I so totally hope that this gets their executives to realize that if they invest more money in actual history, people will flock to them and they can make even more money on advertising. Those stupid reality shows had their time. We want more Hitler!

So when did History Channel start showing programs about history?

Historical Inaccuracy Channel is more like it.

Chumlee should have played a Hatfield or McCoy who was shot for stealing a pie.

NewportBarGuy: I so totally hope that this gets their executives to realize that if they invest more money in actual history, people will flock to them and they can make even more money on advertising. Those stupid reality shows had their time. We want more Hitler!

So much this. Make a reality show channel for people who want that crap and dump it all on there, stop stealing what used to be some of our best channels for that crap!

We love our history. We do. But we aren't taught to enjoy it, marvel at it, understand it. This isn't the teacher's fault. They don't get to choose the books.

Why would I watch that when I've already seen this?

Okay, in that line of bounty hunters, I was waiting for Boba Fett.

GAT_00: I really doubt the program is all that true to history.

Only seen the first one - yeah, it's off on some details. But it's not presented as a documentary, so I don't mind it so much.

I rarely watch the History Channel anymore - this is one of the first shows I've watched on the channel in a long time. But watching the show the other day and looking at the all the promos for their premiere shows struck me: ax men, pawn shops, swamp people, american pickers, top shot. I realized that the channel didn't just wander away from history into reality TV - it's a special type of reality TV designed to appeal to rednecks.

Very odd

Hey now. I'll defend the pawn shop show because there's at least history involved.

And Ancient Aliens gets a partial pass by presenting revisionist history, which is a KIND of history.

Nadie_AZ: We love our history. We do. But we aren't taught to enjoy it, marvel at it, understand it. This isn't the teacher's fault. They don't get to choose the books.

[ecx.images-amazon.com image 300x300]

Word. In Texas, when Don McLeroy was on the state board of education attempting to reinvent history, a witness invoking the name "Howard Zinn" was akin to summoning the devil. Check out the documentary,"The Revisionaries," which is making the rounds at film festivals.

I'm actually really enjoying it. Costner in particular is better than he's ever been in...well, anything. And any time Bill Paxton gets to chew scenery, it never sucks. The scenery is also straight-up gorgeous. Usually the "All Redneck Reality All The Time" on The "History" Channel holds zero interest for me, but I guess fictionalized redneck reality is different.

Seriously, though...I blame MTV for the entire cavalcade of crap cable reality shows. As soon as they realized they could fill their entire schedule with absolute crap reality trash that had nothing to do with music, everyone else started doing the same thing: Ignoring what their call letters were supposed to stand for.

TLC used to stand for "The Learning Channel," but then they started giving us nothing but 24/7 clown-car vaginas. A&E was once short for "Arts & Entertainment." They used to air Broadway shows, and classical music concerts. Now, they have "Hoarders" and "Storage Wars," which are neither artistic, nor entertaining. And I remember watching O.J. trial coverage on CourtTV. Then they changed their name to "TruTV," and now every time I turn it on, it's just Danny Bonaduce making fun of a YouTube clip where some hapless asshole sets his own genitals on fire.

At least History is TRYING to stay in their declared focus, for f*ck's sake. So it's nice to see them doing so well with this.

I don't like that pawn shop stuff but I am kinda into Storage Wars, it has more of a wow factor. Yuuuuuup, I know it is on A&E and not History.

I'm thoroughly enjoying it! Canta understand wy?

I wanna be Johnse. He porks all the cute chicks.

/pork
//jim vance needs to die

Yeah, but Pawn Stars and American Pickers both had Hatfield & McCoy themed episodes, with some really bad scripted fake drama.

Shostie: Hey now. I'll defend the pawn shop show because there's at least history involved.

And Ancient Aliens gets a partial pass by presenting revisionist history, which is a KIND of history.

I agree. I like Pawn Stars and American Pickers cause they will at least give you some history about the item and I'm fascinated by objects with historical significance. I have no idea what axe trucking alligator sharp shooters have to do with history.

At least H2 is the old History Channel. I could watch Modern Marvels all day.

Shostie: And Ancient Aliens gets a partial pass by presenting revisionist history, which is a KIND of history.

I enjoy the Sklar Brothers show, but no way in hell does it belong on a History channel.

Of course, they've been Hystyry for a few years now. And, having a show about history, even a TV Movie, won't register with them. They'll just think it's a fluke, and create a show about Jesus pawning ax truckers to aliens.

Pawn Stars is farking funny

Be that as it may, I would like to see more History oriented programs on the History channel

MaxxLarge: I'm actually really enjoying it. Costner in particular is better than he's ever been in...well, anything. And any time Bill Paxton gets to chew scenery, it never sucks. The scenery is also straight-up gorgeous. Usually the "All Redneck Reality All The Time" on The "History" Channel holds zero interest for me, but I guess fictionalized redneck reality is different.

Seriously, though...I blame MTV for the entire cavalcade of crap cable reality shows. As soon as they realized they could fill their entire schedule with absolute crap reality trash that had nothing to do with music, everyone else started doing the same thing: Ignoring what their call letters were supposed to stand for.

TLC used to stand for "The Learning Channel," but then they started giving us nothing but 24/7 clown-car vaginas. A&E was once short for "Arts & Entertainment." They used to air Broadway shows, and classical music concerts. Now, they have "Hoarders" and "Storage Wars," which are neither artistic, nor entertaining. And I remember watching O.J. trial coverage on CourtTV. Then they changed their name to "TruTV," and now every time I turn it on, it's just Danny Bonaduce making fun of a YouTube clip where some hapless asshole sets his own genitals on fire.

At least History is TRYING to stay in their declared focus, for f*ck's sake. So it's nice to see them doing so well with this.

This. MTV literally sucked the life out of cable television by showing that minimalist production + pandering, whining assholes = $$$$$. (Though I totally don't remember the shows & concerts on A&E, but that's just me.)

\Also you forgot Bravo, now known as The Real Wives of Bravo Channel

I absolutely love this series and can't wait to watch the final episode tonight.

And Kevin Costner's performance in it is fantastic. Almost good enough that I'm ready to forgive him for everything else he's done. Almost.

GAT_00: I really doubt the program is all that true to history.

It's really not bad as far as accuracy. Obviously they take some liberties for dramatic effect, but most of the basic facts are correct. I'm enjoying it. I've never wanted to shoot Tom Berenger until this show, if that counts for anything.

I was ok with reality tv until it became a vehicle for average people to become famous or for every Joe the Plumber type with an odd job to become a Real America icon. The first season of Survivor was a great study of group dynamics, particularly since Richard was the only person who seemed to understand how to win. The first few seasons of Real World, Amazing Race, Pawn Stars are all good, and I still enjoy watching American Choppers from time to time. I generally can't stand the Chopper knockoffs or the too cynical Bachelorette type shows.

Mentat: I was ok with reality tv until it became a vehicle for average people to become famous or for every Joe the Plumber type with an odd job to become a Real America icon

What he said. I never watched any of those but I can see how they could be interesting but that's a long distance from the reality shows that are on now, none of which are defensible at all.

/ except for shows that have people actually doing things without all the drama horseshiat

The added fun of "Hatfields & McCoys" is spotting actors from *other* series, especially without the hillbilly accents.

"The Tudors", "The Borgias", "Deadwood", "True Blood", and "Pillars of the Earth".

There's a lot of "Wyatt Earp"/"Tombstone" cross-pollination in this project, why no Val Kilmer? I don't care how fat he got, he rocked Doc Holiday.

NewportBarGuy: We want more Hitler!

Discovery Military Channel is like 24/7 WWII in color, The World at War, Hitler's Bodyguards, Secret Missions of WWII, etc.

/not that I watch any of them
//and I certainly can't quote the specs of most WWII aircraft and armored vehicles
///like I have no idea that the Panther's Kampfwagenkanone 42 75mm/L70 gun was awesome for its day

vossiewulf: Discovery Military Channel is like 24/7 WWII in color, The World at War, Hitler's Bodyguards, Secret Missions of WWII, etc.

I dumped cable for Hulu and Netflix. Still have about 10 over-the-air channels. I was spurred mostly by what happened with reality bullsh*t taking over the channels I did watch. Sure, there were a few good ones like you mentioned, but cox charged extra for that package. Not worth the $$$...

Just hope they go back to what they are good at and cable companies start embracing a la carte pricing that actually gives choices and value at the same time. I'm not holding my breath.

3 reasons

1. It's the most famous feud in American History and it's fairly well documented. So there's a natural interest.
2. The cast is amazing for cable. Costner, Paxton, etc.
3. It's pretty damn good.

Let's hope they do some more movies that stick close to the historical facts (unlike almost any theatrical release...hello Pearl Harbor).

Well, that was a farked up 20 minutes.

Mentat: Well, that was a farked up 20 minutes.

Yes, Yes it was

WhoIsWillo: Historical Inaccuracy Channel is more like it.

So apparently we have the Hatfield/McCoy Feud expert here. Cool!

Johnse, The little woman seems a tad upset.

SO how do the real hatfields and mccoys feel about it?

Misconduc: some of the information is new, however much of the information is worthless as Wikipedia is.

The new World War I in color was pretty good, and I thought they did a great job of not overdoing the colorization. Well, until I got to the clip of Richthofen next to a Dr.I, which they had colorized like his all-red 425/17. Except I yelled at the screen you idiots, that's one of the Dr.I prototypes... which you can clearly see by the F.1 designation on the side instead of Dr.I, and it had the streaky olive over light blue factory camo! And then I laughed at myself for being such a geek.

Yes, they get lots wrong. Still a trillion times better than Real Housewives of My Big Fat Cajun Axemen Swamp People Wedding Survivors of Amazing Cable Guy Race.

Considering this is the Hystyry channel we're talking about, I think we should all just be happy that their movie wasn't



VS.