History Channel Foibles

[+Klavs81]

Does anybody else seem to catch a lot of wrong info on history channel/military channel shows? Not usually on the part of the narrator, but when they show the interviews with the "experts"?

 

I just caught a British historian say that Goering looked up in the air and saw Mustangs flying over Berlin in 1943!

 

The first USAAF raid was on March 4th, 1944

 

It's just when I catch stuff like that, I wonder how many other things I'm taking at face value?

 

Anyhoo, maybe I'm rivet counting, but it bugs me that these guys are supposed to be the professionals.

[+column5]

I've given up on History, Discovery, Science and most of the other channels that used to be good. Every other show is about global warming, ice truckers or crab fishermen.

 

EDIT: I'm wrong, there was a show on the other night about rust.

[+suhsjake]

RAF had Mustangs in 1941.

[+DWCAce]

HIS & DIS are pretty much the only channels that I watch, not saying that they are 100% correct (that's why I've got alot of books :) .

 

If that British historian is the same guy I'm thinking of, he's as annoying as hell.

[+Klavs81]

RAF had Mustangs in 1941.

 

Yeah, but not Merlin powered, and NOT over Berlin. Which was my point.

 

RAF Mustangs debuted in combat in 1942.

[+Fubar512]

EDIT: I'm wrong, there was a show on the other night about rust.

 

What's wrong with that? Like the song says "rust never sleeps"

[+column5]

What's wrong with that? Like the song says "rust never sleeps"

 

Nothing at all. Everyone should understand the complexities of oxidation.

[+Dave]

Nothing at all. Everyone should understand the complexities of oxidation.

 

Yes, its potential effects on manufactured goods durability and how society copes is a very important subject indeed.

[eraser_tr]

Pretty sure the first merlin mustangs were around in 1943. They were doing long range escort missions, but to berlin? I wouldn't know.

 

Of course if Goering looked up in the sky and saw allied fighters, from 30,000 feet below I doubt he'd be able to discern a mustang from a thunderbolt or spitfire.

 

I've seen plenty of goofs, but nothing so drastic to give up watching.

[WarlordATF]

Its true that they make mistakes, but some DVDs are even worse. I bought this box set awhile back and didn't notice until i got home that the case has a picture of an Eagle flying off a Carrier!! Theres also a few scenes where they are Showing the eagle and then show the nose of the tomcat, I guess if it has twin tails it must be the same aircraft!!

 

http://shopping.discovery.com/product-59755.html

Edited October 16, 2008 by WarlordATF

[+DWCAce]

Are you talking about the tin with the Strike Eagle flying off it? If so, how is it otherwise? (I'm looking to get it sometime)

[WarlordATF]

yes its the one with the Tin, Overall its not too bad, they cover alot of aircraft. Its divided into 5 disks as follows. Disk 1 Ground Strike, Disk 2 Fighters, Disk 3 Air Support, Disk 4 Sea Wings and Disk 5 Choppers. Its just footage and Music, They don't talk about the aircraft at all.

 

The Booklet that comes with it has some cool facts and pics. Also, I would check your local Bestbuy Store for it before buying it online, i only paid 20 bucks and online its $29.95.

[GreyCap]

Does anybody else seem to catch a lot of wrong info on history channel/military channel shows? Not usually on the part of the narrator, but when they show the interviews with the "experts"?

 

I just caught a British historian say that Goering looked up in the air and saw Mustangs flying over Berlin in 1943!

 

The first USAAF raid was on March 4th, 1944

 

It's just when I catch stuff like that, I wonder how many other things I'm taking at face value?

 

Anyhoo, maybe I'm rivet counting, but it bugs me that these guys are supposed to be the professionals.

 

That's the risk you get when they have to dish out show after show 24/7. A quantity versus quality thing I guess.

[GreyCap]

compared to shows like Nova, I should add. That comes on once a week only.

[HockeyCoach]

I've given up on History, Discovery, Science and most of the other channels that used to be good. Every other show is about global warming, ice truckers or crab fishermen.

 

Thank you. I was starting to think it was just me. Oh, and don't forget the shows about people who shovel pig sheet.

[WarlordATF]

Speaking of Ice Road Truckers,I have always wondered if they Couldn't use LCACs and do the same job year-round and much safer? I'm sure the mining companys could afford to buy them if they are still being built.

 

Anyway,I Agree, Its a shame the History and Discovery are running programs like that instead of the good Military shows they used to run.

[Viggen]

When I was in 5th grade, the History Channel actually taught me stuff. Now, as a sophomore in high school, I seem to need to teach the History Channel sometimes. Ah yes, I remember Heavy Metal Fridays. Begging my parents to let me stay up to see shows on the P-51, Corsair, F-22, F-14...the list goes on. Actually going down History Channel memory lane, I remember when I was a baby, watching something on the Eiffle Tower, and the host: Inspector Gadget!

[+JediMaster]

I remember when Wings was a program on Discovery and it was great.

 

Wings of the Red Star and Wings of the Luftwaffe were 2 of the best series EVER.

[+DWCAce]

Warload, I happend to look on my shelf last night, and BAM, there it was! Maybe I've got too much stuff :)

[Jug]

I remember when Wings was a program on Discovery and it was great.

 

Wings of the Red Star and Wings of the Luftwaffe were 2 of the best series EVER.

I still watch them all. It is an exercise on catching them out. I, also, still learn a lot like how to reconstruct a German Panther tank that has been on a riverbottom for 50 years. The 24/7 mandate leads them into making mistakes, but as we pick out our stones to throw, observe carefully the glass house within which we live............................

 

I've seen some mistakes here too!

Edited October 16, 2008 by Jug

[johnrey]

I've given up on History, Discovery, Science and most of the other channels that used to be good. Every other show is about global warming, ice truckers or crab fishermen.

 

EDIT: I'm wrong, there was a show on the other night about rust.

Yeah and who are watching it? Themselves? They better show Top Tens in Discovery Channel and Dogfights in History channel....Those are the only shows I watch.

[Caveman]

ugh...top tens... when will they make a new eppisode or kill the ones they got...i've seen them all bout 50 times each... and hey whats wrong with the crab guys????

[+Klavs81]

hey whats wrong with the crab guys????

 

Nothing that can't be treated with Permethrin 1% cream rinse and pyrethrins.

[Roopod]

If only things could stay the same. To me, the History Channel is now history. I rarely watch it anymore. I used to watch friday nights when shoot-out, Dogfights, Mail-Call were airing every week. Then it abruptly changed to strictly non-military programs. I went to the History Channel website to see where the programs I enjoyed had been changed to. It listed Dogfights in the same time slot on friday night. But it wasn't airing it on my cable network in this region. You can thank marketing managers and others who are more interested in their ratings from the biggest viewership possible. If they have to mimick some other format like the Disney Channel or Nickelodeon they'll sell out their current loyal viewers in a heart beat. I'd have to change cable providers or buy into satelite venues in order to get channels that actually cater to my interests. Which I would also do in a heart beat. The Science Channel, Science Network, History International, The Military Channel, or the Discovery Channel are unavailable unless you dole out an obscene amount of money to the blood sucker cable/satelite providers. Anybody now about being able to choose every channel you want that's available internationally instead of being told what you can watch? No, I didn't think so.

[crl848]

What's wrong with that? Like the song says "rust never sleeps"

 

Isn't that an LP? Good ol' Neil. I once had to walk out of a gig of his during the encore. He broke the venue curfew and I had to get to bed in time for an early work start the next day.