After testing, they determine each myth to be "Confirmed", "Plausible", or "Busted". They occasionally re-test a myth if audience feedback uncovers a flaw in their testing or if new information emerges about the myth.
Contents
The Simpsons special
On January 10, 2015, a The Simpsons special episode of MythBusters aired. In it, Hyneman and Savage investigated two myths based on scenes from the show:
- "Toilet Bomb": Whether a cherry bomb flushed down a school toilet will make water shoot out of all the toilets in a geyser-like effect when it explodes, in reference to a prank Bart pulled in "The Crepes of Wrath".
- "Homer Wrecker": Whether placing a person between a wrecking ball and a building will protect the building, in reference to a scene from "Sideshow Bob Roberts" where Homer clung to a wrecking ball to prevent the Simpson home from being demolished.
Al Jean served as a consultant and guest star for the episode. Matt Groening, Al Jean and Michael Price received a special thanks for the episode.
Toilet Bomb
Savage built a half-sized replica of a three-toilet system. He then did several test explosions, using a blast of compressed air to simulate an exploding cherry bomb (the segment presented several disclaimers that cherry bombs are illegal). Savage found that he could achieve the geyser effect if the explosion took place at a low point in the system and the pipes were full of water, as would happen if there were a clog.
Savage and Hyneman then moved on to a full-scale test, again building a three-toilet system. To generate the explosions, they used a black-powder device with explosive potential similar to that of a cherry bomb. First, they confirmed that the fuse would continue to burn underwater by detonating a bomb in a bucket of water. Then they proceeded with the full-scale test, placing the bomb at a low point in the system and filling the pipes with water, as in the half-scale test. The explosion produced the geyser effect, but also blew the toilets off their mountings (in "Crepes of Wrath", the toilets stayed in place). They reinforced the mountings (bolting the toilets directly to the pipes) and made another attempt, but got the same result. Based on these tests, they determined the myth to be busted, as an explosion powerful enough to produce the geyser effect would also blow the toilets off their mountings and/or destroy them outright. Al Jean, however, countered by saying that since Springfield Elementary School is located close to a nuclear power plant run by idiots, the toilets are "ultra super reinforced".
Homer Wrecker
Savage constructed a life-sized human analogue of Homer Simpson, using data from the show to determine Homer's height, proportions and body composition. [to be continued]
Outcomes
- Whilst a cherry bomb could cause small geysers to come out the toilets, it would also break the toilets off their fixtures, busting the myth. Although Al Jean claims that since the school is close to a nuclear power plant run by idiots, the toilets are "ultra super reinforced".
- Homer would have prevented the house from being destroyed by placing himself between it and the wrecking ball, proving the myth was accurate.
Other references to the show
- Several clips from The Simpsons are shown all through the episode.
- Clips of the presenters on The Simpsons in the episode "The Daughter Also Rises" are shown.
- Savage writes "I Will Not Set off Cherry Bombs In The Shop" on a blackboard, referencing the chalkboard gag.
In-show parody
In the season 23 episode "The Daughter Also Rises", a parody of MythBusters, entitled MythCrackers is shown on TV. It is also hosted by Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage.
External links
The Simpsons Special at the Internet Movie Database
[[wikipedia:{{{1}}} ({{{2}}})|{{{1}}}]] at Wikipedia
The Simpsons special trailer at YouTube
