You're not alone in disliking the "People doing their jobs" shows. I don't think every week should be barbarians week, but I do agree they need to focus on History. What's happening right now isn't history. It's current events. History is how people reflect on past events. 9/11 = history. A trucker on the ice doesn't.
But, reality tv is hot right now. They could improve those shows some by making sure they discuss the history of what they're doing. It would be local history, but it would be history nonetheless.
One series of something like Ice Road Truckers is fine - it's an interesting job, and most people won't realise the things that go on. After that first sries, though, it turns into a soap opera about the drivers, not about the driving. Who really cares that the obnoxious fat Canadian can deliver more trailer-loads than the bald skinny one?
Honestly, it's History's Network Decay in action. I'd rather see most of these series on then Ancient Aliens or Monster Hunters. Still, they're boring. I actually liked Deadliest Catch and even I have to admit that 9 times out of 10, it's damn near impossible to tell what season you're watching, forget which episode in it. They're so interchangeable it's actually hilarious. Ice Road Truckers is as bad if not worse since most of the shots are night vision cams of the drivers or random stock footage of the trucks driving through snow. They try to add some drama to it but it's all so mindbogglingly uniform.
Most of these shows would be good for a half season or even full season then go away. Make it some kind of long running series like, "Dangerous Jobs" or something. Making it half their line up forever, no thanks.
People obviously watch these shows since they keep making them but what is the draw that keeps you coming back? Not enough stock footage of snow?
"Tyyr's a necessary evil. " SpiritCould be worse. It could be Tru TV's "let's copy Operation Repo again and again" formula.
More Buscemi at http://forum.reelsociety.com/They must find a way to include Hitler into the fat guys thing. He has been their wonder child all these years.
Also am I the only one who ever seems to find nothing but Modern Marvels on the History International channel (which they renamed H2 apparently)? I mean I like it but I am amazed at how that channel seems comprised of nothing but that one show.
edited 10th Dec '11 1:13:35 AM by Aondeug
If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan ChahI am offended that you are even hinting that Pawn Stars belongs to that group of shows
.
Yeah, truckers, alligators, I feel my quality of life would be much better if History would put watchable shows in those slots instead of that stuff.
Modern Marvels and Pawn Stars are my favorites on the channel at this point. Miss the medieval stuff.
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I like Modern Marvels too. American Pickers is sometimes entertaining, but I don't like any of the other "Fat Guys Doing Their Job" shows.
Although, while I never watch it for more than five minutes, I actually enjoy Ancient Aliens, not because I think it's right, but because it's hilarious. But the sad thing is that that show has more "history" than these other shows about selling junk and shooting Croczilla.
I like Pawn Stars, but it's more seeing Corey do something stupid and him getting yelled at. Chumlee is also very much a lovable idiot. I wouldn't hire the guy, but he'd be fun to have around.
Also, I'm not saying Ancient Aliens is a load of bullshit, be we have no proof that it isn't.
Oh, this is a clip from Dave Attel's Insomniac when he visited the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in 2003:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gvu6APT3JLY
edited 11th Dec '11 5:50:38 AM by anathame
I like Pawn Stars and American Pickers because they tend to actually discuss the history of what they're selling/buying, rather than having the show be ninety percent "Kourtney and Kim Take Ice Trucking" like the other ones. Pawn Stars has some of that, but it isn't that bad.
"It's so hard to be humble, knowing how great I am."Exactly. Those are two of my favorite currently aired shows on HC, alongside Modern Marvels.
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How do you feel about shows like Ice Road Truckers, Axe Men, that one with the alligators, etc.?
I think Pawn Stars is the only show out of that entire genre that's presented in a way that's actually somewhat historical/educational and I wish the other shows weren't clogging the channel 24/7, but that's just me.
I like how History's justification for these shows is "It's relevant because it's making history RIGHT NOW!" That excuse can be used to put literally anything on the History Channel. If they aired a horrible sitcom nobody ever watched, then it's actually making a measurable impact on history by being the least watched sitcom ever.
I guess I'm just angry every week isn't Barbarians Week.
Teens dress as Batman to catch pedophiles; cops not impressed