History Channel to Talk about History
The History Channel’s recently announced upcoming season may offer hope to those who have pointed out that the network is dedicating its prime time programming to truck and lumberjack reality tv instead of… history. History, by the way, changed it’s name from The History Channel to just History last year. Doubtless, this is the work of like minded folks to those who decided that altering the spelling of “Sci-Fi” to “SyFy” was the key to attracting a horde of females to the network. And these people make absolute bundles of currency. There is no justice on cable! Anyway.
History’s slate will be highlighted by six new original programs. The work being most ballyhooed is America, the Story of Us, envisioned as twelve parts in length and telling the tale of US history from the Pilgrims to the present. This could very well be an interesting and pleasant return to the golden age of History, but it does spook me a bit as they’ve hired a Discovery Channel guru to head up the project. Part of my whole issue with the channel is the increased focus on delivering a Discovery-like edge in an effort to be hip and compelling.
Other new shows include World War II in HD, which will feature a great deal of real footage from the conflict enhanced and in story form. Some definite possibility there too. Then, Madhouse is set to chronicle the adventures of competing road racer families in the south. Yep, you read that right. Pawning History will feature people going around buying up historically significant items they find in people’s garage sales, and Mystery Quest will be for folks convinced they’ve been visited by aliens. Filling out the docket will be a show about Nostradamus prophesying everything.
In view of my own recent disappointment about History placing so much emphasis on completely non-historical numbness like Ice Road Truckers and Axe Men, I take a bit of hope from these offerings. While with Madhouse they still seem intent on pursuing what overpriced consultants doubtless convinced them was their target audience (apparently a semi-steering lumberjack who drag races on the weekends), they also seem to be open to at least discussing the past again. A step in the right direction, I say.
