BLOGS

Full Throttle Saloon: Why You Should Watch This Season

The TruTV series Full Throttle Saloon starts its third season tonight, albeit without the fanfare of a Jersey Shore or a Real Housewives of fill-in-the-blank. But that doesn't mean it is any less compelling. The show focuses on the popular bar at South Dakota's famed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and features lots of drunken people, loud music, half-naked women and a ton of money. Toss in some volatile relationships and you've got a solid reality show with rough-around-the-edges personalities that don't ham it up for the camera the way that the Situation or Lisa Vanderpump do.

Hot Girls
Full Throttle is more scantily clad than the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. There's no blurring of thongs here, just a ton of hot dancers and customers who have no trouble wearing skimpy outfits (when they bother at all), most of them extremely attractive. And that's not even counting the ladies of Flaunt, the saloon's trashier version of the Pussycat Dolls (we mean that as a compliment).

The "Family" Dynamics
Michael Ballard owns and operates the Full Throttle for ten days every year and while he thinks about selling every season, we can't imagine him without the place. His massive attraction draws in big crowds, and he seems to thrive on the pain that the business entails. His long-time love is Angie, who heads up the aforementioned Flaunt troupe and also runs a little corner called Angieland, which largely seems to involve her sitting on top of random guy's heads to show off her best asset. Ballard's entire family is always hanging around, and they really go for the gut when they bicker... and the more they squabble, the more enjoyable this show becomes.

The Ridiculous Performances
Last year, Jesse James Dupree (the lead singer of Jackyl, not to be confused with the cheating slimeball Jesse James) had himself shot out of a giant cannon across the front of the entire venue. It was pretty fantastic and this season it looks he's going to outdo himself, possibly by leaping from an insane height. He uses more pyrotechnics than we've ever seen in one place and has an unhealthy obsession with chainsaws. But as he's the Full Throttle's event producer, charged with booking and wrangling some often demanding acts, he and Ballard get into it pretty good as well, much to our entertainment.

The Unique Visitors to the Rally
This show would be nothing without the patrons who shell out money like it is nothing and get really drunk and behave inappropriately with the shot girls. Watching these bikers mingle, brawl and get tattoos of the Full Throttle Saloon is an endless source of amazement. Pair them with the odd people that work at FTS (such as our personal favorite, Fajita Mike) and you just never know what will happen.

The Cash Money
In this day and age where credit cards are king, it's incredible to see the stacks of money being thrown around at the Full Throttle. And watching Ballard deal with people who are stealing from him (thanks to some helpful security guards, who deserve hazard pay) is impressive. The way he counts each single dollar in the hopes that his business will succeed (taking occasional breaks to stare at weather reports in the hopes that Mother Nature will cooperate) has a bizarre -- and realistic -- desperation about it, which we don't normally get to see on shows like Pawn Stars or Hardcore Pawn.

There's An Edge to It
This show has a gritty vibe that counterculture shows like L.A. Ink tried and failed to capture. This show does it with ease just by showcasing the different walks of life who come to the bar. Honestly, we had no idea so many people were still obsessed with Jackyl. Or even knew who Jackyl was, for that matter. And where else are you going to see little people wrestling? TLC?

Think you're a TV or movie expert Prove it! Play Trivia Without Pity, our new online trivia game with over 2,000 questions about the shows and films you love -- and love to hate.

What are people saying about your favorite shows and stars right now? Find out with Talk Without Pity, the social media site for real TV fans. See Tweets and Facebook comments in real time and add your own -- all without leaving TWoP. Join the conversation now!

Comments

SHARE THE SNARK

X

Get the most of your experience.
Share the Snark!

See content relevant to you based on what your friends are reading and watching.

Share your activity with your friends to Facebook's News Feed, Timeline and Ticker.

Stay in Control: Delete any item from your activity that you choose not to share.

MOST RECENT POSTS

BLOG ARCHIVES

The Telefile

February 2013

21 Entries

January 2013

62 Entries

December 2012

44 Entries

November 2012

59 Entries

October 2012

69 Entries

September 2012

66 Entries

August 2012

65 Entries

July 2012

51 Entries

June 2012

58 Entries

May 2012

68 Entries

April 2012

71 Entries

March 2012

68 Entries

February 2012

64 Entries

January 2012

78 Entries

December 2011

49 Entries

November 2011

56 Entries

October 2011

74 Entries

September 2011

77 Entries

August 2011

61 Entries

July 2011

56 Entries

June 2011

57 Entries

May 2011

57 Entries

April 2011

78 Entries

March 2011

73 Entries

February 2011

57 Entries

January 2011

65 Entries

December 2010

39 Entries

November 2010

45 Entries

October 2010

46 Entries

September 2010

62 Entries

August 2010

55 Entries

July 2010

53 Entries

June 2010

65 Entries

May 2010

59 Entries

April 2010

57 Entries

March 2010

67 Entries

February 2010

53 Entries

January 2010

59 Entries

December 2009

32 Entries

November 2009

47 Entries

October 2009

65 Entries

September 2009

66 Entries

August 2009

58 Entries

July 2009

72 Entries

June 2009

71 Entries

May 2009

50 Entries

April 2009

57 Entries

March 2009

66 Entries

February 2009

52 Entries

January 2009

56 Entries

December 2008

51 Entries

November 2008

71 Entries

October 2008

88 Entries

September 2008

86 Entries

August 2008

120 Entries

July 2008

115 Entries

June 2008

90 Entries

May 2008

44 Entries

April 2008

30 Entries

March 2008

26 Entries

February 2008

30 Entries

January 2008

44 Entries

December 2007

31 Entries

November 2007

66 Entries

The Latest Activity On TwOP