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MythBusters

MythBusters is an Australian science entertainment television series created by Peter Rees and produced by Beyond International for the Discovery Channel.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

MythBusters is an Australian science entertainment television series created by Peter Rees and produced by Beyond International for the Discovery Channel. It premiered in 2003 and ran until 2018, with hosts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman using scientific methods to test myths, rumors, and popular claims.

Premise

MythBusters followed a team that recreated conditions from myths and popular claims to determine whether they were plausible, likely, or false. The show framed its tests around the scientific method and practical experimentation.

Production and broadcast

The series was created by Australian television producer Peter Rees and produced by Beyond International. It premiered on Discovery Channel in 2003 and was distributed across Discovery-related channels worldwide.

Cast and format

Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman were the original hosts and principal experimenters. The show later featured Kari Byron, Tory Belleci, and Grant Imahara as part of the build-and-test team.

Reception and legacy

MythBusters became widely recognized as a popular science-entertainment series. Its mix of testing, engineering, and spectacle made it one of Discovery's best-known factual entertainment programs.

Key facts

  • MythBusters tested urban legends, myths, adages, internet videos, and movie scenes using experiments.
  • The show was hosted by special effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman for most of its run.
  • It combined scientific testing with large-scale demonstrations and explosions.
  • The series aired on Discovery Channel and related Discovery networks internationally.
  • Later seasons included additional presenters such as Kari Byron, Tory Belleci, and Grant Imahara.
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Canadian context

MythBusters aired internationally on Discovery-related channels and was widely available in Canada through science and specialty television distribution, making it familiar to Canadian audiences interested in STEM-oriented factual entertainment.

Frequently asked questions

What is MythBusters about?
It is a science entertainment series that tests myths, rumors, and popular claims through experiments.
Who created MythBusters?
The series was created by Peter Rees.
Who hosted MythBusters?
The original hosts were Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman.
When did MythBusters premiere?
It premiered on January 23, 2003.
When did MythBusters end?
The original run ended on February 21, 2018.
How many episodes were there?
The series had 300 episodes.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters
    Supports: Created by Peter Rees; production by Beyond International; premiere on Discovery Channel in 2003; original hosts; scientific testing premise.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383126/
    Supports: Series dates, premise, creator attribution, and episode count.
  3. TVmaze — https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/379/mythbusters
    Supports: Network, status ended, creator, and cast information.
  4. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/mythbusters/1030051284/
    Supports: Run dates, seasons, and premise.