National Geographic Channel tonight (Thursday, May 10)

[Remise]

Thanks to a tip from Julio Zagroniz, I just realized that for those of you who have cable and the National Geographic Channel, the below is on tonight. Remembering, as many of us do, the disaster known as "The Unfinished Civil War," I will still, like a moth to the candle, be drawn to this. Apologies if it has been mentioned before, and I missed the post:

09:00 PM to 10:00 PM Extreme Civil War Reenactors
NGC embeds with a handful of the most hard-core Civil War reenactors, who eat, sleep and breathe the gun smoke of history. From the firing on Fort Sumter to the iconic battlefields of Manassas/Bull Run and Gettysburg, the mecca of reenacting, find out how far theyre willing to go to relive history.

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Hopefully, by "extreme," they mean Rob Hodge, not The Indian, or the guy I saw at a Gettysburg event (you know which one) several years ago, wearing a poncho, sombrero, and bandoliers.

B.C. Milligan
Remote Control Mess

[gentofthesouth1861]

The program was most disappointing on so many levels alas.

[Remise]

I realize there is no point in arguing over an opinion, as opinions are just that. I could only compare it to all the other horrible things I have seen on TV, or in movies, about our hobby, and it was the first I can ever remember that actually presented the hobby with a modicum of respect for what we do, and why we do it. Maybe real authentic campaigners -- and I winced every time I heard those words -- were disgusted with what they saw here, but the average non-reenactor, I would think, got a very favorable impression, and to me, that's a plus.

B.C. Milligan
Company K, First Penna. Reserves

[gentofthesouth1861]

Maybe real authentic campaigners were disgusted with what they saw here.

Exactly.
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[J. Donaldson]

I thought that was a well produced, even handed treatment of the hobby, perhaps the best representation of the hobby I've seen on television.

[Sharps_user84]

Not a bad show, the kid kind of upset me with his whinning at Bull Run, but other then that at least they didnt portray us as a bunch of wack jobs which I have seen in the past.
Jason

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Not a bad show, the kid kind of upset me with his whinning at Bull Run, but other then that at least they didnt portray us as a bunch of wack jobs which I have seen in the past.
Jason

There was a lot more whining at Bull Run/Manassas than just his - from every spectrum top to bottom, including me. I whined like a little beyotch at times, but I was lucky enough to not have the camera around when doing so. I agree with the sentiments shared thus far - I've seen far worse treatments of reenactors in the media.

[gwagner]

Not a bad show, the kid kind of upset me with his whinning at Bull Run, but other then that at least they didnt portray us as a bunch of wack jobs which I have seen in the past.
Jason

If you weren't there, you have no room to be upset about Travis dropping out. Manassas 2011 was the most miserable I have ever been reenacting, or in 10 years of USMC service. Several members of the 2nd Miss went to the hospital...at 9:30 battle time, it was about 110, with 60% humidity.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

I see my brother Galen posted at the same time - we were both together in the 2nd Miss and yeah, it was brutal....

[zouavecampaigner]

I see my brother Galen posted at the same time - we were both together in the 2nd Miss and yeah, it was brutal....

Amen, fellows. People at Manassas had every right to complain, drop out, etc. I honestly don't have memories of large portions of my 2 days at the event, but I have the photos and the sweat-stained frock to prove I was there!

I am glad that this wasn't a redux of The Unfinished Civil War, and I wish those who worked on this one all the best. How did they handle the "hardcore" and "mainstream" issues on the show? (I don't get NatGeo.)

Regards,