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Populist_Prole

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86. The offshoot 'Military History Channel' has become atrocious

Reply to Douglas Carpenter (Original post)

Tue Jan 15, 2013, 05:06 PM

Jan 2013

It used to be pretty good with a variety of different programs. The last couple of years saw a big change: It's clear they made a decision to pander to USA! USA! USA! Flag waving conservatives.

The shows are now so superficial as to be an insult to even a moderately well-read reader of history, and it's very US-centric. Way way too much programming on the modern Iraq/Afghanistan wars, and indeed, it seems the stated goal is to glorify hawkish US foreign policy.

Can't tell you how many times I've groaned and rolled my eyes when I hear a coworker or acquaintance explain/relay some historical tidbit based on what he saw on the History or Military channel. I then sound like a killjoy egghead when I correct them and go into further detail. They were not interested......

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The History Channel - the Fox News of the Social Sciences for terminal dumb asses [View all] Douglas Carpenter Jan 2013 OP

Ahem. theaocp Jan 2013 #1

This. Dr Hobbitstein Jan 2013 #23

that very much sums its up Douglas Carpenter Jan 2013 #114

Hey - Pawn Stars and American Pickers talk about history of the junk they show liberal N proud Jan 2013 #2

Actually I don't mind 'American Pickers' all that much WI_DEM Jan 2013 #51

History of Egypt, Israel, India, China... ancient and in-depth vs. history of junk DonRedwood Jan 2013 #58

You can find them on H2... Sekhmets Daughter Jan 2013 #77

Those guys are in your back yard liberal N proud Jan 2013 #70

Television is for me an increasingly bad recreational investment. HereSince1628 Jan 2013 #3

throw off the mantle datasuspect Jan 2013 #9

Pawn Stars, Lady Hoggers, and Swamp People......I miss Hilter. TeamPooka Jan 2013 #88

Once in awhile they would have something good UnrepentantLiberal Jan 2013 #4

H2 .... Oh ashling Jan 2013 #43

Back in the day oberle Jan 2013 #73

I saw that. UnrepentantLiberal Jan 2013 #83

Yeah, my high school teacher used to show us episodes of that... Blue_Tires Jan 2013 #89

Cool. UnrepentantLiberal Jan 2013 #90

Connections was awesome! backscatter712 Jan 2013 #113

A new series on the Vikings begins in March. grasswire Jan 2013 #106

I think "history" is now on H2 Atman Jan 2013 #5

I noticed that about H2 also Carnage251 Jan 2013 #18

Agree get the red out Jan 2013 #34

I like H2 Blue_In_AK Jan 2013 #75

And Cut Into The Profit Margin??? KharmaTrain Jan 2013 #6

Bingo... deutsey Jan 2013 #8

Charter switched Smithsonian to a pay channel Atman Jan 2013 #24

So Much For "De-Regulation"... KharmaTrain Jan 2013 #25

We've tried to get rid of channels to reduce our bill...no go. Atman Jan 2013 #62

smithsonian is a very good channel madrchsod Jan 2013 #26

In reality Le Taz Hot Jan 2013 #7

So Disney owns the controlling stake in The History Channel? (42%) annabanana Jan 2013 #76

Mystery... Godot51 Jan 2013 #10

Alien Amish Pawn Brokers! jberryhill Jan 2013 #11

I love that show shenmue Jan 2013 #22

Alien Amish Pawn Brokers Hunting Bigfoot in Logging Trucks. On Ice. Squinch Jan 2013 #104

The channel should probably change its name. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #12

They could merge with Oxygen eggplant Jan 2013 #16

Not a bad idea, but let's go full-on geek. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #20

As long as they left it in basic cable, it would be the free Radical Thor_MN Jan 2013 #32

No, because you still pay something for basic cable Ty Templeton Jan 2013 #49

No, Heisenberg is on AMC eggplant Jan 2013 #68

They have jumped the shark. Once in a while I find something on there. nt morningglory Jan 2013 #13

They're all actors loose wheel Jan 2013 #14

Gangsters dangin Jan 2013 #15

Now wait, I believe all those 12/21/12 "doomsday" shows the History Channel runs. AnnieK401 Jan 2013 #17

It's like Honey Boo Boo & Sister Wives on "The Learning Channel", well, TLC. catbyte Jan 2013 #19

Honestly, when I first saw "Idiocracy," dotymed Jan 2013 #47

And I don't think it's going to take 300 years for us to turn into it, if the species survives. catbyte Jan 2013 #53

Yes, it has reverend_tim Jan 2013 #78

Welcome to Costco! I LoveYou ! reverend_tim Jan 2013 #81

Coming up next on the History Channel: backscatter712 Jan 2013 #115

What, no Nostradamus? What's the world coming to? hatrack Jan 2013 #21

It works for me. CanSocDem Jan 2013 #27

I find "Ice Road Truckers" very educational ... Scuba Jan 2013 #28

This is all useless news to me. formercia Jan 2013 #29

Douglas Carpenter Diclotican Jan 2013 #30

There was a time when TLC stood for "The Learning Channel." CrispyQ Jan 2013 #31

They should do what the Sci-Fi channel did, and change their name to "The Hystery Channel." n/t Ian David Jan 2013 #33

Animal Planet too get the red out Jan 2013 #35

The National Geographic Channel is another one thats pretty much down the crapper tularetom Jan 2013 #36

It's a cartoon channel for middle-age white guys drinking beer and munching cheetos on the couch leveymg Jan 2013 #37

Aliens? RomneyLies Jan 2013 #38

Yeah the history channel isn't what it obama2terms Jan 2013 #39

Yeah, MTV used to show music videos. arely staircase Jan 2013 #40

South Park nailed it caraher Jan 2013 #41

wow! it is pretty bad when a South Park satire is no more far out than the actual History Channel Douglas Carpenter Jan 2013 #94

It along with much of basic cable has become "dumb fuck" T.V. Botany Jan 2013 #42

I must seem really dumb to most people. dotymed Jan 2013 #55

reality shows have very little to do w/reality ...... Botany Jan 2013 #61

Why I steadily downgraded my cable package and totally cancelled it last month Lydia Leftcoast Jan 2013 #96

I do agree... however... smiley Jan 2013 #44

I am all for taking a look at unexplained phenomena including an open minded look at unconventional Douglas Carpenter Jan 2013 #72

History Channel and Discovery are two good reasons we don't need public TV rurallib Jan 2013 #45

Umm whats happening? People are tuning in to those shows is whats happening. cstanleytech Jan 2013 #46

Not really jeff47 Jan 2013 #69

That's it, pretty much. They think lowest-common-denominator content gets the most views. Posteritatis Jan 2013 #112

I must admit. Sissyk Jan 2013 #116

I remember when the History Channel was nothing but shows about Hitler WI_DEM Jan 2013 #48

Public Broadcasting bullsnarfle Jan 2013 #50

I agree. I spend more time on PBS when watching TV WI_DEM Jan 2013 #54

Now I get it toby jo Jan 2013 #52

I watched tv the other night MrYikes Jan 2013 #56

TV is a dying medium, like radio. Dash87 Jan 2013 #57

No, it's not. It's a SHIFTING medium. Atman Jan 2013 #65

Then you'd love the Sarah Palin History Channel! Tommy_Carcetti Jan 2013 #59

OOOO, now I know how impordant tommy guns was to George Jefferson an' his frens'! Kurovski Jan 2013 #91

when parody is barely distinguishable from actual,,things have gotten pretty bad Douglas Carpenter Jan 2013 #99

oh don't you know? history is relative on the history channel... Javaman Jan 2013 #60

I hate those shows too... ReRe Jan 2013 #63

The History Channel - The Apocalypse, Nazis and Rednecks Channel amb123 Jan 2013 #64

It's one of the reason I downgraded my cable package - it's a vast wasteland. reformist2 Jan 2013 #66

All the cool stuff the Nazis would have done/built if they had won the war... dogknob Jan 2013 #67

All the "educational" channels have degenerated into... Odin2005 Jan 2013 #71

I hate to think that this is based on what the ratings say the public wants to see. Although it if Douglas Carpenter Jan 2013 #87

ALIENS! Rex Jan 2013 #74

Smithsonian Channel has the better kydo Jan 2013 #79

It used to be "All Hitler All the Time" Recursion Jan 2013 #80

If Pawn Stars was one of a couple of shows that were not history docs. I could handle that Douglas Carpenter Jan 2013 #109

Fair enough Recursion Jan 2013 #110

History channel. where History goes to die nadinbrzezinski Jan 2013 #82

Turn that shit off. tabasco Jan 2013 #84

Just part of the Dumbing Down Movement Coyotl Jan 2013 #85

The offshoot 'Military History Channel' has become atrocious Populist_Prole Jan 2013 #86

I get a similar experience Posteritatis Jan 2013 #111

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jan 2013 #92

History channel, A&E, TLC, Discovery channel have some weird shit on. Liberal_in_LA Jan 2013 #93

History is owned by A&E, which is 50% owned by BSkyB, which is 39% owned by NewsCorp (Murdoch). eppur_se_muova Jan 2013 #95

I endorse the above message, and I don't watch that channel anymore, sadly. usregimechange Jan 2013 #97

I agree Jack Sprat Jan 2013 #98

I agree & rec. Ken Burn's documentaries like "The Dust Bowl" PBS- Best.Ever. DianaForRussFeingold Jan 2013 #100

you mean something like this? South Park History Channel Thanksgiving sasha031 Jan 2013 #101

The gone reality TV... Historic NY Jan 2013 #102

I suspect that like the much misnamed "reality tv" they discovered that "reality" schlock is a lot Douglas Carpenter Jan 2013 #107

That's a pretty broad statement...... MzShellG Jan 2013 #103

I'm guilty of watching the History Channel . . . . almost everyday rightsideout Jan 2013 #105

K & R Scurrilous Jan 2013 #108

Tonight is Gates of Hell Jack Sprat Jan 2013 #117