Street Outlaws, an iconic American reality TV show, has captivated audiences with its adrenaline-pumping street racing competitions, where skill and speed collide to determine the ultimate champion. Amidst the screeching tires and high-octane drama, one name stands out — Big Chief. A racing legend and fan favorite, his absence sent shockwaves through the devoted viewer base, leaving them wondering: What happened to Big Chief?
Since its debut on the Discovery Channel in 2013, Street Outlaws has become a cultural phenomenon, drawing in enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike. At the heart of the show is Justin Shearer, known far and wide as “Big Chief,” a moniker that has become synonymous with both fierce competition and charismatic hosting. As the show’s central figure, his presence has been the bedrock of the series, driving its popularity to soaring heights.
Far beyond his role as a mere host, Big Chief showcased exceptional driving prowess, consistently challenging his fellow racers and leaving them in awe. Undoubtedly, he embodies the essence of Street Outlaws, being its beating heart and soul. Over time, fans have become accustomed to his familiar face gracing their screens, forming an undeniable attachment to his persona.
With lots of rumors swirling around and people guessing where he went, let’s find out what actually happened to our favorite guy, Big Chief.
Big Chief has been a familiar face on the show for quite a while, but this isn’t the first time he’s taken a break. In the past, he stepped away to spend more time with his family.
His previous absence was because Big Chief got into a bad accident during a race. Back when he was racing against Brian Chucky Davis, he lost control of his car and ended up crashing. This accident caused serious injuries, including spinal cord injuries, and he had to take time off to recover.
Now, it seems like the main reason Big Chief isn’t on Street Outlaws has to do with the rules of the production company. He had an issue with their “race your way in” policy, which meant that winners of certain preseason races would get a chance to be on Street Outlaws. He noticed that many racers from Street Outlaws: Memphis were getting chosen, while others weren’t.
Big Chief explained that he disagreed with this policy. He thought it unfair that some racers got opportunities while others were left out.
Is Big Chief Back On Street Outlaws?
So, what does it mean for his future with Street Outlaws? As of now, Big Chief’s return to the show seems uncertain. He made it clear that he doesn’t regret leaving the show and hasn’t made any announcements about coming back. Fans have been eager to know if he’ll make a comeback, but so far, there’s been no official word.
In April 2022, Big Chief shared his perspective on leaving Street Outlaws through a YouTube video. He recounted an incident where he went to race on the 405 show and was asked to stay for an extra day to finish filming. Unfortunately, his car encountered some issues during this time, which led to him having to spend eight months fixing it. He expressed his excitement about being part of “America’s List,” a spin-off show, but also highlighted that he felt certain racing rules needed adjustment.
Big Chief’s departure was driven by his principles and dedication to street racing. He emphasized that he’s always been committed to his unique approach, refusing to change his racing strategy solely because it’s what others are doing. He clarified that he builds his life around street racing and is willing to invest time and money to improve his car’s performance.
In essence, Big Chief’s departure from Street Outlaws wasn’t due to a lack of skill or interest, but rather a clash of values and approaches. As for his future with the show, the ball seems to be in the air. For now, fans will have to wait and watch to see if the beloved Big Chief will ever make a triumphant return to the world of street racing and the screen.
Big Chief from Street Outlaws has shifted his focus to his company, Midwest Street Cars, following his departure from the show. Instead of the TV screen, he’s now often seen on YouTube, where he shares videos of his car-building endeavors, putting them to the test on the race track, and even engaging in street racing.
Recently, he posted a video titled “Chief is Making Some Changes to The Crow & Testing Caddy Jack!” In this latest series of videos, he’s diving into the process of testing and fine-tuning his caddyjack.
It’s clear that Big Chief is still deeply invested in the world of cars and racing, and he’s channeling his passion and expertise into his own ventures. Through his YouTube content, he’s giving fans a window into his ongoing automotive pursuits, allowing them to follow along with his car-building and racing adventures beyond the realm of Street Outlaws.
When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.
Lost
The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc
The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs.
Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley
Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta
The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’ where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s
The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.
2. Manifest (2018)
IMDB ratings: 7.1/10
Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez
Creator: Jeff Rake
The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY
I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.
3. Lost Room (2006)
IMDB ratings: 8.1/10
Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson
Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom
This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU
One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.
4. Twins Peaks (1990)
IMDB ratings: 8.8/10
Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch
Creator: David Lynch
David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I
With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of thesatirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted! If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.
The Prisoners (1967)
IMDB ratings: 8.5/10
Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien
Creator: Patrick McGoohan
The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms
The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.
6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)
IMDB ratings: 8.7/10
Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer
Creator: Glen A. Larson
The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek. Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8
The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost.
7. The New People (1969)
IMDB ratings: 7.3/10
Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling
Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling
The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean.
By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.
8. Flight 29 Down (2005)
IMDB ratings: 7.2/10
Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu
Creator: Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale
The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k
Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.
9. Fringe (2008)
IMDB ratings: 8.4/10
Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson
Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci
Fringeis a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE
Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe.
10. Alcatraz (2012)
IMDB ratings: 6.9/10
Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne
Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt
This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k
In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz.
11. Under the Dome (2013)
IMDB ratings: 6.5/10
Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre
Creator: Stephen King
Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk
Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost.
12. Dark (2017)
IMDB ratings: 8.7/10
Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz
Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese
The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA
After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.
Honourable Mentions
Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless:
