Need to vent.

[Mark Jennings]

I have to vent here for a bit. I think it is a darn shame that The History Channel cannot find anything else to air today but Pawn Stars. Is anyone else out there as sick of that show as I am. I mean get with the program History Channel. This is Memorial Day, there should be shows, movies and ceremonies dedicated to say thank you to all men and women from all wars who made the ultimate sacrifice. Not a show about 3 overweight idiots and 1 older than dirt jerk who have to ask for help on just about everyhting that comes through the door. 21 years of being in business and they still don`t know what items are worth. Well I vented enough. Thank you to all the Vets out there who have pass on, to the ones who are still with us and the ones that currently serve this Great Nation and Shame on the History Channel.

Mark.

[wjohn]

Thats a real pity.

The History Channel in Australia ran a week of reflective programming during the run up to ANZAC day, and on the day itself.

Two years ago, there was a very good special on Delta Company, 6RAR and their battle at Long Than in Vietnam. This year, the special was on Gallipoli.

I think 'Driving to D-Day', the story of a number of MV collectors shipping their vehicles to Europe and driving to France was shown this year. It had been shown last year as well.

The History Channel will broadcast its latest exclusive local production with the world premiere of DRIVING TO D-DAY, on Sunday, June 6 at 7.30pm AEST.

DRIVING TO D-DAY follows the journey of thirty slightly eccentric Australians who, in June 2009, travelled 5,000 kilometres across Europe to Normandy in their restored vintage WWII military vehicles to commemorate the 65th anniversary of D-Day.

In a remarkable expedition that sees the history enthusiasts retrace the ANZAC journey and visit the battlefields of Europe, the trip begins in Istanbul and continues across the continent of Europe, concluding in Normandy.

The two-month journey is seen through the eyes of this group of everyday Australians and is a moving tribute to the ANZACS, as they visit the battlefields that meant so much to our brave servicemen and gain a deeper understanding of the battles that liberated Europe.

Lead by legendary Queensland adventurer/aviator Lang Kidby, the convoy also includes renowned aviator Mike O’Sullivan, photographer Leisa Ward, Mick Jericovuch and Graeme Person (high-school mates for 50 years) and many more in a cast of colourful characters that had a single mission: DRIVING TO D-DAY.

After shipping their beloved collection of veteran vehicles across the world to take part, the convoy start in Istanbul, the furthest point of Europe from Normandy. From there the journey takes them to Gallipoli, across Turkey and the Mediterranean to Greece – and the great battle for Crete where so many Australians and New Zealanders were killed or captured.

The journey continues to Italy, then up through Switzerland and France and finally reaches its climax in Normandy on the anniversary of D-Day, where the group of adventurers drive on to the very beaches where the Allies came ashore on June 6, 1945.

Featuring a visual diary of events and extensive archive footage, DRIVING TO D-DAY is the story of this determined group’s incredible quest through time and place.

[bikeman]

Spike is airing Band of Brothers all day.

TCM has been airing all old war movies, merril's mauraders, Tora tora tora, and a few others. Same with the other classic movie channel, they've shown a few.

Sad that other channels are picking up "The History Channel"s short comings.

[gerrykan]

Unfortunately here in the USA, most every channel has been taken over by 'Reality TV Shows'.
There is nothing REAL about them.
They all follow the same script week after week with the only difference being the occupation of the principal stars(a word used lightly with these folks), and the people/situation that they interact with any particular week.

That these shows are so popular states volumes about the demographics of the USA TV audience.
So Mark, like it or not you are one of the One Percenters', maybe not in wealth*, but in intelligence.

*This is no slight against Mark. I do not know, nor care to know Mark's income or finances.

[Mark Jennings]

Thank you wjohn for the response and to bikeman. I just turned on Band of Brothers. I try to watch this everytime it come on because I always see something that I did not see before. Thank you also gerrycan for the complement on the 1%. It is too bad that we can`t maintain 100% based on the fact if it was not for these men and women we would not have what we have today. Thanks again. mark.

[B.C.]

You've put your finger on the exact reason I had our cable yanked out about 7 or 8 years ago. We used to enjoy watching the History Channel, Discovery, Learning Channel, etc. until they morphed into more of the same kind of crap the networks were shoving down people's throats.

We like Netflix and if we want to watch a current TV show, lots of them can be seen free on Exfinity and Hulu.

I agree 100% that the History Channel should have had the decency to dedicate Memorial Day programming to appropriate material.

[hbtcoveralls]

I agree with Brian, We don't even have a TV plugged in. It just sits in the corner with a blanket over it. 99% of what I was seeing on TV was shine-o-la. After 6 years without I don't miss it at all.
Tom Bowers

[TopKick]

Maybe they should change the name of the channel to the Pawn Stars Channel.

[gpw6335]

Pawn Stars is cheap filler, cheap to produce and air. Good lessons on how to screw people.

[Chuck Lutz]

From being known as "The Hitler Channel" to what it is today, it has spun off the most of the WWII stuff to the Military History Channel and has now settled on Ice Road Truckers (and it's spin-offs), Pawn Stars, Ax Men, Nostradamus, and is giving National Geographics' "Doomsday Preppers" a run for it's money with their own branded doomsday programming.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_(TV_channel)

Watching the end of the world, crazy occupations, doomsday lunacy and such nonsense is only on the air because it gets good ratings....and can sell advertising time.

If you want to torpedo those shows, simply get enough people to send letters/emails/calls to the ADVERTISERS of those shows that complain about it and watch the programming change when the advertisers get it....

Edward Herrmann has enough narratives on that program to make you think UFOs, aliens, alligator hunters, religions, disasters, apocalypse scenarios, monsters and just about anything they can get an angle on must be worth watching...

Given the number of cameras now in use on streets, highways and in buildings.....a whole hour each night of "REAL"...."reality TV" can't be long in coming....They could call it "Can You %#^#@ Believe it?".

Coming to the "Hysteria Channel" next season....

[Steve Webb]

The older I get the more pleased I am to have never had cable or dish. Ziggy cartoon was pretty spot on this morning, Ziggy is in a chair watching TV and the parrot says, "You watch this stuff and call us birdbrains?"

[pecopfc]

Old Frank Zappa tune..."Slime from the Video"....Don't touch that dial!

[Jerry Hudgens]

I just ran across this post and I just want to say I completely agree with everything in this post. We got cable about 3 or 4 years ago, primarily to have high speed internet service/E-mail and the telephone. We have something like 63 channels and I can only stand ESPN during football, Turner Classic Movies and occasionaly the AMC channel that shows movies. The rest is pure crap. I used to watch a show called (I think), "How its Made" on the Discovery Channel about manufacturing in the USA but now that show doesn't come on anymore. Occasionaly the Animal Channel will show Wild Russia or other well done show about the planet but they stick their stupid logo and huge sign on the screen all of the time so I don't watch that channel anymore. That just drives me up the wall. I would like to shoot the idiot that jams that logo on the screen all the time.

You guys say such shows as Pawn Starts and the Ice Road Truckers are on because a lot of people watch those shows. I can only wonder who watches those shows? If that is any indication of where this country is headed, I feel sad for my children and grandchildren. If these shows are actually popular, then we have some low IQ people out there watching TV.
I can't believe these shows are on because a lot of people watch them. I think these shows are on because they are cheap to make and do not require any talent at all to produce. The real talent and skill level in this country is going downhill fast, in my opinion.

Finally I would like to comment about the movies on the AMC Channel. They are almost exclusively about killing and murder. I do give them credit for showing Clint Eastwood movies and they did a good job on the Memorial Day Weekend with a lot of good war stories. But, they seem to concentrate on movies about killing and murder and gore. I am tired of such crap.

Jerry Hudgens

[tamnalan]

Finally I would like to comment about the movies on the AMC Channel. They are almost exclusively about killing and murder. I do give them credit for showing Clint Eastwood movies and they did a good job on the Memorial Day Weekend with a lot of good war stories. But, they seem to concentrate on movies about killing and murder and gore. I am tired of such crap.

Doww... I was going to compliment AMC's "The Walking Dead" series...

Actually I do like that show. They wrestle with some thoughtful issues. Other than it, our family mostly sticks to Netflix.