Monster Quest: What happened to the History Channel?

[cheesesteak]

I don't know what's worse, the fact that the History Channel broadcasts Monster Quest or that I've watched 3 or 4 of the episodes. What happened to the History Channel? I know that they can't live off of Hitler and WWII forever, but Monster Quest? I loves me some cosmology but does The Universe belong on the History channel? Human Weapon?

[Dmon4u]

They always imply that they/themselves (with a little extra help) may find evidence for the existance of each and every creature they are looking for - at the start of every episode.

Yeah, Right !

That's their idea of suspense and tension ? For a whole hour ?

Perhaps if they stuck to the History of these creatures, instead of searching for them, they'd have a better show.

[bareyb]

I was thinking the same thing. Except I have found myself watching Monsterquest too. My son digs them. So far I've seen Bigfoot, Backyard Lions, and Deadly Fish. It's a somewhat interesting show (I love the camera traps, even if all they ever catch is Elk), but it is an odd fit for The History Channel. They have some other kind of offbeat stuff now too. Something like "Gangland" about gangs and such. Perhaps they are trying to bring in some new eyeballs during the strike?

[mitchb2]

I like the show, but I agree it should be on Discovery, or National Geographic.
Anything but History.

[sieglinde]

They have a similar show on SciFi and it was pretty good, mainly because the fellows doing the show had a sense of adventure and a great sense of humor.

I set my tivo for the show on rods and the one about Stalin supposidly crossing humans and apes. (I went to grade school in the 50's and we heard all kinds of interesting nonsense such as the ape/human cross breed experiments and that Russian kids were all sent to dorms and didn't live with their parents. I figure both stories are equally valid.)

[scandia101]

Personally, I don't care what's on any given channel. If I'm interested, I watch it. If I'm not interested, I don't watch it. Blurring the focus of a channel is simply what's done to get ratings and in the end, ratings is what it's all about.

I like the show, but I agree it should be on Discovery...
alongside Cash Cab and Joel Osteen?

[smark]

Well Gangland is actually about a history of the various gangs they are profiling. The Universe is at least detailing the history of the universe.

I'd say they are at least 90% straight history which is their bread and butter compared to some channels. Monsterquest is stretching it I agree but so again is Ice Road Truckers.

But Ice Road Truckers rules.

[emandbri]

Wow, there is a lot of history out there to work with, I wouldn't think they would run out of subjects for shows!

[bootedbear]

Do any of the cable channels still stick to their original intended formats? SciFi is showing wrestling. The Learning Channel has become the Fashion Channel. FoodTV has become Anything-but-cooking TV. HGTV has become Watch-Idiots-Try-To-Flip-a-House TV. And Court TV has become Reality-but-we'll-call-it-Actuality TV.

At least The Weather Channel still reports the weather (if not all that accurately).

They'll play whatever they think will bring in viewers, and therefore sponsors.

[ggalindo]

I've noticed over the last year that the History Channel has quickly turned into the doom and gloom channel.

The History Channel for years was one of my favorite channels, and although there was a preponderance of WW2 programming (which I do enjoy), I thought there was still a lot of variety to be very well rounded.

Of late, it seems that there is an increasing emphasis on doomsday, fantasy, or other fringe topics. IMO, Ice Road Truckers was a solid program, and appeared to be well received, but I really cannot see watching any of these other programs, even if they are well done. Something about them being on the History channel is just very wrong.

At some time, they were trying to launch a "Military History Channel", but I guess it isn't going to get picked up, at least by DirecTV or the cable boys in my locale.

If I had my way (which I know I don't)...I would like to see a greater mix of older documentaries weaved into these newer programs.

[Graymalkin]

Might be time to merge some of these single-major channels. :)

[jschuur]

Without new episodes on my usual shows, I've actually been watching a bunch of history documentaries, especially on History Channel International. If you're tired of WW2, come on over and find out all about the Antiquity ;)

[speedy4022]

I like monster quest I agree the history channel is the wrong place for it. This is a show that I discovered because of network reruns.

[MickeS]

Do any of the cable channels still stick to their original intended formats?

No they don't. After a few years, they all start showing the same stuff. I bet The History Channel will somehow justify showing "Just one of the guys" any day now.

[sieglinde]

I remember when the History channel first started out that they were striving to not be the "All Hitler, all the time" channel. They have done some really great things with American history and European history even a show or two on China etc.

[jschuur]

I remember when the History channel first started out that they were striving to not be the "All Hitler, all the time" channel. They have done some really great things with American history and European history even a show or two on China etc.
Speaking of American History, they've just started up again with reruns for The Revolution (http://www.history.com/minisites/revolution/), a 13 episode series about the American Revolution.

Ignore what the linked site says about their not being any new episodes scheduled, episode 1 (http://www.historyinternational.com/global/listings/listings.jsp?fromYear=2008&fromMonth=0&fromDate=1&NetwCode=HCI&timezone=1&View=Prime&) aired just yesterday.

[smak]

At least Court TV acknowledges it since they changed their name yesterday to Tru TV.

I am enjoying The Universe on History, and it doesn't really belong there either.

-smak-