If you were in charge of programming, what shows would you create for the History Channel?

[charlie and algernon]

To you know, make it an actual channel for history.


Mine:

Revolution: A History of Change
Fables and Myths
Civil War Journal - Bring back the old episodes and create new ones
The Cradle of Civilization: A History of the Middle East
Biography - Again, bring back the old episodes and create new ones
Bach to Bruce: A History of Music
Friday Night at the Movies - Show movies about historical events followed by a discussion of their accuracy
Exploration
Dynasties
Africa
War - Discuss various wars throughout history, their causes and aftermath

[rug]

1. Hitler - The Toddler Years

[charlie and algernon]

3. Followed by Hitler -The Angsty Teenage years?

[rug]

5. Don't skip over Hitler - The Pulling Wings Off Flies Years

[steve2470]

6. followed by Hitler, His Relationship to Vegetarianism

I've read he was a vegetarian, no insults intended to vegetarians, of course.

[Coventina]

19. That was a propaganda lie, trying to make him seem "cuddly".

"He's so soft-hearted he can't bear to eat meat."

It was a total lie.

At no time did he have a meat-free diet.

In fact, his doctors tried to encourage him to eat less meat because he had kidney problems IIRC.

[malthaussen]

23. According to his food tester, all his meals were vegetarian.

This was just on DU recently.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016102743

-- Mal

[Coventina]

28. Well, I wasn't there, but her account contradicts those of others in Hitler's inner circle.

Not that it matters, really.

Unless one is trying to make the argument that if
Hitler = Vegetarian
Vegetarian = Hitler

I am not a vegetarian, so I don't have a dog in the fight, I just like to contradict Nazi propaganda when I can.
Apparently, this aspect is now under dispute.

[arcane1]

2. I'd give James Loewen a series of his own n/t

[ohnoyoudidnt]

4. A People's History of the United States.

A series based on Howard Zinn's book.

[rurallib]

11. ding ding ding!

[csziggy]

16. Best suggestion yet!

In addition, I would love a history of the world. Start about 10,000 years ago and cover what is known about what is happening in every part of the world, not just Europe or the classic Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Europe, England, US version that was taught when I was in school.

China, India and many other parts of the world have written histories as old or older than the areas listed above. And even more is known from archeology about the history of people on this earth, but so little is taught.

When I was in college there was a wonderful TV series called Civilisation - I'd like something like that with an even more cohesive world view. That series was more arts and philosophy oriented. I'd rather see something that covers the growth of technology, development of various organizational modes, and the history that happened between wars and invasions - you know, the reason WHY wars were thought to be necessary.

[charlie and algernon]

21. absolutely!

And without all the "This one event was single-greatest, most important event ever" hype bullshit that the History Channel loves to throw around. They've done a couple miniseries lately, one on the Battle of Gettysburg and then one on all of history itself. I was actually looking forward to the Gettysburg series. However, it seemed for every little maneuver, that one action was the single greatest event and was THE!!!!!! turning point that single-handedly ended the Civil War. Problem is, they listed about 20-30 actions that was THE!!!!! turning point that led to the end of the Civil War.

I would LOVE a detailed history of Human Civilization, but just give us the history. Stop with the excited talking heads hyping up every single event. Give us the background and the context surrounding the seminal moments in human history. We already know they are important, give us more than hyped up "OMG!!!!!1! THEY INVENTED THE PRINTING PRESS!!1!!" BS.

[Sherman A1]

7. I would add

labor history

women's history

and concentrate less on war.

[charlie and algernon]

9. Good ideas

Though I didn't intend "Revolution" just to cover wars, you could cover the Civil Rights marches, the Sexual revolution, Ghandi's non-violent revolution, etc.

[NYC_SKP]

8. I'd like to see biographies of humanitarians, great and not so great. And James Burke's Connections

I'd also like to see a series that would look at the History of Technology and the impacts of various inventions.

[pinboy3niner]

10. Does this mean they'd have to cut 'When Good Dictators Go Bad'?

[rurallib]

12. I would love to see some real histories of the ancients

including the far east - China & Japan area. Plus from the dawn of man to @ the roman empire in a mostly linear way.

[WhiteAndNerdy]

17. +1, nt

[Wounded Bear]

13. They should have Ken Burns do a miniseries on The Shock Doctrine...nt

[Brigid]

14. A series about the labor movement in this country.

Ken Burns style.

[Tom Kitten]

15. It Can't Happen Here - Facism in America

Extend it into the 21st century

[whistler162]

18. Pawn wars....

pit the Las Vegas crew against the Louisiana(Southern) crew.

[Coventina]

20. Good thread! The History Channel has to be the biggest disappointment on cable.

About 1% of its programming is as advertised.

I really like "Vikings" but even it is historically inaccurate!

[malthaussen]

22. Battle of Blair Mountain

Rise of Organized Labor
The Peterloo Massacre
The Bonus Army
Prescott Bush and Co's Attempted Coup
Prohibition and the Rise of Organized Crime

Pretty sure they've already done shows about women's suffrage and civil rights.

-- Mal

[KamaAina]

24. Herstory -- Women In History

[KamaAina]

25. The Americas -- The Real Story of European Colonization

[charlie and algernon]

26. How about "1491: The Americas before Columbus"

Detailing the rise of the Atzec, Incan, and Mayan Empires and other Native American tribes.

[Le Taz Hot]

27. An accurate miniseries

on Catherine the Great. She led a most fascinating life. Ruled Russia -- not an easy fete given the complexities of so many Russian factions. She wasn't even Russian.

[logosoco]

29. Programs related to the women's movement

(we still are not even at the 100 year mark for women voting!!!!)

Anything from Howard Zinn.

The Constitution....how and when it was written, how it has changed over the years, how people today need to know more about it.

Real stories about how the Christian religion did some not so nice things throughout history (the Crusades).

Environmental stories..Love Canal, Times Beach, the success of cleaning up lake pollution in Madison, WI (don't recall if it was Mendota or Monona).

Programs about how unions made things better for working people, and perhaps also recent stories of how companies exploit workers and harm the environment.