While the entertainment thing I am sure has some truth behind it, I cannot personally get past the "expert" crap which has existed since E1; he is a complete and total D bag. The way he rags on everyone is a sure sign he has security issues, I suspect he was without lunch money frequently growing up. His pal Darren was just as bad and in some ways worse, but took an immense amount of abuse that in other places/situations would surely have ended in some work place violence. It is just a worthless show overall (at least to me). Every car show has some level of "entertainment" whether it is showing the staff racing go carts, a deeper look into one or two of the staff's personal lives, etc. While I could do without these segments I totally get why they are there, to give depth to the show and to pull in the non car person to watch.
Conversely you have Fantom Works; way too much drama in virtually every segment most of which is clearly fabricated for the camera. Every issue no matter how small is catastrophic and is accompanied with stern looks, cussing, and a show of defeat; all of which are intended to get the viewer concerned so that they will watch to see if it is resolved, which of course it is in the next segment (usually very easily). I cannot watch that show due to that aspect and the fact that they are no different than any other corner garage in the country, they do not do anything "special" or unique. The closest they go was the fiberglass top for the 63 corvette roadsters which was pretty neat but I think flopped because no 2 cars are exactly the same and the cost of fitting one is probably prohibitive to most (or they don't seal or something).
I don't watch car shows for the sheer entertainment, I want to see something unique or interesting done that I maybe have not tried or thought of. I understand that these shows are in the end "entertainment" but the "good" shows actually show you something you want to do, wish you could do, wish you could afford, or something that you can do. Shows that do this (IMO) are Bitchin rides, Full Custom Garage, some of the early Gas Monkey shows, wheeler dealers, Jay Leno's garage, garage squad, Roadkill, Hot Rod garage, Gearz, Fourwheelin, vegas rat rods, and I am sure there are a few more I am forgetting and a few I haven't watched.
While GYC has the potential to be a great show (for Mopar guys), I sincerely believe that Mark's personality, ego and downright lack of ability prohibit this from ever happening. Ergo, this show will forever suck regardless of how much car building they actually show.
