I’m a big fan of the Discovery Channel. Mythbusters, Survivorman and Planet Earth are all great shows. I’ve heard Dirty Jobs and Deadliest Catch are pretty good, too.

Discovery debuted several new shows around the start of the year - Fight Quest, Smash Lab, Some Assembly Required and Weapon Masters. Considering how good most of their shows are, I couldn’t wait to check out these four.

First, the disappointment - Smash Lab. It’s similar to Mythbusters, with a team of four “maverick engineers” testing various things…only this team is not nearly as funny and engaging as good ol’ Adam and Jamie and the things they test aren’t as satisfying as myths.

From the website:

“[T]hey take on everyday technology and apply it in revolutionary new ways. First they break down the technology to see how it works and then use their know-how to see how it could be used in a different, supersized way.”

It seems forced, as if they’re trying to much to be like Mythbusters, rather than being their own show. Hopefully it will get better as the season goes on, as the team members get more comfortable with each other and the camera. It has potential.

Weapon Masters involves two guys exploring how weapons are made. The one episode I saw had the guys traveling to Japan to see how the kitana, the samurai’s sword, is traditionally made. The “weapon master” then tried to recreate the sword with today’s technology and tested it against the traditionally made sword. Unfortunately, it seems the preview episode of the show didn’t get many viewers or good reviews, because it isn’t listed on Discovery’s website any longer. A DVD of episodes is available in the Discovery store, though.

Fight Quest is an interesting show where two guys travel the world learning native fight styles.

“A blend of cultural immersion and good old-fashioned smackdown, the series follows seasoned mixed martial arts fighter Jimmy Smith and 25-year-old rookie Doug Anderson as they travel the globe, adding fight styles from Kali to kickboxing to their repertoire.”

It’s a pretty interesting show, and though I’m not really a fan of Doug, Jimmy is engaging and easy to root for in his various fights. It’s cool learning about the different fighting styles and the culture surrounding them.

My favorite new show is Some Assembly Required. Of all the “how things are made” type shows (How It’s Made, Made in America,etc), I think this one is the best. Very engaging, funny and informative. So far, they’ve looked at Jelly Belly, moonbounce, Zamboni and Gibson guitars to name a few.

[T]hey explore the manufacturing process of everything from cheddar cheese to Gibson guitars. Some Assembly Required will give you a new appreciation of everyday items and the people who build them.

Be sure to check out these, and the other Discovery Channel shows, if you have the chance!