‘Kings of Pain’ premieres on History
The meanest bite: One of the most compelling aspects of reality television is the ability to witness things without actually having to go through them.We get to experience the theatrics of love without the consequences in “The Bachelor,” the raging of youth without the headaches via “Below Deck,” and, now, audiences get to understand the highest levels of human pain from the comfort and safety of their homes when “Kings of Pain” premieres Tuesday, Nov. 12, on History.
True to its name, this new eight-episode series tests the limits of our bodies’ natural ability to withstand physical trauma, all done in the hopes of compiling these experiences into instructional data. So, really, what I’m trying to say is: if you’ve ever wondered what exactly it is that you could learn from seeing a man willingly offer his arm to a six-foot python, you’re going to want to tune in to this one.
The “Kings” in question are wildlife biologist Adam Thorn and veteran animal handler Rob Alleva. Each episode features the men being bitten, squeezed and stung by some of the most dangerous and aggressive insects and animals in the world, including — but not limited to — giant Asian centipedes, scorpion fish, piranhas, executioner wasps, tarantula hawks, fire urchins, bullet ants and the Nile monitor lizard.
If your immediate reaction to all of this is a distressed, “Why!?” — well, I’m right there with you. But Thorn and Alleva aren’t allowing themselves to be munched on for the sake of entertainment alone.There is a method behind their madness.
The “Jackass”-adjacent duo is using “Kings of Pain” as an attempt to create a comprehensive pain index that, when used by first responders or people in situations similar to the ones the show depicts, could save lives. Using Dr. Justin O. Schmidt’s pain index as a jumping point, which is a four-point scale that relates human sensitivity to insect stings, Thorn and Alleva are adding many more varieties of bites from different species to the range in an effort to form a full 30-point scale. Each point is ranked by intensity, duration and overall damage.
Join in on the suffering in the name of science, or just because you can’t look away, when “Kings of Pain” premieres Tuesday, Nov. 12, on History.
New city, same ol’ South: “Floribama Shore” is back, and returning cast members Aimee, Kortni, Nilsa, Candace, Codi, Gus, Jeremiah and Kirk are ready for a change of scenery. Come Thursday, Nov. 14, on MTV, audiences will see what kind of dysfunction and adventure the housemates get up to as they switch their base from the show’s signature Panama City Beach bars to The Sunshine City itself: St. Petersburg, Florida.
Whether the move comes as a way to bring a different kind of energy to the third season of the reality show, or as a result of two years of the cast being kicked out of most of their party grounds in Panama City, one thing is for certain: with a group of young adults like this, any new situation is bound to be tinged with some kind of craziness. Or, as cast member Nilsa has said about the city change, “It was like a whole new cesspool of boys and new people.”
In addition to the new Floridian landscape, there’s a new face joining this season. Mattie Breaux is no stranger to the reality show genre, having participated in shows such as MTV’s “The Challenge” and CMT’s “Party Down South.” However, joining a show such as “Floribama Shore” a couple of years into its run might prove dramatic for the new player, especially considering the host of deeply tense relationships that have made their mark on the house’s dynamics, like Kortni and Jeremiah, Nilsa and
Gus, Codi and Candace, and all of the friendships trying to exist in between.
Add a couple of long-distance relationships, an arrest for disorderly conduct and exposure and broken bromances to the mix, and there’s little reason to miss out on this new edition of sun-burned Southern debauchery.
In praise of the out-of-the-box turkey dinner: Chef Carla Hall has seen her fair share of unorthodox meals and treats throughout her 20 years in the food industry. Perhaps it is this very expertise, and her time on performance shows such as “Top Chef” and “The Chew,” that have led her to her delightfully off-kilter Thanksgiving special, “Thanksgiving Grubdown,” premiering Monday, Nov. 11, on Cooking Channel.
The prime-time special runs down a list of perfectly odd and delicious treats for the holiday, offering unconventional ways to celebrate Turkey Day in the kitchen, and Hall isn’t playing around. From an unbelievable pumpkin pancake-cheesecake combination dish to a giant all-in-one Thanksgiving-themed sandwich, and even a 23-pound cake made with literal pies, it’s probably best to tune in to Hall’s program with an empty stomach. See how much twisted culinary fun there is to be had during the Thanksgiving holiday with Hall when “Thanksgiving Grubdown” premieres Monday, Nov. 11, on Cooking Channel.