"Ice Road Truckers" (2007) TV series

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

17 June 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Reality-TV

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

US TV Schedule:

Sun. July 12	7:00 PM	HISTORY	Accident Alley	#3.5
Sun. July 12	8:00 PM	HISTORY	Arctic Ice	#3.5

Cast

Thom Beers	...	Himself - Narrator / ... (11 episodes, 2007-2008)
Hugh Rowland	...	Himself / ... (10 episodes, 2007)
Jay Westgard	...	Himself / ... (10 episodes, 2007)
Alex Debogorski	...	Himself / ... (10 episodes, 2007)
Rick Yemm	...	Himself / ... (10 episodes, 2007)
T.J. Tilcox	...	Himself / ... (10 episodes, 2007)
Drew Sherwood	...	Himself / ... (10 episodes, 2007)
Christian Rodska	...	Himself - Narrator (6 episodes, 2007)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

BHP-Ekati, Northwest Territories, Canada

Company:

Original Productions

Quotes:

[opening narration: season 3]
Narrator: At the top of the world, there's a job only a few would dare. Last season, the dash for the cash was fought on the smooth playing field of Canada's Arctic ice. This season, two old pros join four of America's bravest truckers to tackle the tundra's deadliest ice passage. Just when you thought extreme trucking couldn't get more dangerous, ice road truckers take on Alaska. These are the truckers who make their living on thin ice.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Modern Marvels: Ice Road Truckers (#9.3)" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Livin' On The Edge

Don't understand why History Channel insists on this show.

I could see this show on TLC or even Nat. Geo. But it's blasphemy to be on the History Channel in the first place. There is little to no historical value to this show. I actually watch the HC for historical relevance. This show simply has none.

Big deal, they are driving on the ice, doing a job, and getting paid for it. It'd make for a good one or two hour special. But a whole season? This isn't nearly as exciting as the Deadliest Catch, but it sure pretends to be. At least with Deadliest Catch you have a REAL enemy, the Bering Sea. Always unpredictable, always dangerous, and always obvious about both. And it has relevance to many who eat and enjoy seafood, seeing how that food gets to them and what lengths men go to bring that food to us. Ice Road Truckers doesn't seem to impact anyone on an emotional level at all.

Another issue is the editing to make everything seem more foreboding and cataclysmic then reality. The first season shows an animation of a truck falling thru the ice during a 'dramatic' event, then they cut to commercial. So of course you tune back in to see something go thru the ice. Only it was clever editing to bring you back because they knew the reality wasn't nearly as interesting. The reality was a minor fenderbender and some vulgar commenting. Sadly examples of this happen over and over. In reality, they have managed to record hours upon hours of driving over featureless terrain with little character interaction and somehow have managed to make it even more boring.

And then there is the issue of the characters themselves. I applaud that there are people willing to do this job, as with any job (like Discovery Channels' Dirty Jobs). It's even nice they got some recognition out of this. It's a working man's job, doing things others might not want to do. But the personalities are just flat, shallow, and lifeless. Put aside the vulgarity and there really isn't much being presented. Most the characters can safely be called quitters and losers, and few stand out as anyone you care about.

I thought this show to be a serious failure on the part of History Channel during and after the first season. I felt for sure they would not repeat this mistake with a second season. I'm astounded they have, and even slightly offended as a long time History Channel viewer. This show simply does not belong on this station.