“We had a certain amount of trepidation at first because we are known for doing these large and spectacular stunts with explosives and weapons,” Hyneman says. “But we found a way to work within the limits of the stage. Still, we require people who come onstage to wear safety gear, if that tells you anything.”

Neither Hyneman nor Savage studied science in college. Hyneman has a degree in Russian; Savage dropped out of New York University after studying acting. But both are special-effects experts, hence the show’s unorthodox approach and car crashes.

“We’re not guys in white lab coats,” Hyneman says. “The fact is we acquired most of our interest through doing the show. A lot of time we’re experimenting with stuff without knowing what the results are going to be. We like to say that if we actually knew what we were doing, we wouldn’t be any fun to watch.”

Another reason the show works is the dramatic tension between Hyneman and Savage. If after close observation you have deduced these two stars don’t like each other much, you would be correct. During their 20-year relationship, the two have never eaten dinner alone together.