Well i will offer a different opinion here and go against the grain.....
I think Fast and loud, counting cars, are beneficial to the hobby, just as Car Crazy or Overhauling or any of the others are helpful.
The way I look at it is, all these shows are air time, revenue generating machines, and I think keeps the hobby in the forefront.
I was at one of my daughters functions the other day, and saw a father with a Gas Monkey garage shirt on. (you couldn't pay me to wear one of those) I thought the shirt was a good opening to ask him about the show and if he perhaps owned an older car. He said he didn't own one "yet", but really liked the show. So he has the idea of owning one and if the opportunity came about he might be able to do so. The Show was this guys connection. Even My Auntie and older cousins watch fast and loud, more because the comedy portion of the show, but in any event it exposes more people to it. Now I will not pretend to say I agree with all the practices on each show, but as i said the exposure and keeping old cars in the spotlight, I think is what's important.
Now I get it, once there is so much exposure the only place to go is down, but my hope is the message will have found its way to a new generation to keep everything going. I mean, what is the point of all these retro looking cars of Mustangs, Challengers, and Camaros if the baby boomers, Gen X, and millennials don't care about the originals?
