Suggestions to Top Shot Producers

[gose]

You know, you guys could just watch 3 Gun Nation instead of reinventing Top Shot.

Got the threegunners covered. Got the heads up competition covered.

Eliminate the living together drama covered.

Sounds pretty good to me!

But of course I am biased!!!!

Patrick

I really wish I got that channel

-rvb

You do get internet though, right?

http://3gunnation.com/tv

[mpolans]

Take an AKM, an AR, a Sig 556, and a SCAR, field strip them all, throw the parts together in a bucket, shake it a bit. Fastest to assemble a gun and shoot it wins.

Field strip an AR and put it in a box covered with a blanket. Shooting competition starts by assembling by feel only.

Make 4 shooting stations, each out to 200 yards. Put them on a 2 mile course. Score is half shooting, half run time.

But the show is called "Top Shot," not "Top 18 Bravo."

Edited August 16, 2010 by mpolans

[SinistralRifleman]

Any competition that relies on competitors voting other competitors off is not a legitimate competition.

When all of us were trying out for this show they said they wanted people skilled with as many different weapons as possible. For the most part they chose specialists that were experts within their respective disciplines but not over all multi-functional.

With these things in mind; They should pick 10-16 people. Everyone competes in every challenge as an individual. Stages are graded on a curve. Whenever someone falls below X aggregate percentage over all, eliminate them. In fact maybe not eliminate anyone for 2-4 challenges and allow everyone to accrue points, after those challenges then eliminate the lowest few people.

The show should also include more historical information on the firearms being used; this is the history channel after all.

[jar]

With these things in mind; They should pick 10-16 people. Everyone competes in every challenge as an individual. Stages are graded on a curve. Whenever someone falls below X aggregate percentage over all, eliminate them. In fact maybe not eliminate anyone for 2-4 challenges and allow everyone to accrue points, after those challenges then eliminate the lowest few people.

This will never work for TV. How did it go the last time you tried to explain USPSA scoring to someone new?

[Resjudicata]

The above post brings up a suggestion I would have for the producers after watching the last episode.

I would like to see more information about the challenge given to the audience. Not so much to be confusing but enough to understand what the restrictions are on the event. When the final two shooters were on the AR they both shot from a rest. The same with the last rifle.

Why didn't the shooters do this with all the firearms? I assume because they were restricted in some way. But, the audience does not know this. It would only take a few words to say "from standing position" or "freestyle, shoot however you want" for the audience to get this info.

Also, I may have said this before but, the editor, director, producer need to all do a better job. Several times something has been shown that is specifically not what is being described including in the last episode. And, things shown in the teaser/lead in that gives away the ending. This is just basic stuff that should be done right.

Chris

[MarkCO]

You know, you guys could just watch 3 Gun Nation instead of reinventing Top Shot.

Got the threegunners covered. Got the heads up competition covered.

Eliminate the living together drama covered.

Sounds pretty good to me!

But of course I am biased!!!!

Patrick

And heck, a 3-gunner won Top Shot anyway...

[Resjudicata]

Some one might want to put "spoiler alert" on the above post. Some people may still not have seen the episode.

Chris

[Corey]

Some one might want to put "spoiler alert" on the above post. Some people may still not have seen the episode.

Chris

someone posted another thread with the winner's name in the title. the surprise is over now

[Resjudicata]

Some one might want to put "spoiler alert" on the above post. Some people may still not have seen the episode.

Chris

someone posted another thread with the winner's name in the title. the surprise is over now

Oh, okay. I didn't see that. I went ahead and watched it on Hulu this morning cause I figured something like that might happen.

Chris

[SinistralRifleman]

This will never work for TV. How did it go the last time you tried to explain USPSA scoring to someone new?

Why not? I think some graphics with points accrued in a bar graph format would make it easy enough to understand. The audience doesn't need to know the math behind the points, just who has the most points and how many points are needed to win.

I have no idea how football is scored but I can still see how many points one team has vs another. I can watch Ninja Warrior in Japanese and not even read the subtitles, but know who has the most time left on the clock at the end of a stage. Graphic overlays.

[PINMAN44]

No more Colby!

[Chuck Anderson]

Pay attention to when you place the next weeks preview. If you're showing one of the two competitors in the elimination challenge as being in next weekends episode, before you show the elimination challenge, people are going to figure things out.

[Resjudicata]

Pay attention to when you place the next weeks preview. If you're showing one of the two competitors in the elimination challenge as being in next weekends episode, before you show the elimination challenge, people are going to figure things out.

Amen.

The show had a lot of little bugs this season. Hopefully the attention they got helps them improve for next season.

Chris

[JFlowers]

Like many other competition reality shows (think Ultimate Fighter rather than Big Brother) they need to mix the format up. That way competitors can not game a system they think they have seen before. So maybe Season 2, you do all the challenges as Individual Challenges. Everyone shoots and the low man goes home. Or keep the Teams, but the low man on each team goes home.

Maybe a better selection of firearms. Some actual "competition" based events, like a modified Bianchi Falling Plate event, or a Flurry shotgun event from Sportsman Challenge. Don't try to copy 3Gun Nation. Its a very dedicated narrowly focused man-a-man tournament. Top Shot events need to cross the range of shooting in the US. The only Season 1 event I was really disappointed with was the Throwing Knives, but that has been a staple of American Legend and Carnival Acts so it did fit the mold, somewhat.

Better sponsorship, broader range of "experts", ability to plug various US and International Competitions with events, I think the opportunity to improve the show is there.

[entropic]

Let the guys practice!

Hey JJ, here's a rifle but you don't know where it hits, try to hit something with it, you only get one shot though.... huh?

[j1b]

My big suggestion would be to let the guys practice.

Make the game less about chance and luck, more about skill. And I think the guys (and gals) should have a fair chance to feel good about the guns they are shooting. I never got that sense off the show. In some instances it felt like guys got 10-15 shots with a weapon. That just isn't adequate.

I like the idea about doing something where a "show" is three "stages" of something. Points are generated based off a relatively simple criteria that likely changes with each game. Needs to be simple for the audience, but it doesn't have to be the same every show.

And then I do like the idea of the person that is "last" after a few stages gets knocked off. THe voting thing created drama and I can appreciate the need for that for TV. But I think the same feeling can be generated if shooting drama draws the audience in. The big challenge with that is that there could be some very clear blowouts. And that isn't great for TV. Some of the guys on the show I think would have gotten knocked off very quickly in a format like this. In some instances it would have almost been embarrassing which might lead the audience to think "are these guys really the best?"

Overall though I'm a supporter of having the show. I think it did well to advocate the shooting sports. Change the format a tick and competitions could start to be generated across the US - getting participation up would be a big win - even if the games are different than what most of us play.

J

[kdmoore]

Here are suggestions. I liked the show overall, and felt like the non shooting aspects help sell the show to the masses. Not my favorite part ... but survivor would be a lot less popular (?) if it was more like "man vs wild" and less coalition building. For the same reason, keep up the colorful targets, slowmo shots, exploding targets, etc.

Some of the problems might have been due to budget constraints and learning curve (limited rounds and practice, stage malfunctions, editing, etc) Would hope that they learn from their first season.

I'd change it from using weapons to firearms (small arms). I don't mind the slingshots, knives, etc, but 'top shots" to me designates shooting. I'd stick to firearms, or at least trigger activated weapons.

A whole show without a 1911? Not a single pump shotgun? No Glocks? really?

Shotguns are WAY to popular to have had such a minor part on the show. More shotgunning. Huge potential for highlighting their versatility by running slugs, buck and bird thru an 870 in a single competition. Huge potential for photogenic shots too.

I'd love to recreate famous shots, as was said before (york, et al). Maybe go thru the medal of honor stories or other historical/famous situations.

Full auto ... seriously, combine this with the above suggestion ... recreate a war story involving something with the "go fast" switch. Not sure what the challenges look like, but there are subgun matches run ... maybe do some research on youtube.

Get an expert to provide color. For instance, I don't think JJ ran his pistol dry on the dueling tree ... so he had a lot more of his time available to the trigger (tho he didn't need it). Maybe walk thru what Kelly had to factor in on his long distance shooting (windage, drop, etc) ... just like the color given during obscure sports (competitive dancing, synchronized swimming, etc).

I like the pressure that sudden death brings, so I don't think accumulating points is a good thing.

Team events where coordination is needed. I.E. members covering each others during reloads.

I really liked the "horse" competition. added strategy to the mix, and has a ton of potential. Would have been fun to seen Kelly request a 1000 yd target.

I felt like we got to far from measuring accuracy. For instance, the shoot off where Blake left or the archery event. Don't exclude timing as the score completely, but add in more accuracy events (combine them with a time limit if desired).

I LOVED the final event, running thru the weapons of the season in a head to head setting. WELL DONE.

Possibilities ... thinking outside of the box ... have teams from disciplines (and therefor more teams). Trap shooters vs USPSA vs high power vs SASS etc.

[SinistralRifleman]

Possibilities ... thinking outside of the box ... have teams from disciplines (and therefor more teams). Trap shooters vs USPSA vs high power vs SASS etc.

If it were to be a team based competition this is what I would suggest.

Each team has an accomplished High Power, Cowboy, USPSA, 3 Gunner, Precision Rifle, Sporting Clays, etc shooter on their team. The teams compete in events against each other in all these different disciplines. Here's the catch, the expert in that sport doesn't shoot, its his job to be the coach/trainer for the others prior to the event.

[Bryan 45]

Each team has an accomplished High Power, Cowboy, USPSA, 3 Gunner, Precision Rifle, Sporting Clays, etc shooter on their team. The teams compete in events against each other in all these different disciplines. Here's the catch, the expert in that sport doesn't shoot, its his job to be the coach/trainer for the others prior to the event.

Now that would be cool!!!

[M ammo]

How did I miss that He was a 3 Gunner???????????

That explains allot!

[Charles Bond]

Possibilities ... thinking outside of the box ... have teams from disciplines (and therefor more teams). Trap shooters vs USPSA vs high power vs SASS etc.

If it were to be a team based competition this is what I would suggest.

Each team has an accomplished High Power, Cowboy, USPSA, 3 Gunner, Precision Rifle, Sporting Clays, etc shooter on their team. The teams compete in events against each other in all these different disciplines. Here's the catch, the expert in that sport doesn't shoot, its his job to be the coach/trainer for the others prior to the event.

We had a good start to this with Chevy Team Challenge and then they reduced the prize money. This might make a real good made for TV match. Of course like any good idea, the challenge is to sell it. Where is Michael Bane when you need him?

[xsniper]

Possibilities ... thinking outside of the box ... have teams from disciplines (and therefor more teams). Trap shooters vs USPSA vs high power vs SASS etc.

If it were to be a team based competition this is what I would suggest.

Each team has an accomplished High Power, Cowboy, USPSA, 3 Gunner, Precision Rifle, Sporting Clays, etc shooter on their team. The teams compete in events against each other in all these different disciplines. Here's the catch, the expert in that sport doesn't shoot, its his job to be the coach/trainer for the others prior to the event.

Now this is a good idea!!!!

[duramaxtech]

How did it go the last time you tried to explain USPSA scoring to someone new?

Went very well, but then again my wife (who I was explaining it to) is a mathematician

[Cold Absolute Zero]

I really enjoyed season 1 but I would like a couple of improvements.

More practice time, even if it is only dry firing. "Issue" contestants the same gear so that they can practice with it and become familiar with it. i.e. belts, holsters, pouches, blue guns, etc...

Keep the plate dueling trees, that was really cool, but include draw and reloads off the belt.

Some shooting in low light

R L ERMEY as the host

Allow contestants to bring 3 of their own firearms, 1 L10 pistol, shotgun and rifle. Rifles will be allowed to be loaded to standard magazine capacities. Create an episode where contestans can actually compete with THEIR firearms in a USPSA/3G format. Challenge shooters in inclement weather, through more difficult physical challenges and at unknown ranges so that the shooter and the platform the shooter chooses to employ is tested.

CAZ

[jhgtyre]

I really love some of the suggestions here but I gotta say R. Lee kinda wears thin at times. I really liked Matt Burkett's appearance on the show and would like to see him as the host. He shoots a variety of disciplines well and has camera experience. I think he would be a great fit.

-ld