Watch Oddities
- 2010
- 6 Seasons
-
7.9 (728)
Oddities was a reality television show that aired on Discovery Channel from 2010 to 2014, and followed the day-to-day operations of Obscura Antiques & Oddities, an antique shop located in New York City's East Village. The show was hosted by Evan Michelson, co-owner of the shop, and her business partners Mike Zohn and Ryan Matthew. The shop specialized in selling all sorts of oddities, such as taxidermy, medical artifacts, vintage clothing, antique jewelry, and many other bizarre and unique items. Each episode of the show focused on the shop's staff as they dealt with clients and searched for rare and unusual items to add to their inventory. One of the show's primary draws was the eccentric and quirky personality of the shop's staff. Evan Michelson was a classically trained artist and former musician, who had a deep fascination with medical oddities and the macabre. Mike Zohn was a seasoned dealer in unusual antiques and had an encyclopedic knowledge of history and pop culture. Ryan Matthew was the shop's jack-of-all-trades, handling everything from sales to the shop's website. The show often featured surreal and offbeat moments, such as a client who commissioned a taxidermy diorama of a mermaid and a unicorn, or the shop's acquisition of a fully articulated skeleton of a giant squid. The staff also provided commentary and context for the items they sold or purchased, explaining the historical significance or cultural importance of each object. The show's popularity stemmed from its ability to appeal to both collectors and casual viewers. For collectors, the show offered a glimpse into the world of oddities and the unique and often private communities that collect them. For casual viewers, the show provided an entertaining, if somewhat strange, look into a world they may have never encountered before. Oddities was also known for its production values, with visually stunning shots of the shop and its merchandise intercut with interviews with the staff and vignettes of the shop's day-to-day operations. The show's cinematography and editing were particularly impressive, giving the show a distinctive and immersive visual style. Overall, Oddities was a unique and fascinating show that showcased the weird and wonderful world of antique collecting and the people who inhabit it. Its compelling cast of characters, surreal moments, and beautiful cinematography made it a must-watch show for anyone interested in the strange and unusual.
