This Actually Looks Worth Watching (Tyson's Reality Show)

[Ksyrup]

Or at least, it doesn't appear to be the joke it looked like when the announcement about the show was made:



Taking on Tyson trailer, Mike Tyson make his pigeon racing series a must-watch
by Andy Dehnart / January 7, 2011, 7:04 AM

When Animal Planet first announced its reality series Taking on Tyson, on which Mike Tyson will race pigeons, it seemed like a joke. But like A&E’s Teach: Tony Danza, the reality turns out to be considerably different—at least judging by the trailer and Mike Tyson’s appearance in front of TV critics yesterday. Watching the preview, I felt pretty much like I did watching the preview of Whale Wars: Animal Planet is on to something here, and once again, has managed to illustrate why reality television is so amazing, because it can take us inside something we didn’t know existed and re-introduce us to people we thought we knew.

While this series is very different than Whale Wars—it doesn’t seem to have any of the adrenaline or action—and we’ll only know for sure once we see a full episode, you can see in the preview below that it’s beautifully shot and the characters look compelling. But it’s Mike Tyson who steals the show, and I think he will be the breakthrough reality star of 2011.

Talking to TV critics, he told us how his fighting career started when, as a kid, a bully killed his pigeon by tearing its head off, so he fought that kid. Later he gave us a lecture on pigeon racing history, explaining how it traces back to Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, and saying that this was a cultural phenomenon, not a mere hobby. He’s also hilarious; when the first question was about Michael Vick, he said, “I’m here to talk about pigeons and stuff.” Later, an Animal Planet exec read my tweet about the trailer to him, and he said, “Oh, thank you very much.” This was kind of surreal, because he was extremely gracious, and because I once used to play Mike Tyson’s Punch Out on Nintendo.

Overall, he seems thoughtful and damaged and interesting, all of which will, hopefully, make for a show that’s as great as its trailer:

(Video is at bottom of the page)

Taking on Tyson trailer, Mike Tyson make his pigeon racing series a must-watch + reality blurred

[jeff061]

Every time I read about him or hear someone talking about him it's always about how legitimately intelligent and insightful he is.

Wonder how much of his antics were an act and/or his head's just in a different place now.

[molson]

Ya, I think he's both very intelligent and has severe mental issues. Probably a lot of shit from his childhood too that he never dealt with.

[Ksyrup]

FYI, this show starts March 6th.

[Suicane75]

I seriously doubt his intelligence. I think if he doesn't rape or beat you to death you probably come away with an inflated sense of his worth.

[fantom1979]

I never got the impression that he is dumb. Mentally disturbed? Sure. Dumb? No. I have seen a bunch of interviews with him (The one with Ali and Tyson on Arsenio in '89 and movie Tyson come to mind) where he seems rational, remorseful, and for the most part level headed.

[Sgran]

Originally Posted by jeff061

Every time I read about him or hear someone talking about him it's always about how legitimately intelligent and insightful he is.

Wonder how much of his antics were an act and/or his head's just in a different place now.

Reminds me of when Sideshow Bob is asked to explain the tattoo on his chest that says "Die, Bart, Die!" and he says something like "no, that's just a German expression." The jury is placated and one woman turns to her left and says "no one who speaks German could be an evil man."

[jeff061]

I've watched the guy go incredibly in depth on European history and the history of raising pigeons. All said in his little Mike Tyson voice, which is entertaining.