# History Channel? Bah **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2010, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791 "2010-04-12T00:44:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/21 "2010-04-12T15:07:53Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > As close as History seems to get to actual, y’know, history these days is the Biblical archaeology stuff, which doesn’t much interest me. That’s the stuff that drives me the most crazy because ANE archaeology is actually very fascinating to me, but the History Channel shows range from rank, Biblical literalist fabulism (Ark hunting shows, biographies of Moses, etc.) to (at best) pseudo-academic speculation on stuff like whther the Hyksos were “Hebrews,” or the Black Sea hypothesis for Noah’s flood. Biblical miracles are always soberly accepted as genuine historical possibilities, and anything regarding Jesus tends to uncritically accept the Gospel narratives as journalistic history. Those shows are aimed squarely at religious believers, not at discovering or imparting any actual information. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/22 "2010-04-12T17:43:05Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Biblical miracles are always soberly accepted as genuine historical possibilities, and anything regarding Jesus tends to uncritically accept the Gospel narratives as journalistic history. Those shows are aimed squarely at religious believers, not at discovering or imparting any actual information. There were several around Christmas in which astronomers (and a couple of astrologers) took on “What exactly was the Bethlehem star?” and not once was it even suggested “Something that was added in a century after his birth” or pointed out the Magi were only in one gospel. They’ve done tons on Moses in which they try to explain how to naturally kill all the first born (and only the first born)- Dudes, if a plague _only_ killed first borns, there was nothing natural about it. It was a miracle- that’s the point- it can’t be explained- just cue the 10 Commandments clip. It’s interesting to speculate on what things can turn water to blood color and the like because you can see this being an omen to some people, but ultimately true believers believe it was supernatural anyway. It would be more interesting to take on the unexplained in the much more recent era where there’s a possibility of understanding it. Examples: the sun turning green in Virginia in 1831 which Nat Turner and his followers saw as their signal- what kind of disturbances in the atmosphere can make the sun appear green/recreate what it would look like/how long would it last. What happened during his last week (when there are no records) that sent Edgar Allen Poe from a guy whose life was actually on the rebound [rich girlfriend, literary recognition, no longer drinking] to a completely insane incoherent[madman dressed in someone else’s clothes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Edgar_Allan_Poe)? Or the various UFO reportings in the late 19th century before airplanes- examine what they could have been, or how exactly did the castrati sound? I might be naive but I think there’s a small but loyal audience who’d watch things like this. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/23 "2010-04-12T17:53:00Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Repeat after me: > > A name is not a description. I get the point, but, if you scoop out a big serving of macaroni and cheese at the local cafeteria you are well within your rights to expect some pasta and dairy product. Actually, names are in fact descriptions _all the time_, so maybe I don’t get the point. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/24 "2010-04-12T18:49:22Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > I get the point, but, if you scoop out a big serving of macaroni and cheese at the local cafeteria you are well within your rights to expect some pasta and dairy product. > > Actually, names are in fact descriptions _all the time_, so maybe I don’t get the point. Unless you change the name to an acronym like MAC or a nonsensical mishmash word like Makancheez. Then you can make it anything you like. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/25 "2010-04-12T19:54:22Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Unless you change the name to an acronym like MAC or a nonsensical mishmash word like Makancheez. Then you can make it anything you like. When I said “all the time” I didn’t mean “in every case.” I just meant “with great frequency.” ---
**Author:** ![RogueRacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@RogueRacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueRacer)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/26 "2010-04-12T20:01:07Z")
The just finished series, Madhouse, was actually pretty darned fun (and very redneck) from this ex-racer’s perspective. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/27 "2010-04-12T21:09:27Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Even HGTV is selling out. 75% of their schedule is that stinking House Hunters. There’s rumors that the real estate folks are behind that. HGTV was supposed to be home improvement programming and gardening. The G in HGTV is almost totally gone. I suspect, in this case, it’s a show that gets good ratings for them, so they’re riding it to death while they can. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/28 "2010-04-12T21:18:31Z")
At least they aren’t as bad a BBC America’s latest WTF. Out of all the great BBC shows past and present they could license and show what did they pick? Star Trek: The Next Generation. It’s already syndicated on at least 4 channels. I guess because it has a British Captain they think one will notice. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/29 "2010-04-12T21:19:23Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > When I said “all the time” I didn’t mean “in every case.” I just meant “with great frequency.” No, you’re correct. Certain words have a certain connotation. If you are going to use them to brand your product, people will have certain expectations and they will be disappointed if they aren’t met. If you call your network The History Channel or Comedy Central, people expect stuff about history or funny programming. The SciFi Channel implies science fiction and fantasy programming. “Syfy” doesn’t mean anything. Next step, the channel programs are less “science fictiony” and more generic soon you just have another channel that broadcasts reality shows, old movies and sitcom reruns. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/30 "2010-04-12T21:28:33Z")
The shift in the History Channel even hit their existing shows. Deep Sea Detectives was my favorite show they ever did. The two divers on the show were the the real deal. John Chatterton has made some amazing deep dives. The first two seasons of Deep Sea Detectives are really good. They dived on the Edmund Fitzgerald and several other important sites. Third season they were diving Loch Ness looking for Nessie. :rolleyes: I suspect the new executives at History thought that would bring in ratings. Someone above mention Josh Bernstein’s show Digging for the Truth. It was good the first two seasons. Then they started doing silly shows geared more for ratings. Josh even dived with the Deep Sea Detectives in a cross over show. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/31 "2010-04-12T21:56:22Z")
Thanks for the link. I wasn’t aware of this story about Poe. It strongly reminds me of the news story about Margot Kidder (Superman). She got off a plane (1996) and disappeared. They found her disoriented and looking like a bag lady a week later. She was hiding in someones back yard. They found out she had an attack from Manic Depression. They got her back on meds and she’s been ok. That might be what happened with Poe. I’m just speculating. > [@Sampiro](#): > > What happened during his last week (when there are no records) that sent Edgar Allen Poe from a guy whose life was actually on the rebound [rich girlfriend, literary recognition, no longer drinking] to a completely insane incoherent[madman dressed in someone else’s clothes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Edgar_Allan_Poe)? Or the various UFO reportings in the late 19th century before airplanes- examine what they could have been, or how exactly did the castrati sound? I might be naive but I think there’s a small but loyal audience who’d watch things like this. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/32 "2010-04-12T22:20:38Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > That might be what happened with Poe. I’m just speculating. He was with Margot Kidder? She must be older than I thought.😃 ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/33 "2010-04-12T22:46:50Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Thanks for the link. I wasn’t aware of this story about Poe. > > It strongly reminds me of the news story about Margot Kidder (Superman). She got off a plane (1996) and disappeared. They found her disoriented and looking like a bag lady a week later. She was hiding in someones back yard. They found out she had an attack from Manic Depression. They got her back on meds and she’s been ok. > > That might be what happened with Poe. I’m just speculating. One interesting theory is that he got grabbed by men and forced into voting repetedly [got to love 1800 politics … vote early and vote often] by getting him thrashed out of his mind on alcohol, possibly spiked with drugs like opium. THey would take bums, make them go vote, then change their clothing and shave off the beard and cut their hair, then make them vote again, then take them back, change the clothes and shave the mustache off , and vote at different voting stations. Anybody spending 24 hours being forced to drink and do drugs is not going to be doing too good … ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2010, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/34 "2010-04-12T23:23:17Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > At least they aren’t as bad a BBC America’s latest WTF. Out of all the great BBC shows past and present they could license and show what did they pick? Star Trek: The Next Generation. It’s already syndicated on at least 4 channels. I guess because it has a British Captain they think one will notice. Nitpick: Although Patrick Stewart is English, Jean-Luc Picard is French. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/35 "2010-04-13T06:23:16Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > …or how exactly did the castrati sound? Actually, several recordings were made of one of the last castrati, [Alessandro Moreschi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessandro_Moreschi). There’s one clip there, and more on youtube. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/36 "2010-04-13T06:43:08Z")
double-post–oops! ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/37 "2010-04-13T06:50:47Z")
I stopped watching the History Channel after I watched a “documentary” on Nostradamus that ran 95% of the way talking about him like all his predictions were true and only at the end threw in a “most historians agree that Nostradamus’ true predictive power was debateable…” The history major in me is saddened by its demise. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/38 "2010-04-13T09:13:14Z")
Hey hey hey! My two favorite History Channel shows are awesome! Food Tech and American Eats! ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/39 "2010-04-13T10:56:06Z")
I remember the fights about the funding of PBS, that **Nature & NOVA** were obsolete because the market driven TLC and Discovery channels provided the same content. Free enterprise knows what’s best in providing intelligent programming. So “they” said. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791/40 "2010-04-13T11:34:06Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > They jumped the shark with a bang in October 2007. Here’s what I posted at the time. Personally, I always thought it was odd when The _History_ Channel started running a show called _Modern_ Marvels. Then that show changed from ‘cool innovative things of today and tomorrow’ to ‘things that were cool and innovative and some point in time’ to what it is now…‘neat stuff.’ But don’t get me wrong, I still love watching it, [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-channel-bah/535791.md?page=3)