# What do you think of The History Channel?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 18, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907 "2003-02-18T16:24:25Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/1 "2003-02-18T16:24:25Z")
There are some valid criticism of it[ul][li] All WWII All The Time-- not so true any more, which is a shame because I love WWII documentaries. No where near enough original programs–[/li]True. A lot of there regular programing is just old network news stuff and English docs reformated and presented as new. Watching how major events were reported at the time that they were happening is interesting. The problem I have with this is the “presented as new” part. [li]There own documentaries are generally shallow and pretty much suck.–[/li]It is shame that The History Channel, going on past experience, will never produce something like Ken Burn’s The Civil War or Shoah. Still, I’m gland there is a place to watch No Surrender: German and Japanese Kamikazes (as shallow and uninnovative as it may be.) [/ul]
Yes, all valid criticisms. But they’ve got Mail Call, R. Lee Ermey really floats my boat (yes, I am strange); History’s Mysteries-- a trivia lovers treasure trove and Modern Marvels.
I love The History Channel. What do you think of it?
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### Author:  [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/2 "2003-02-18T16:37:55Z")
I enjoy the History Channel, but I gotta admit I laughed out loud when someone in the Pit said something like, “The History Channel – remember, that big “H” stands for Hitler!” 😃
It’s something of a joke in my household. We get digital cable so we have History _and_ History International. Each time I channel surf, if History doesn’t have something involving Hitler, I say, “oh man, it’s all up to the International now!” 9 times out of 10, I’m not disappointed. I mean, it’s not even necessarily WWII programs either, they manage to squeeze Hitler in _everywhere_. I was watching a program on the Autobahn and they filled 15 minutes of the show with Nazi stuff (which _is_ connected, I know, but a lot of the time was spent showing Nazi rallies and Hitler speeches, so c’mon…).
I wish they’d show more history. There’s more than the 20th Century and WWII. Even History International doesn’t seem to do more, which is a shame.
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### Author:  [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/3 "2003-02-18T16:45:24Z")
Don’t forget Conquest!
Love my Hitler Channel. As Homer Simpson once said, “Ah… the Luftwaffe. The Washington Generals of the History Channel.”
It’s mostly educational, it’s stuff you’ll never see anywhere else, and sometimes it’s even accurate!
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### Author:  [@G.Cornelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Cornelius)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/4 "2003-02-18T18:05:05Z")
I think what bothers me is the the programs on the History channel (and TV generally) often seem to be lead by the available material. Coverage of any historical period or subject seems to be proportional to the amount of (preferably copyrite free) film material available; rather than historical importance.
I appreciate that it can be expensive to make programmes any other way - if dramatic impact is essential. I wish the channel would have the courage to make programmes featuring ‘talking heads’ taking advantage of the best available speakers and lecturers available.
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### Author:  [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/5 "2003-02-18T18:38:19Z")
I liked the Playboy documentary they had on the other night.
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### Author:  [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/6 "2003-02-18T18:42:53Z")
Modern Marvels. Looove that show. The Empire State Building Boston’s Big Dig Transatlantic Cable Alaska Highway SF/Oakland Bay Bridge Landfills Eiffel Tower Interstate Highway System Chrysler Building Golden Gate Bridge…ooooh sorry I just came in my pants. 🙂
They seem to be running out of ideas though. Last month Modern Marvels did a show on THE PYRAMIDS, for cripe’s sake! How modern is that??? And don’t get me started on the show about THE WHEEL…
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### Author:  [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/7 "2003-02-18T19:22:25Z")
I have to agree that it’s “History Lite” but they need to appeal to the widest possible audience. Since most Americans are not historians they are satisfied by a lighter touch. They might find in-depth analysis of a historical subject “boring.” They must walk a very thin line between trying to satisfy true history buffs and the average American who has at best a casual interest.
What I found most offensive was when they used to have an hour block of \* In Search Of. \* It always made me scream at the television: “Big Foot is not history, dammit!”
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### Author:  [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/8 "2003-02-18T19:36:12Z")
The History Channel has also aired–a number of times–a “documentary” that quite convincingly proved that the Corsican Mob (or some such European Syndicate) were responsible for the JFK assassination.
(Once you ignore all the evidence, and make up your own.)
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### Author:  [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/9 "2003-02-18T19:46:34Z")
I agree completely **Lissa**. I wasn’t being facitious when I said I’m glad there is a place for documentaries like the Kamikaze one. I, for one, didn’t know that there were kamikaze boats and bombs.
They _could_ sneak in some indie documentaries or perhaps produce one or two that would engross the masses, yet show some depth. I believe their parent company is A&E, which produced wonderful period peices like Horatio Hornblower, so it’s not totally out of their grasp. History lite isn’t so much a bad thing. I think the problem is more that it’s history on the cheap.
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### Author:  [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/10 "2003-02-18T20:53:39Z")
My son and I call it “The War Channel.”
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/11 "2003-02-18T20:58:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Biggirl \*
> \*\*
> R. Lee Ermey really floats my boat \*\*
Did you, er, did you see him eat the worm?
Pretty tough guy.
Sorry.
I like the History channel. Too much Hitler stuff for Mrs. Plant, though.
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/12 "2003-02-18T21:35:21Z")
My SO and I have a running debate about the validity of “The Bunker” being featured on Modern Marvels. I say there’s nothing modern or marvelous about a hole in the ground. He, obviously, differs.
But anyway, I love the History Chanel. History’s Mysteries Challenge was totally sweet. You don’t see experiemental archaeology on TV every day of the week!
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### Author:  [@Balle\_M](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balle_M)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/13 "2003-02-18T21:38:04Z")
I do like the History Channel, but is there some Federal law mandating any mention of the Luftwaffe must be accompanied with “Ride of the Valkyries”?
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### Author:  [@andymurph64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andymurph64)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/14 "2003-02-18T21:41:14Z")
Conquest is great!
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/15 "2003-02-18T21:41:35Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Balle\_M \*
> \*\* “Ride of the Valkyries”? \*\*
Yes. Richard Wagner is claimed by the Nazi Encyclopedia as the precursor of Nazism. I lost as arguement over it.
And then if they could afford producers who knew more than Wagner=Nazis, they’d be on A&E. 🙂
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### Author:  [@hyperjes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyperjes)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/16 "2003-02-19T02:01:39Z")
I also love the History Channel. I watch mostlt Modern Marvels and History’s Mysteries. I also love anything they do that has to do with archelogy or anthropology, although that is primarily the job of the Civilization Channel. That Mail Call guy scares me. After seeing a commercial for the show, d\_redguy said “Apparently I am an idiot, and he knows stuff.” That struck me as funny.😃
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### Author:  [@hyperjes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hyperjes)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/17 "2003-02-19T02:02:50Z")
Sigh. Mostly. My typos make me sad.☹
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### Author:  [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/18 "2003-02-19T02:59:38Z")
Eh. I’m not into military history, so most of what I’ve seen leaves me cold. My background is in soft and squidgy social history, which is utterly fascinating, but doesn’t–I think–make for particularly great documentaries. At least not the kind that most people would want to watch.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/19 "2003-02-19T03:13:18Z")
As an illustrative example, would you mention something of socially historical importance involving, perhaps, Queen Victoria?
Thanks
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### Author:  [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2003, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-the-history-channel/155907/20 "2003-02-19T03:35:11Z")
We were discussing this at work yesterday. Somebody said, “It’s great, the Nazis always lose.”
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