Eight shows action writers should see

The DVR schedule is starting to look a little peaked. Thanks to the AMPTP's greedy asses we won't be having and new scripted shows any time soon, so the regular TV watchers among us have had to turn elsewhere for our entertainment needs.

I think we can all agree: reality TV sucks. So what else is there?

Well I am pleased to say, quite a bit. It's high time more people started watching all those educational channels. They're not your mom's Learning Channel anymore. But these networks aren't just good for entertainment, they're terrific fodder for writing material, particularly those of us who write action.

After long nights of dedication and fierce attention-paying I have compiled a list of my top eight documentary style shows that can make your writing better. Eight because that's the number of shows I felt like listing.

8) Future Weapons. Discovery Channel.
Mac the former Navy Seal picks a cool weapon, finds out how it was designed and uses it to blow stuff up real good. He finds out what these weapons are good for and how they work. And blows stuff up real good.

Negatives? Mac isn't exactly the most exciting narrator and the show's format is a little dull, and it seems to be designed for an audience with a basic familiarity with guns so I always feel like I'm missing some information. But if you like guns this show is for you.

How is it useful to writers? When you write an action flick it helps to sound like you know what you're talking about. If you know the difference between a rifle and a shotgun and use the proper gun for the proper occasion it can really help the realism in your screenplay. Plus, if your characters ever need to call out a weapon by name, here you go. Just watch this show and look for one you like.

7) Gangland. The History Channel.
Each show follows a different violent American gang throughout its development. They manage to get interviews with former and current gang members and really go through what it takes to join the gang and stay in it until you die or go to prison. They usually follow a notorious gang leader's career and how it affected those around him until his inevitable downfall. My students love this show.

Negatives? It gets a little dull sometimes, and it can be annoying to watch all your interviews with a blur over people's faces.

How is this useful to writers? Not only are there stories galore in every episode, but if you ever need a good villain for your story, just watch and episode of Gangland. You get a real feel for gang politics that you can use to flesh out your antagonist's motivations.

6) Last One Standing. Discovery Channel.
Badass dudes travel to out-of-the-way locations and fight each other and natives in epic battles. They punish themselves and each other and often get hurt pretty bad.

Negatives? This is about the psychology of the guys fighting more than the technique, so unlike Human Weapon (#2), they don't show you how to do any of the moves and it can be a bit melodramatic.

How is this useful to writers? The show lets you look at the culture of fighting. You see how the guys train and psych themselves up for a fight, which is great for character development.

5) Dirty Jobs. Discovery Channel.
How have you not seen Dirty Jobs? Mike Rowe travels around the country learning how to do the nastiest jobs America has to offer. Ever wanted to know how you jerk off a farm animal? Mike's done it.

Negatives? Sometimes I feel like Mike himself is too clean for this line of work, but then again maybe that's why the show works so well.

How is this useful to writers? Settings and characters. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of seeing advertising executives who work in a high rise in New York City. Every Episode of Dirty Jobs takes you to an obscure new place and an obscure new occupation nobody's ever written about.

4) The Directors. Reelz Channel.
Each episode follows a director throughout his career, interviewing actors and writers and people who've been there at important moments.

Negatives? Every episode looks like it was filmed in the eighties even thought it's much more recent.

How is this useful to writers? Well duh. Listening to a director talking about his choices is always a good thing for a writer.

3) Myth Busters. Discovery Channel.
Please tell me you've seen Mythbusters. Adam and Jamie, two former special effects guys, and their crew test out common legends to see if they're true. From this show I have learned that you should touch metal before you touch the gas pump if you've been sitting in the car at the station, you cannot talk to each other while freefalling from an airplane, and throwing a lighted match into a pool of gasoline will not start a fire. Plus, they blow stuff up real good.

Negatives? Some of these myths are pretty obviously not true and anyone who thinks they are is kind of retarded.

How is this helpful to writers? Most of the things they investigate are things that happen in films. So the next time you decide to make your hero flip his car upside down under a crane to use the crane hook to take a bomb off the bottom of your sports car before flipping it back around and casually driving on you merry way, you may want to consult with these guys first. If you care about realism.

2) Human Weapon. The History Channel.
Jason Chambers, a brutally hot and badass MMA fighter, and Bill Duff the former wrestler and football player, travel around seeking out different fighting styles. After a week of lessons, one of them fights a champion in that fighting style. I've learned a ton of new moves from this show. Discovery Channel is producing a clone of this show in January, but this is the original.

Negatives? Bill kind of sucks.

How is this helpful to writers? We all know a fight seen can't just say "They fight." It has to have some detail. If you can't learn kickboxing you can watch Human Weapon for ideas on how to stage your fights in a realistic and creative way.

1) Man vs Wild. Discovery Channel.
This is a man who has no trouble getting laid. For one thing, his name is Bear Grylls, so there's automatic cool points there. He travels around with a backpack demonstrating how to survive on your own in the wild. He eats raw goat testicles and drinks the liquid squeezed from a giant piece of elephant shit, and he wades his way through frozen rivers filled with parasites. I love how he doesn't try to be all macho because he may have a posh British accent but he's way more badder ass than all of us. When food tastes nasty he says so. When he's freezing his ass off he says so. When he needs to get naked and roll around in the dirt to survive he does so. He is bat shit crazy.

Negatives? Did you not just read what I wrote? How could there be any negatives? Sheesh.

How is this helpful to writers? If you're ever trapped in the wilderness with your laptop and a pocket knife you'll be thanking Bear Grylls.