"Scrapheap" (1998) TV series 1998-????

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | unknown

Release Date:

January 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Game-Show

Plot:

A show in which, each week, two rival teams are given the task of building some kind of machine, in one day...

Plot Keywords:

Machine | Teamwork | Mechanical | Salvage Yard | Welding

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Robert Llewellyn	...	Himself - Presenter (22 episodes, 1998-2003)
Lisa Rogers	...	Herself - Presenter (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Cathy Rogers	...	Presenter / ... (11 episodes, 1998-2001)
Dick Strawbridge	...	Team Captain / ... (10 episodes, 1998-2004)

Also Known As:

Junkyard Wars (USA)
Scrapheap Challenge (UK) (new title)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Canning Town, London, England, UK

Company:

RDF Television

Trivia:

'Cathy Rogers (I)' got the idea for the show (i.e. having people build something useful out of junk) after watching Apollo 13 (1995).

Quotes:

[comparing their wrecking machines]
Member of The Beach Boys team: Bigger! Stronger! Better!
Member of The Chaos Crew team: Yeah... but ours articulates!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Good Eats: Scrap Iron Chef: Bacon Challenge (#5.5)" (2002)

Very, very clever show that is a showcase of creativity

Although I have only seen two episodes of it, Junkyard wars is an excellent show that defines the word 'creativity'. Two teams of people from various states in the US will be assigned a specific vehicle to make, whether its an all terrain vehicle or remote controlled torpedo. They have to make this vehicle out of materials found in a junkyard, hence the name. The rules of the show go nowhere into what the design of the vehicle will be, but they do make it so that extreme coordination and team work is required among the contestants. Watching the teams use their imagination and put their minds together is great. Its incredible how they manage to create something like a working ATV out of stuff found in a junk pile. The hosts also bring in an expert to offer his opinions on which team is doing well, or what style a specific team seems to be following. After the 10 hour time limit the teams sleep of the rest of the day, and on the next day they put their machines to the real test. Depending on what vehicle is required, the show will have a different obstacle course to put the teams' vehicles through. So if its an ATV they had to build, then the obstacle course is in the form of a race track consisting of various kinds of terrain. If its a remote controlled torpedo, then its more or less an obstacle course underwater. Overall this is a great show and I highly recommend anyone who has a functional brain to turn on the discovery channel and try to find the time this is shown.