Getty Image / ANDREAS BRANCH/Patrick McMullan/Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle
the cast of MythBusters standing in front of the original MythBusters sign
Though it has been off the air for 10 years, MythBusters remains one of the most entertaining science-based TV shows of all time. These days the show endures with its own channel on DirecTV and through ‘Best Of’ clips on YouTube, showcasing all of the greatest moments from Adam Savage, Jamie Hyneman, Kari, Tory, Grant, and the others.
Since there is an entire generation growing up without MythBusters to teach them how fun experimentation in science can be, and the importance of actually testing myths and hypotheses versus making assumptions, this is the perfect time and opportunity to showcase 11 of the best episodes of MythBusters of all time.
Ranking 11 of the Best Episodes of ‘MythBusters’ Ever
Some of these episodes are niche. Others are widely accepted as being among the best MythBusters episodes to ever air on TV. All of them are educational in the best of ways, and a select few even include massive explosions. For this, we could have gone with the overall highest-rated episodes on IMDB but where is the fun in that? Instead, I used a super secret formula to come up with the final rankings so let’s dive into it!
1. S06E03: ‘Airplane on a Treadmill’
This episode aired on January 30, 2008. From the moment it aired, this episode was a classic among fans of the show. That’s because it tackled a highly-divisive and debated myth, whether an airplane could achieve forward motion on a conveyor belt moving backward.
Until this episode aired, this topic was hotly-debated on forums using theoretical mathematics and proofs. But once the episode dropped there was finally real-world proof.
2. S01E01: ‘Jet-Assisted Rocket Car’
The first-ever episode of MythBusters, the pilot, came out swinging hard with the Jet-Assisted Rocket Car myth. Jamie and Adam were, unfortunately, denied the chance to use actual rockets so they had to build rockets of their own and this alone helped set the stage for how epic the show would become for 17 glorious seasons. The Jet-Assisted Rocket Car myth would also return for two more attempts including the show’s 2013 anniversary special.
3. S10E1: ‘Duct Tape Island’
To kick off Season 10 of MythBusters back in 2012 the premise for this episode was simple: could Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman survive on a deserted island using nothing but duct tape. This episode was borne out of the movement at the time of people using duct tape for everything… to build wallets, shoes, clothes, everything. But could they actually survive stranded on an island using just duct tape and everything around them? Brilliant stuff and a perfect way to start the season.
4. S06E11: ‘NASA Moon Landing Hoax’
It was only a matter of time until Jamie and Adam tackled what many believed was the largest hoax in history: NASA’s moon landing. Of course, everyone reading this knows the moon landing was real and not faked. But that hasn’t stopped millions of mouth breathers worldwide from questioning the legitimacy of the moon landing.
Did this episode stop the non-believers from spreading lies? Sadly, no. But it was a legendary episode!
5. S01E14: ‘Break Step Bridge/Toothbrush Surprise/Rowing Water Skier’
This one was a three-parter but the enduring myth from the episode to me will always be the poop particles on the toothbrush. They sought to test if bacteria from toilets spreads throughout the bathroom when toilets are flushed, and as an extension of that, whether fecal bacteria gets spread to a toothbrush if it is in the bathroom. As it turns out, nowhere is safe. There’s poop on everything, including our toothbrushes.
6. S03E14: ‘Bullet Proof Water, 360 Degree Swing’
The 80s and 90s where a wild time in Hollywood where Action movies occupied at least 50% of films released, or so it seemed. It was the golden age of ‘shoot ’em up’ films with action stars like Arnold, Sly, and JCVD.
A recurring trope from these movies was the action hero evading bullets by jumping into the water but nobody ever thought to actually scientifically test whether or not bullets stopped water until this episode. This is one episode of MythBusters that really stands out to me as having thoroughly tested a hypothesis on a topic we all took for granted because it was happening in front of our eyes on film.
7. S03E02: ‘Salsa Escape’
One of the coolest parts about MythBusters was the explosions. These days there are hundreds of copycats on YouTube with similar videos and none of the safety precautions, but when this episode aired and the MythBusters crew exploded a cement mixer truck it was groundbreaking television.
And to say that they exploded the truck is an understatement, there were certainly parts of the truck that were vaporized. The actual genesis of the test was whether or not a cement truck could be cleaned out using explosives but they of course had to up things a notch.
8. S3E18: ‘Jaws Special’
The Jaws Special episode of MythBusters probably did more to revitalize ‘Shark Week’ as we know it than any other moment in the past 25 years. For this episode, the crew tested pervasive myths from the movie JAWS including moments like exploding a SCUBA tank by shooting it with a rifle to blow up a shark.
Oh, they also had to work with a massive animatronic shark the size of the one used in JAWS. 10 out of 10 episode all around.
9. S4E19: ‘Mega Movie Myths’
Instead of tackling one myth multiple ways, in Season 4, Episode 19 they embarked on a ‘Mega Movie Myths’ episode where the crew busted myths from Austin Powers, Indiana Jones, and the Dukes of Hazzard. This episode transcended the show and drew in fan bases from all over. Genius concept, perfect execution.
10. S05E20: ‘Exploding Water Heater’
I said it before and I’ll say it again: explosions were one of the best parts about MythBusters. For episode 20 of season 5 they tested the myth of whether a hot water heater in a home can explode with enough force to destroy a house. Then the B-Squad of Tory (may he rest in peace), Grant, and Kari tested whether shrinking bluejeans in a bathtub could turn deadly. But this episode was really all about the explosion.
11. S08E03: ‘Spy Car Escape’
Last up we have the ‘Spy Car Escape’ episode which premiered on April 7, 2010. It tested the myth of the best way to lose a tail during a classic Spy Car Escape as seen in Hollywood movies.
What makes this episode stand out against the rest was how they combined Hollywood theatrics with actual science. They pitted engineering against stuntmen, testing oil slicks, spikes/tacks designed to pop tires, and a smoke screen that we’d all seen James Bond himself use in the past. Combining our collective imagination on how a real-world spy chase might take place with actual testing, this was a quintessential MythBusters episode.