I tried. I really tried.
Channel surfed across the show. Made it only about 25 seconds before HawASS acted like a complete asshole to one of his people.
I turned off the TV.
His hissy-fits are either real or staged, and it’s arguable which makes them more despicable and the less worth watching. I wonder if History Channel knew they had a dud before this aired.
Well, Dayton does have some potholes that nearly rival the Great Pyramids in their expanse and magnificence.
So, do they have a Loser’s Lounge for Zoe and others who get kicked off of the ‘expedition’?
Hawas is in his early 60’s (born 1947). I am surprised that he can still move around so quickly inside the pyramids. Especially in that heat. It must be 120 F inside those stone ovens err pyramids.
Sure had those interns dragging behind.
Who would want to work with that asshole? He is rude and overbearing. He is in charge of everything ,so i suppose you have to bite your tongue . If he is too busy to do the job, how about hiring assistants? I think he should expect to get sucker punched sometime.
I thought the 2nd episode was a lot better. There was some fantastic footage of the 5 chambers in the great pyramid. This is the sort of thing HD was designed for.
Hawas didn’t yell so much in this one. I’m trying hard to focus on the pyramid and ignore the drama. I’m sure bathroom breaks have come up before. You think all those English explorers went in without taking a piss once in awhile?
Anyhow. I’m starting to enjoy the show in spite of the human drama.
Actually according to a friend of mine who is curator in a major museum, pissing in tombs is (or was) rather common. Since a lot of these tombs involve being very far underground, in sometimes rather inaccessible places, for long periods of time, when excavating, the workers will often just kinda pick which corner they are all going to use to relive calls of nature.
The great thing is she told me this story because her museum had recently put in a replica of a tomb that people could crawl through to see what such tombs were like. The first day it was open, a little boy "christened" the replica tomb by taking a leak in the corner.
So Zoe was likely not the first person to water the Great Pyramid. Not that I think people should be using one of the world's major monuments as an outhouse, but it wasn't like she was going to be able to make a quick dash to the ladies room.Damn you, DAMN YOU for beating me to this thread! 
The audio portion of the tour was ‘inspired’ too. Had Harrison Ford and Hawas talking about things…only it was Hawass saying:
“I remember the first time I saw this tomb. I was 16, and it left an indelible mark on my life.” <recording ends>
Um. Okay. Thanks for that!
This program is primarily about the OVER THE TOP ego-maniacal Zahi Hawass, and his seemingly schizophrenic penchant for wielding his authority to brow beat college kids (actors) trying to learn about ancient relics. Hawass is so unbearable that he renders the show almost unwatchable. The best hope is that the season finale will include Hawass suffering a cave-in at an excavation, or shows one of his assistants lashing him to a bedouin’s wayward camel with a choke collar and setting it loose across the desert at a full gallop. Trust me, after watching an episode or 2, you will agree…Horrible Horrible Horrible.
Better - those students give a lesson in the techniques of mummification, with Dr. Hawass as the subject.
Hawass is the go-to guy if you want a dig permit in Egypt, right?
I remember watching a Discovery Channel show focused on the Great Sphinx. Some guy had a ground penetrating radar, and thought he detected a chamber below one of the front paws of the Sphinx, and Hawass’ reaction was negative.
Basically, his reaction boiled down to: Hawass was the Sphinx expert. Hawass never heard of chambers below the Sphinx. Therefore, there aren’t any. And Aliens DID NOT build the pyramids. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on your way out of Egypt. 
Granted, Hawass probably has to deal with a lot of kooky people and theories about ancient Egypt and it’s culture, but he’s got the above reaction ingrained pretty deep now. I wonder if it gets in the way of his truly learning something new and unexpected about the past.
I wouldn’t have been surprised to find out that after Hawass denied radar guy a permit, he went digging himself, found the chamber and claimed the glory.
Don’t get me wrong: the show surely has a lot of forced drama, but I have a couple of points.
1: Yeah, Hawass is an asshole (something I’ve heard for many years) and difficult, short tempered, etc. But I mean, he’s a busy guy who doesn’t have time to deal with bullshit. He’s become very successful by being a glib dude, so I mean, it works for him. That said, he isn’t that awful, since in this last episode, he forgave Zoe for pissing all over the great pyramid.
2: In regard to the pissing in the pyramid, I was left wondering one thing: why didn’t they wear diapers? I mean, I know that sounds odd, but you know you’re going somewhere with no bathrooms for 8-9 hours. You know it’s a historical site that can very easily be damaged by anything you leave behind. Why wouldn’t you? I’ve heard of “adventurers” of various breeds doing just that, so it seems odd to me.
3: I dislike Hawass’ attitude toward those around him, but goddamn that is a man who is passionate about his job. He literally is in awe of every single thing he sees and- even if frustrated in doing so- will answer even the most basic question so as to pass on knowledge about the site.
Even with all of that though, I’d say that Hawass’ enthusiasm, along with the seeing such amazing scenery, makes the show something I’ll watch.
I’ve said it before, but I gave up on the History Channel some time ago. Crap like Pawn Stars and American Pickers (which they seem to show constantly…every time I flip channels through and hit History channel one of them is on). This latest show doesn’t suprise me at all. I almost wish they’d just go off the air…after all they aren’t really showing much history and there are more than enough shallow reality shows out there.
Every other archeological expedition I have heard about, and dig site I have been on allowed potty breaks and meal breaks. NOBODY goes into a dig site for a full shift and never leaves it. The show were being fracking assholes about it for dramatic purposes. If I had my dead laptop from a few years ago [roomies cat peed in it, I pitted the cat when it happened] I have piccys of a friends dig site complete with portajohns in egypt … the family that has the digsite sanitary contract makes a freakiing fortune off american teams … [at least going by what Warren reports he pays for portajohn service] It isnlt like they allow them to dig a hole any more. Egyptology is huge moneymaking business for egyptians. No nonegyptians are allowed to perform certain functions as contractors. Some friends think this is essentially a huge ripoff as they keep jacking up the prices for nonegyptians.
I think the point is that it takes them like 4 hours to hike up the pyramid to get through the 5 chambers, then 4 hours to get back out again. So, it’s not like 2 hours in, they can turn around, go outside, take a piss, and walk right back in.
Easy enough to bring one 2 Liter plastic soda bottle for everyone to pee in.
Not sure what what to do about the ladies. Maybe a wide mouth funnel?
You folks can’t stand someone that knows what they are talking about can you. All the misinformation We have been fed. it’s time someone started putting the rumors to bed. That chick that pissed in the Great P. they should have kicked her off the show. Keep them weak students in the class room.:dubious:
Dr. Hawass. . . . is that you?