History channel et al

[Brian Wolle]

I really wonder if any one else has this problem. Sat there watching history and the military channels today -about WWI -really interesting stuff, fascinatiing. Then this thing about Pickett's charge comes on -a repeat but I'm catching it for the first time. And this happens every time to me -it seems that every other sentence, they are saying something that is either misleading or downright wrong and I have to wonder -how do they get all that other stuff so right and the CW stuff so wrong. Then I think, what if the other stuff is wrong too and I go yikes!

One guy said Lee never again attempted a grand assault and even Scott Hartwig said the Confederates were only in Pennsylvania once. I mean, what is the deal?

[Guy Gane III]

Try working on one of those productions! lol One word accurately describes the experience:

STRESS

I hate when you are standing right there... many of the necessary things that are needed for a particular scene are closely available... there are many things that could be done to make a scene more intense.... then boom.... "Um, we don't need this or that... the audience doesn't know the difference... this is MY vision... etc.

As much of a rush as me and my fellow movie addicts get when we work on a particular show... there are times when we question why we even did it anyway. lol

Truth is, there needs to be a go-between with History Channel and actually get through to them that some of the docs that are out there are done very poorly and very under-budget. Someone needs to let them in on the fact that the fantasy world of Holly-History-Would, could come out with some really great stuff. Like "Stealing Lincoln's Body". I thought the CGI that they did was fantastic and ground breaking.

Not to worry... things shall change soon.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

http://www.cwreenactors.com/forum/sh...istory+Channel Yep, I tend to agree....

[bob 125th nysvi]

Channel are caught between a rock and a hard place.

Unlike the networks and major cable channels they aren't getting their doors knocked down by people trying to sell them content. Let's face it documentaries just aren't that lucrative. This is the rock, because they are limited in the availability (and some of the things that appear on the History Channel don't even qualify as "hard" history they are more "social" history) of programming. So they pretty much have to take what is offered otherwise they are going to repeat the same three shows all the time.

The hard place is that much of history is open to interpretation. I mean cause and effect (especially effect) can be debated for hours on end. But even "hard" facts are up for debate. We have an estimate of how many men participated in Pickett's (or is it Pickett-Pettigrew's) Charge for the CSA but do we really know how many? Do we really know how many were WIA/KIA? The other part is that most people get lost in the "hard" facts part of history. Again let's face the fact that the average American wants the causes, battles and effects of the CW explained in 10-12 minute segments totaling no more than 1 hour. They want to be entertained not educated.

And then the producers of the documentaries are interested in their subject but they are also interested in making a profit. Thus they cut corners and dumb down the presentation to appeal to a wider audience.

Finally as an example of how "news" is no longer information in the world there is today's wire story about 'Russian Strategic Bombers to be based in Cuba and Venezuela'. Catchy headline right? Let's get everybody all worried, right? Sell ad space right?

Well when you drill into the story you find out, Chavez has offered and island airbase to be used by the Russians, but they haven't accepted. There isn't even a formal offer from Ramon but of course Soviet bombers have been visited Cuba in the past. And then there is the visit by two Russian "startegic bombers" (complete with picture) to Cuba last year.

The "strategic bombers" that visited Cuba last year are a pair of Tu-95 Bear recon planes. They have about as much 'strategic' capability as the Piper Cub sitting at the local airport.

But two 'old slow recon planes' (otherwise known as sitting ducks, what did the Soviet recon crews used to say about contact with the enemy, signal to command: "Enemy sighted, dosvidanyia (sic), Motherland.") doesn't sell headlines does it.

If "news" isn't getting the hard facts right, and that is about what is effecting us to today, why should we expect 'entertainment' to be picky about getting something right that occurred 140 or more years ago.

Sometimes I actually take great comfort in knowing that the programs are wrong. It reminds me that I am actually "smarter (and better educated) than your average bear, Boo-boo" in some areas.

[CUPP]

The history channel giving false information ?!?! Never the Hitler channel does not do that ????

[sbl]

They dragged Flight 19 out for another beating last night.

[sbl]

Now the David and Goliath story is getting the "300" treatment.

[Rob Weaver]

The moral of David and Goliath is simple: NEver employ armor unsupported.

[sbl]

The CGI artist didn't read Samuel 1 verse 17:40. The animated stone wasn't smooth.

[flattop32355]

The CGI artist didn't read Samuel 1 verse 17:40. The animated stone wasn't smooth.

So, it's an alternate history program?