I have an addiction. I'm addicted to the mecha-sploitation shows that are spreading all over the Discovery cable channel family.

It all began with Cathy Rogers' creation, Scrapheap Challenge, on Britain's Channel 4 -- later imported into the USA by TLC. There it was redubbed Junkyard Wars, eventually splitting off a parallel made-for-USA series, even though they continue to air the made-for-Britain shows (the latter are always better, of course) which feature the inimitable Robert Llewellyn as co-host. In whatever version, two teams are met with a challenge (build a steam-powered car, for example) and have ten hours to build the machine from scrap parts. The next day, their handiwork is put to the test. It's all clatter and bang and welding and witticisms -- a heady gearheading for gearheading's sake fantasy world. Currently, TLC is airing the most recent British series -- Wednesday nights at 9:00pm (eastern) -- the production values are enjoyably low-budget this time around, and we're finally getting some challenges that don't involve stripping down a car to splash around in the mud.

But of course, there's always changes, and Cathy Rogers has moved on from co-hosting Scrapheap/Junkyard to her new creation, Full Metal Challenge, with co-host Henry Rollins (yes, that Henry Rollins). In FMC, 27 teams from around the world had $3000 and one month to build multi-purpose vehicles able to face any challenge -- without knowing what the exact challenges would be. Now they face weekly elimination rounds of three teams each, until one is left standing. The vehicles are sometimes insane, the games are sometimes silly (Ten Pin) and sometimes scary (Pitball), and it all does a perfect job of turning me into a mesmerized seven year old child for an hour a week. TLC, Sundays and Wednesdays at 10:00pm.

Meanwhile, over on Discovery, there's Monster Garage, where high-bucks chopper builder, Jesse James -- of West Coast Choppers, heads a weekly team that modifies a stock-appearing vehicle to auto-convert into something wilder (Mustang/Lawnmower, Beetle/Swamp Airboat). Sounds a bit like Scrapheap, but with seven days and the budget to get proper parts. And more importantly, it's all soaked in Kalifornia Kustom atmosphere. Most of the team members come from the professional rod/kustom/chopper talent pool, and these people know their shit. The results are generally rather slick from the outside and solid as can be on the inside. The closing demo segment is rendered as a load of hokum, but I guess the producers figure the kids will eat it up. More wish-fulfillment motorheading, and I can't resist. Discovery, Mondays at 8:00pm.

And then there's the assorted motorcycle specials that turn up on one or the other of their channels. There's no end to it! Even the History Channel is getting into the act. And tonight it's motorcycle shows all night on TLC! Lord, please help me stop watching. Maybe a good ol' John Carradine zombie movie will snap me out of it.