History Channel premieres a new series tonight: Ancient Aliens.
My favorite comment about ancient astronauts was from an Egyptologist on a NatGeo documentary who’d apparently been asked that question once too often and said (I’m paraphrasing, but words to the effect of)
Though perhaps this will lend some credence to my own theory: that the world was created by ancient aliens who came here as pickers but stayed for the logs and icy roads.
I don’t know anything about this. I’m going to call a buddy of mine who knows all about cable television channels that have stayed true to their original mission.
Because the rule today is that you program to advertisers, not to audiences.
The theory seems to be that people are sheep and will watch anything that is promoted heavily enough, but advertisers are smart about the numbers watching. So gradually every ad dollar chases the same audience, and channels have to become more and more alike or risk losing those ad sales.
I find Modern Marvels somewhat interesting. I’ll never watch an episode of Axe Men, but I sincerely hope a tree falls on them.
I don’t know why I like Deadliest Catch, but loathe all the other shows just like it (Ice Road Truckers, Axe Men, Lobster Wars, Swamp Loggers etc) I don’t know why. Swamp Loggers is extremely boring. Oh hey, some equipment broke in the swamp and they try to fix it. Oh look some equipment broke in the swamp and they try to fix it. Again, some equipment broke in the swamp and they try to fix it. Etc. etc. Yet Deadliest Catch is mainly “oh look they brought up a pot of crab” over and over, but I love it. I can’t explain it.
I really wish Discovery would show good shit during the day instead of Overhaulin’ marathons and infomercials.
Every once in a while they show something that, by rising to mediocrity, highlights how bad the rest of it is.
They did a take on Sun Tzu’s Art of War, analyzing several historical campaigns (Sun Tzu’s own campaign, albeit of questionable historical veracity; D-Day; Lee’s Gettysburg campaign, and VietNam’s Tet Offensive) to see where they were congruent with Sun Tzu’s advice, where they were not, and how those decisions worked out for them. The program even admitted that Sun Tzu may be more than one author or a largely fictional construct. The battle analysis was tolerable, too, for popular television. All in all it may not have been “all that,” but it was definitely “and a bag of chips,” because that’s how I spent an afternoon (with salsa, of course).
I’d be happy if they’d do a few more like that. Slightly schlocky, but at least they put some effort into it.
I like Pawn Stars. It’s entertaining and has at least some content of a historical nature. Axe Men not so much.
They do have that whole “America: The Story of Us” thing coming up this weekend. I figure I’ll give it a shot for at least an episode or two, if I can remember to program the DVR. This review over at the Hollywood Reporter is moderately encouraging, though it’s apparently peppered with celebrity cameos–including somebody from Pawn Stars, no less.
Interesting historical programming is expensive, in the final days of when they could still call themselves The History Channel with a straight face they showed WWII back to back. It had generaic appeal among Americans and most importantly WWII stock footage is free. Just get an hold guy with a PhD to talk about the event then splice in a Messerschmitt getting shot down. The BBC has lots of good history stuff but thats paid for by Brit TV taxes…so thanks for the good shit Limeys!
Funimation Channel
Anime Network (ADV Films) was also available until last year.
“To fully understand the Crédit Mobilier scandal and how it affected the legacy of the Grant Administration we went to Reconstruction era America expert Chumlee…”. (At least Big Hosscould do a pretty decent reenactment in the Fatty Arbucklescandal.)
Anyone give it a shot?
I was moderately disappointed – it felt like a very shallow treatment, almost like seeing an 8th grade social studies textbook brought to life. I know they’d never get past 1800 AD if they dwelled on everything but stuff like leaving out the French-Indian War made me raise an eyebrow. It also (harkening back to the text book thing) seemed overly jingoistic. “Then the Founding Fathers got together and all decided to fight for revolution because those jerk British were taxing us!” :dubious: Yeah, it was exactly that easy…
On the plus side, my 11 year old son sat through two hours of it without looking bored or anxious to leave the room so, on that account, it was a home run. He can learn the gritty details of the Continental Congress later.
I liked it.
I also loved WWII in HD.
Other than that, I’m forced to agree with the OP.
I thought about watching it, but decided “no thanks”. Why? Why is it on a freaking 9 PM on sunday night? Most of the day the had back to back to back episodes of Pawn Stars and American Pickers! I quit. After all, they’ll just show AtSoU on Sunday morning or something next week.
Someone out there may like those shows but I can’t stand them. All day sunday you could watch 4 fat guys trying to make money or a fat guy and an excitable skinny guy buy junk from hillbillies. Its Hysterical (in a sad way) not historical.
Yes, it was very shallow, but what really annoyed me was the camera work. I believe it was MST3K that came up with the term “Zapruder-vision.”
Watching two hours of shakily framed torsos and half-faces filmed through the crook of someone’s elbow gets noxious really fast.
Also, the soundtrack was blasting loud enough to drown out the narration. Plus it groaned and huffed and snarled ominously, no matter what was on the screen.
“Oh, look, Washington’s introducing Von Steuben to the troops…”
Cue terrifying crashes and bangs in the background.
Thumbs down from me.
I only watched the first half hour but I had the same reaction. They started off with Jamestown and the Mayflower, then completely skipped over about 150 years to the Boston Massacre. There was no examination of the different Native American cultures already living here besides a cursory mention of how they helped or didn’t help the English. I knew it was gonna be really bad when Donald Trump showed up to comment about five minutes in. :rolleyes:
When Brian Williams and Donald Trump are your talking heads, you know the show’s in trouble.
Yeah, kind of depressing that they have two shows based on swindling people out of their collectibles.
Well, that is a loose description of world history
True, but I prefer a less metaphorical approach to history.
