The new tattoo reality TV shows looked interesting to me. Unfortunately, they seem more about employee drama in personal relationships than tattoos.

This is a real dissapointment when that same level of drama can be achieved with nearly any other reality TV show. If thats what I want, I’ll watch Real World Austin — but its not.

Shows such as American Chopper and American Hot Rod seem to do a much better job of capturing what everything is really about. Sure, the “drama” is still there, but at the end of the day the show is about to chopper or the hotrods — and they are damn nice at that.

Maybe I am missing something. To me Inked seems like 80% drama 20% tattoos. At least make it half and half.

A&E’s tattoo show — Inked premeired tonight. The show was cut up into 2 30-minute episodes.

Inked had many simularities to Miami Ink. I would like to see a little more about the actual tattoo art rather than so much emphasis on the characters & drama that occurs in the tattoo shops between owners and employees.

Miami Ink premeired on TLC tonight. The show follows a newly opened tattoo shop, the tattoo artists, and the people getting tattooed.

I found it amusing that they blurred the nipples on one man’s tattoo art. Is illustrated nudity on skin more dangerous than illustrated nudity on paper?

There is an article in today’s New York Times about TLC’s Miami Ink which premeires tonight. There are a few spoilers in the article; if you plan on seeing the show tonight don’t read it.

There is also an article in USA Today covering both Miami Ink & Inked.

This week two new tattoo shows will be on cable. Miami Ink will be on TLC and Inked on A&E premier Tuesday and Wednesday. Miami Ink is on Tuesday and 10 and Inked is on Wednesday and 9. You can find out more about the shows at their websites: http://www.aetv.com/inked/ and http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/miami-ink/miami-ink.html