Fans of the television show Modern Marvels – prepare to be disappointed. I have it on good authority – very good authority – that Actuality Productions of Woodland Hills, California, which produces the show, is drastically slowing down production at the behest of network supremos in New York. Once the flagship of the History Channel, Modern Marvels is now taking the back seat in favor of more UFO- and Monster hunt shows.
“No new episodes will be shown this year [2009],” my source tells me, “all you’ll get is re-runs.” After that, the number of new episodes will be cut in half.
Although in recent years, the show has featured things that were neither modern, nor marvelous, MM has always delivered television found nowhere else: solid, slick information about stuff that is really cool, and [novel concept] presented so one can actually learn something. Where else can you get a VIP pass to a brewery, check out the latest in car wash tech, or a get a 50 minute tour de force of chocolate in all of its sweetness and succulence? Not network, that’s for sure.
Don’t get me wrong, I am more than capable of geeking out to UFO Hunters or Monster Quest, but after the 20th episode where they don’t interview aliens or capture Nessie, it’s just more of the same. The truth is out there, apparently, but we aren't privy to it. You’d think the suits in New York could figure that out and use these fantasy shows more sparingly while keeping the History Channel about history.
But that would be a Modern Marvel.
Maybe we should storm the network with torches and pitchforks.
4 comments:
The History Channel used to be one of my favorites back when it actually included shows about history. It now rarely makes it to my TV screen. Of course, the powers-that-be are probably just playing to the dumbing down of society that everyone else is playing to. I know some politicians that do the same thing.
I have always kind of laughed when I see the title of "Modern Marvels" being shown on a channel called "History". I remember watching the "Cities of the Underworld" ostensibly about Freemasons and was truly confused why there were no examples of Masonic Temples at all presented. The guy is in freakin' Boston and doesn't take a trip to the Grand Lodge building. This is why I have a DVR, I can skip the commercials and can record the one good hour of the History Channel out of the 23 hours of crap.
Nick
I have a pitchfork. And a torch. And a yen to be a vicious peasant. Name the time and place!!
They just recorded the last episode of MM last week: Top Ten Technologies. It will air in 2010.
I think we need to storm the History Channel and run the suits off!
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