Storm Chaser "Competition" TV Show

[Warren Faidley]

Just to give everyone a heads-up, we received a call from a production company based in the UK that is trying to find chasers for a new TV show. It sounded interesting at first, but when someone from my office dug deeper, it appears they are trying to get individual or "teams" of chasers to actually "compete" in the field, e.g., driving faster to get to a storm or disaster first, getting closest to a tornado, etc., etc. We turned them down based on this rather dangerous concept.

My post is not to tell chasers what to do, but rather, be very careful as I think they are toning down the initial pitch but maintaining the overall theme.

Cheers:

Warren

 

[David Schuttler]

There is enough of that out there already.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

We should have a competition to guess the number of pages this one will generate. I say 13 thought-provoking pages. May as well start the one for regulating chasing now. It's over now a tv show will be made. Think I'll pick up fishing next week. I'll have all my gear in the market place section soon.

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

"We took 10 weather nerds on a three week storm chase across North America and told them they were competeing for one MILLION dollars! Little do they know that back at home, their wives will be wooed by Italian underwear models! Which nerd will catch the most tornadoes, and will his wife remain faithful? Find out Friday on 'F-6 Tornado Race', only on Fox!"

 

[fplowman]

Im thinking a groups of teams competing against each other. Of the teams would be grade B actors along with seasoned chasers of course... Like Tony Danza would be good. Maybe Johnny Knoxville, on and on.. They can report from in the field. The winners gets 100k and a new SUV and equipment. We can get the car manufacturers to sponsor ie. Dodge, Hummer, Chevy, Ford, Nissan, Honda, Toyota along with XM weather, Using Gatorade, etc, etc.. Gonna be big..

Now I have my idea time stamped right here.. So Ill have to be included or Ill get the lawyers if ya steal my slant on the idea. lol

 

[Willie Dines]

LMAO , Were you able to keep from laughing after you had found out the real details about the show? lol, because I'm not 1 bit suprised to hear of such a show being thought of, but all it sounds too much like a prime time series of "Twister", and that's not good at all, the amount of yahoos on the road, is the perfect example of that.

I thought that I had heard it all, untill now lol, thanks for the heads up Warren , but I'll most likely avoid that if it arrises because that would be the type of show, that will only do more hamr, than good for staormchasing as a whole, especially since there aren't that many TV newtworks that actually know much about tornadoes, without mentioning pointless thing like the danger of a severe thunderstorm being thunder lol

Hey Mike, if there's any extra space on that fishing boat, let us know, I think that there'll be quite a few wanting to join you lol, I'm lucky because I can always go to the pool hall and run a few racks, just to escape the papparazzi lol

Willie

P.S. Ryan, I just read your reply and I can't stop laughing lmao

 

[David Wolfson]

Top Chaser
Twelve attractive and articulate storm chasers are selected (from among fifteen applicants ) to compete in an exciting new entry in reality tv from the Discovery Channel. The winner gets a hail-dented SUV, a two-year subscription to WxWorks Bluetooth version, and a chance to present at the National Stormchaser Convention in Aurora, Colorado.... Too much!

 

[Warren Faidley]

Just to make it clear, I have nothing against TV shows featuring chasers. It's just the concept of pitting chasers against each other in a competition setting. This is a new concept and it's disturbing.

Warren

 

[Jeff Miller]

I have to agree with you, Warren. I really think that this concept is going just a little too far. Chasing is about the passion of severe weather and working together as chasers, not tooth and nail competition. Plus, it's playing games with severe weather. Chasers need to focus on the dangers about them - not who is winning or losing.

 

[Bill Hark]

Warren, thanks for the heads up. Although a reality show following chasers or groups of chasers would be pretty cool, it would also be very boring for any non chaser. They would have to "spice it up" by adding a level of competition. I agree that could be dangerous if they are competing to get closest to a tornado etc. I don't want any part of it.

Now, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, let me suggest some alternative and safer competitions between chasers especially on those down days.

1) Allsups burrito eating contest. Who can eat the most in a set period of time without getting sick or sickening their chase partners.

2) Identify flattened animals. Each team is presented with five flattened fauna and must identify the species of each animal.

3) Photo scavenger hunt. Give each team two days to get photos of the the following: four different varieties of cows, a live armadillo etc. Bonus points if you can find a sushi or indian restaurant in Oklahoma outside of OKC or Tulsa.

4) Count the number of oil drilling rigs within a 10 miles radius of a point in OKC.

Bill Hark

 

[Robert Edmonds]

Were there not some other chasers approached with a tv show last year???

But yes I don't like the idea much either...

 

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

I don't think positively about this show. In my opinion, it only creates yahoos. Here's my idea: Competition amongst storm chasers for the best cloud picture of the day. No specific event, just a beautiful picture. However, that wouldn't be race anymore...

However, if it would be syndicated on any Estonian TV channel, I would be religiously watching it.

 

[Jay McCoy]

I can tell already where its heading. They wont be able to get any reputable or responsible chasers for their stunt (show) so they will go and find some young inexperienced yahoos to see how close they can get while driving 90mph through the core then screaming and cheering as it destroyes a town and call it "reality tv". If this doesnt bring the government down on us then nothing will. soon as the 1st showed airs the local cops will be hunting us all down. Only way it could be worse is if they throw Paris Hilton into the mix as a ride along. That would really be the death of us all.. lmao

Mike that lake your fishing on might get a bit crowded with all of us..

 

[Daniel Christianson]

A tv show huh? lol ill have to watch that F-6 Tornado Race looks to be pretty damn good .... whats that guys name that does all the movie intros? he also has done the geico commercial.. i can imagine his voice now ( In a world where mother nature and stormchasers collide, 6 teams batteling it out and such and such ha ha ha.. ( on the serious note though , its prb true if this show does happen it will be some young jo's, driving fast to get to a storm or tornado, it would make us look bad and trust me cops would have a field day if a show ever came out like that in the US? idk what idiotic reality jocks come up with these day, i second the Paris Hilton... if she was a ride along for a chase and saw a storm she'd say ( Thats Hot ) or some stupid remark" time to go eat some pancakes....

 

[Tarmo Tanilsoo]

Well, if they ruin your reputation then sue them and demand public announcement that real storm chasers aren't yahoos and that storm chasers do have ethics... That should show the world that police is hunting down wrong guys.

Maybe we should organize a petition against that show.