So what is the worst documentary series going? Nominees can be based on any criterion: bad science, no science (I’m looking at you, Ghost Hunters of all kinds) bad history, too repetitive (The Men Who Shaved Hitler’s Mustache – sound familiar, History Channel? OK, I made the title up, but they DO love their Hitler documentaries) or whatever the hell you like.
I’m undecided if “reality TV” counts. I mean, could any episode of “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” be considered a documentary? I’ll grant you the Kardashians are real, but are they INFORMATIVE to any extent?
I’ll go with “The Naked Archaeologist” currently showing on History International. First of all, there are no naked people in this show. It’s some hippy-dippy looking archaeologist wandering around Israel and environs looking into Biblical times via archaeology often with reference to Biblical texts. My problem with the show is that there’s not much of a distinction drawn between history as portrayed in the Bible and actual history. I know there is some historical truth in the Bible, but I also know it’s a religious text, half propaganda, half mysticism, plenty of half-truths, misconstrusions and outright lies. The guy just leaves me with no sense of credibility, I don’t get a sense that he has a clear grasp of the gap between actual history and Biblical history.
Other candidates?