A Mythbusters cast change announcement this evening left fans stunned, horrified and heartbroken. As the Season 9 finale closed, Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage made the announcement, alternating portions of the speech.
Adam:
It’s not only the end of the episode, and not only the end of the season. It is also the end of an era. This is the very last episode of Mythbusters to feature the incredible trio of Kari Byron, Tory Belleci, and Grant Imahara.
Jamie:
This next season, we’re going back to our origins which is just Adam and me.
Adam:
I want to take a moment to thank you guys for the incredible work over the last ten years. You’ve given literally your blood, sweat and tears in the name of science, and it has been a total pleasure not only to work with you but to call you our friends.
Jamie:
We wish you the very best of luck, and thank you.
Adam:
Bye guys.
According to IMDB , Kari has been with the Mythbusters cast since 2003, Tory joined in 2004, and Grant in 2005. As Adam says, there have been Mythbusters episodes in which they literally ran tests on their own body fluids (such as the episode where the cast tested to see if fear really had a scent, by collecting fear-sweat from each cast member and comparing the smell to ordinary sweat) and truly put their hearts and winning personalities to work for the show.
As respectful and sweet as hosts Jamie and Adam were as they made the announcement, fan responses range from heartbroken to irate:
Hey #PR folks, you want examples of how NOT to handle media? Check out how @MythBusters let go of half it’s cast in the season finale.
— Randi Mason (@randimason) August 22, 2014
Terrible decision @MythBusters . I’ll give the next season a shot, but it’s a huge uphill battle without the three musketeers. #MythBusters
— Captain Awesome 82 (@captawesome3) August 22, 2014
I cant believe the #mythbusters team is breaking up. What’s going on?
— Travis Young (@Gomisan) August 22, 2014
Check out the video of the final tribute to the three Mythbusters cast members who are leaving below:
We want to thank @KariByron @GrantImahara @ToryBelleci for their tireless work, and wish them all the best. https://t.co/pmMSqiRAH1
— MythBusters (@MythBusters) August 22, 2014
And here’s what the exiting cast members themselves had to say:
Grant:
Thanks @MythBusters for allowing us to teach science in a whole new way. Also, explosions. Now, on to the next adventure!
— Grant Imahara (@grantimahara) August 22, 2014
Kari:
I am sad for an ending but there will be exciting new adventures for us. — Kari Byron (@KariByron) August 22, 2014
Tory has so far offered no comment.
There’s also this tweet from Grant, which some are reading as a hint of what the three will be moving on to:
Wish… GRANTED? LOL RT @Transfan2 : ” @grantimahara @MythBusters Grant…one wish..KEEP MAKING ROCKIN’ ROBOTS”
— Grant Imahara (@grantimahara) August 22, 2014
According to Mythbusters Exhibition , Grant has a background of running the R2D2 robot, and combined with the three all leaving at once, and the special effects experience all three have, some fans have speculated they may be joining Disney to work on the Star Wars franchise.
Will you still watch now that the Mythbusters cast is changing? Let us know in the comments below!
UPDATE: Tory has now shared his thoughts on the change! He promises new things to come too!
You guys are so sweet. Thank you for all your tweets, but this means new beginnings…I promise.
— Tory Belleci (@ToryBelleci) August 22, 2014
[Photo Credit: Adam Savage Twitter ]