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I don't consider myself an idiot, as I'm sure most idiots don't, but I've watched several episodes of that program. Yes, it's ridiculous but I was entertained.

I don't consider myself an idiot, as I'm sure most idiots don't, but I've watched several episodes of that program. Yes, it's ridiculous but I was entertained. Those of us who recall the early days of the history channel remember the constant WWII programs. I think it's better now. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_(TV_channel)#Criticism_and_evaluation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_(TV_channel)#Criticism... The channel to fall the farthest for me is TLC. It used to have actual things to "learn" as suggested by the name of The Learning Channel. It's dead to me. I guess they term this channel drift. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_drift https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_drift

bentcorner 12y ago
I recall watching TLC in the mid-90's, and splitting my time between it and Discovery Channel. The whole push for "A [foo] Story" turned me away, and I guess things went downhill from there. Also, this is mind boggling: > The Weather Channel, for instance, faced severe backlash for its attempts to add movies to its lineup (already having drifted from all-forecast programming into reality shows for much of its lineup over the course of the previous decade) in 2010. I guess you could call this a "pivot", but if you've named yourself "The Weather Channel", I don't think you should be surprised if you get backlash because you decide to stop delivering what you said on the tin.
- cratermoon 12y ago
  Did you happen to read the article linked from this OP's? TLC changed its tagline to "Everyone needs a little TLC", more or less explicitly jettisoning any association with "learning" http://qz.com/239882/american-cable-tv-has-now-reached-total-convergence/ http://qz.com/239882/american-cable-tv-has-now-reached-total... Remember when you could watch music videos all day on MTV?
rbanffy 12y ago
It is entertaining - I laugh a lot with it - but it has absolutely nothing with history and, believe me, some people think that because it's on "The History Channel" then it must be history. This whole stupidity is rooted on the silly notion that every hypothesis, however wild, untestable or ridiculous, is equally valid and deserves the same level of attention afforded to the actually good ones, that people are entitled to their opinions, however wrong they are because, somehow, opinions became important elements of self-expression and a defining aspect of one's identity. If you happen to hold an opinion that's wrong, be prepared to see it torn to shreds and, accordingly, to change your mind. For the record, I too found the WWII programming a bit repetitive. But before sponsoring "ancient alien theories" (and I cringe when I write "theories" here) they should have changed their name to "Stupidity Channel" or "Superstition Channel" or even "It's Stupid, But You'll Still Watch It Channel".

bentcorner 12y ago

I recall watching TLC in the mid-90's, and splitting my time between it and Discovery Channel. The whole push for "A [foo] Story" turned me away, and I guess things went downhill from there. Also, this is mind boggling: > The Weather Channel, for instance, faced severe backlash for its attempts to add movies to its lineup (already having drifted from all-forecast programming into reality shows for much of its lineup over the course of the previous decade) in 2010. I guess you could call this a "pivot", but if you've named yourself "The Weather Channel", I don't think you should be surprised if you get backlash because you decide to stop delivering what you said on the tin.

cratermoon 12y ago
Did you happen to read the article linked from this OP's? TLC changed its tagline to "Everyone needs a little TLC", more or less explicitly jettisoning any association with "learning" http://qz.com/239882/american-cable-tv-has-now-reached-total-convergence/ http://qz.com/239882/american-cable-tv-has-now-reached-total... Remember when you could watch music videos all day on MTV?

rbanffy 12y ago

It is entertaining - I laugh a lot with it - but it has absolutely nothing with history and, believe me, some people think that because it's on "The History Channel" then it must be history. This whole stupidity is rooted on the silly notion that every hypothesis, however wild, untestable or ridiculous, is equally valid and deserves the same level of attention afforded to the actually good ones, that people are entitled to their opinions, however wrong they are because, somehow, opinions became important elements of self-expression and a defining aspect of one's identity. If you happen to hold an opinion that's wrong, be prepared to see it torn to shreds and, accordingly, to change your mind. For the record, I too found the WWII programming a bit repetitive. But before sponsoring "ancient alien theories" (and I cringe when I write "theories" here) they should have changed their name to "Stupidity Channel" or "Superstition Channel" or even "It's Stupid, But You'll Still Watch It Channel".