MovieChat Forums > Hatfields & McCoys (2012) Discussion > 'History Channel' more like the 'Red-nec...

'History Channel' more like the 'Red-neck Channel'


I am a fan of history and really enjoyed the History Channel, back when there was actually history on the Channel. Ove the last few years I've watched their programming move away from serious history to silly sudo-history reality TV shows like Ice Road Truckers, Ax Men, American Pickers, Pawn Stars and the Swamp People.

Besides having very little do with history (Pawn Stars and American Pickers are really pushing it) what does all these show have in common? They are all programs geared to entertain red-necks. And now they finally decide to do a mini-series (which I've been surprised they haven't done before) and what is the subject matter they pick to do it on? The Hatfields and McCoys. Well, at least it's history, but I'm trying to think what story they will do their next mini-series on. Bootlegging and the creation of Nascar?


Don't confuse my lack of funds for company loyalty.

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I agree with you. Even though I really enjoyed this series; I am over all of the other shows. How is Swamp People historical? Or Pawn Stars? They are all just hillbilly love fests.

"God, I can pull the grass apart and lay my hand upon thy heart."

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The History Channel used to be the Hilter Channel when it started out--guess they decided to switch gears or something

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At least it was running "History" documentaries and showing what people who tune to a channel called HISTORY expect to see..."History"... also it was being true to it's brand.

"I don't argue with idiots, they bring me down to their level and beat me with experience"

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To be fair they bring in a lot of interesting items on the Pawn Stars shows.

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Seems like you have a problem with "rednecks". I'm guessing you are a fan of Jersey Shore and the Kardashians.. is that what you would rather have?

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Good Lord! What makes you think any intelligent person would want either one?

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The aleady did Bootlegging and the history of Nasacar. It was a two hour documentary. Hosted by Billy ray Cirus.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1196639/


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Yeah, I watched that. But, if you remember, I said what would be the next "mini-series" the history channel would do. And if you also rememeber, they also talked about the Hatfields and McCoys in that documentary. But again, I was stalking about a "mini-series".

And no I don't watch Jersey Shore or the Kardashians (they are just urban red-necks). I like to watch informative shows like what the History Channel use to be like.

I watched the Swamp People... once. It was really interesting for ONE hour. After that, I didn't learn anything new and it became just another pointless reality show. All these shows were interesting for like one episode, but how many seasons have Ice Road Truckers been on the air?



Don't confuse my lack of funds for company loyalty.

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well, the history channel did "Into The West". remember that? it was pretty good too.


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I believe that was on TNT.



Don't confuse my lack of funds for company loyalty.

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"For that you will have to watch H2 formally History International."

O M D.... H2 is showing more and more of the garbage found on HISTORY...

"I don't argue with idiots, they bring me down to their level and beat me with experience"

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No, History International used to have history shows. Since it became "H2," it's showing the same garbage as the History Channel.

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"The Dig"
http://cinemarchaeologist.blogspot.com/

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No, History International used to have history shows. Since it became "H2," it's showing the same garbage as the History Channel.

Yes it has... I had hoped that H2 was going to be the old THC... actually showing all the real "History" programing no longer shown on the channel that still has the nerve to call itself HISTORY.... I guess "More 2 History" is just another way of saying "History Made Every Day"....

"I don't argue with idiots, they bring me down to their level and beat me with experience"

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Kind of reminds me of how MTV used to show music videos. They started showing too much Real World and the like so they started MTV2 to show music videos. After a while MTV2 started having more programing like MTV. Now no more music videos. I don't like where this is going.

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"I watched the Swamp People... once. It was really interesting for ONE hour. "

So you like "redneck" shows, just in small doses. Got it. You do also realize there are about 300 other channels out there, right?

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Actually, at least one item that they feature in Pawn Stars is historical. They have had several docuements signed by former US Presidents including Thomas Jefferson. I agree most of it is not history and American pickers is not historical either. but they have to make money somehow and showing documentaries over and over wont do it.

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That was so offensive. I know BRC is a musician and not a scholar, but you'd think he'd have the presence of mind not to perpetuate Appalachian stereotypes. It's not as if we don't take enough from the media without having docuseries about how we makes all the moonshine and mine all the coal and raise all the hell. Can we not?

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It's a core demographic that garners high ad revenue. You can make the same argument with A(rts)&E(entertainment) Channel which use to showcase operas from Italy and Germany, as well as Ballet from the Bolshoi and Paris now it's primarily channel featuring celebreality TV. Same with Bravo, which tends to focus more on urban housewives who are self-obsessed fag-hags with addictive personalities. Bravo use to showcase classic Hollywood movies as well as documentaries on famous actors, now they're just interested in famous reality tv celebrities. That hack James Lipton seems to be the only left-over from Bravo's previous incarnation.




(¯`i´¯)´·¸.)‹^›

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I miss the old History Channel, now you have to watch H2 to get it. Most of the time I turn it on, its Pawn Stars or American Pickers, shows that I used to find interesting until they played them constantly.

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In case you missed the dates that they flash on the screen from time to time, you might recall that the American Civil War took place from 1861 - 1865 and the Hatfield/McCoy feud occurred in the late 1800s.

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"I'm sure rednecks created the Atom Bomb, right? Idiot."

They may not have CREATED it, but they sure helped hide it and build it....Google 'Oak Ridge, Tennessee' and 'Manhattan Project'.

I agree about the History Channel, and almost every other channel, turning to complete crap lately. I was just complaining the other day about the number of useless reality shows that were being added on top of all the other useless reality shows we already have especially in the case of the History Channel. And while we're listing networks that have gone completely off track, how about TV Land? Used to be great classic television shows, now it's all crappy '90s shows over and over and over, with little Extreme Makeover Home Edition (WTF??) and Hot In Cleveland (funny, but shouldn't be on TVL) thrown in.

The bee hunts in pairs....and other fruits...

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It almost started another war so I disagree with you.

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Stick with BET then.

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Our son and DIL are producers and editors of programming for the History Channel, among others. It's the demographics that drive what the networks are looking for and what the sponsors will support: twenty to thirtysomething single white males and what they are perceived to desire in the way of television entertainment. It's oftentimes cynically disappointing. Fortunately there are the occasional exceptions, but they're more likely found on Discovery or NatGeo.

"Admit to poisoning the monkeys, and we'll give you a cigarette."

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