Must See TV Thread

[The Chief]

Just watched 'Red Storm Rising - The Struggle For The American Communist Party', on PBS. Despite the title, it's actually an interesting study of radical Left politics from the Nineteenth Century to the 1950's (Syndicalist/ Anarchist/ Communist/Socialist) - an often forgotten aspect of US political history. There is also the mix of the personal and the political, through the conflict between the Syndicalist, William Foster and the Communist, Earl Browder, and how their poilitcal views changed over time.

Even if you completely disagree with the politics, it's still a fascinating history. With a higher budget, and a little more 'polish', it might have been an 'American Experience' - a counterpoint to 'Nazi Town USA', which examined the radical Right up to the 1940's.

Funny you mention this.  I stumbled upon "FDR's secret war" on the History channel the other night.  Even the special itself was 20+ years old, but no less fascinating for it.  I consider myself a huge WW2 nerd and it still covered several things I wasn't aware of.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Funny you mention this.  I stumbled upon "FDR's secret war" on the History channel the other night.  Even the special itself was 20+ years old, but no less fascinating for it.  I consider myself a huge WW2 nerd and it still covered several things I wasn't aware of.

I will look for it.

First book I ever read was the Random House book "Great American Fighter Pilots of World War II." Richard Ira Bong, ace of aces, 40  confirmed kills in a P-38.

[HalfSmokes]

 

Funny you mention this.  I stumbled upon "FDR's secret war" on the History channel the other night.  Even the special itself was 20+ years old, but no less fascinating for it.  I consider myself a huge WW2 nerd and it still covered several things I wasn't aware of.

You guys made me go looking for my old go to. Victory at Sea is streaming free on Tubi now

[English Natsie]

For me, the greatest WW2 series is the Beeb's 'The Nazis - A Warning From History', from 1997.

[blue911]

For me, the greatest WW2 series is the Beeb's 'The Nazis - A Warning From History', from 1997.

Not Heil Honey I’m Home?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

For me, the greatest WW2 series is the Beeb's 'The Nazis - A Warning From History', from 1997.

The World at War

[HondoKillebrew]

For All Mankind has become one of the best shows on television.  Each season is better than the last

I’m a bit of a space race geek but I’m reluctant to start this one because I don’t think I want to imagine the US having lost the race to the moon. 

[English Natsie]

The World at War

Yes - also one of the greats. Perhaps the deepest analysis of Nazism and Germany is from the greatest factual maker of them all- Adam Curtis. The first episode of 'The Living Dead' (how politicians try to use history to their own ends) examines the Allies failure to address Nazism as a political philosophy, and the impact that had on post-war West Germany.

(as with all Curtis, it's not lightweight viewing - you will need to engage your intellect... )

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Hard to remember that World at war was just 28 years after 1945. IIRC Speer participated, and lots of other figures were still living. It would be like having Khalid Sheikh Muhammed being a willing and non hostile participant in a 9/11 documentary released 3 years from now.

Mind you, Speer was always self-serving by dishing what the Western audiences wanted to hear in his post-war interviews, and got off light for setting up a slave-dependent armament production system that worked its labor to death, so I don't view him as kindly as others do. The more direct comparables to KSM like Himmler or Eichmann were already dead by 1973

[English Natsie]

Hard to remember that World at war was just 28 years after 1945. IIRC Speer participated, and lots of other figures were still living. It would be like having Khalid Sheikh Muhammed being a willing and non hostile participant in a 9/11 documentary released 3 years from now.

Mind you, Speer was always self-serving by dishing what the Western audiences wanted to hear in his post-war interviews, and got off light for setting up a slave-dependent armament production system that worked its labor to death, so I don't view him as kindly as others do. The more direct comparables to KSM like Himmler or Eichmann were already dead by 1973

The BBC had a 'Speer Evening', about a year ago. 'The Unseen Interrogation' was a never broadcast interview, from 1971, where Speer was cross-examined by leading academic historians of the time. It was never shown as it was felt Speer was let-off too lightly. It was counterbalanced by the 1996 film 'The Nazi Who Said Sorry', from the 'Reputations' series - the first programme to seriously challenge Speer's assertions. Both were introduced by the leading German historian, Dr Heike Gortemaker, with 'HItler's Architect Of Lies'. All three programmes are still available on the iPlayer, for UK readers.

[imref]

Have you see Nuremberg? 

[English Natsie]

Have you see Nuremberg?

No - I must admit that dramatized history doesn't really do-it for me (but thank you for bringing it to my attention). I refer back to 'The Living Dead' - the Allies desire to portray the War as a 'just-war', at Nuremberg, led to all sorts of problems.

[HalfSmokes]

For anyone who likes this podcasts, history that doesn’t suck is doing a series in WWII now

[varoadking]

No - I must admit that dramatized history doesn't really do-it for me (but thank you for bringing it to my attention).

My wife's late father, a retired US Army Intelligence O-6, was involved with liberating a concentration camp and subsequently with the trials themselves.  She had no desire to see it for this very same reason...

[English Natsie]

Just been watching a couple of soccer themed programs. 'Berlusconi - Condemned To Win' examines the curiously Italian intertwining of soccer and politics, and how Serie A lost it's way during the Naughties. If you're familiar with Italian soccer and politics, from the late '80's onward, then there's much of interest. Shown over here by the Beeb, but produced by ESPN Films, so it may have already had a run-out in the US. 3 x 45 minute episodes, and not as shallow as some ESPN Films productions - well worth your time.

For those who have an interest in the Global Powerhouse, the Beeb has made its recent production 'England 2006 - The Golden Generation' available on You Tube, for viewing overseas. It examines why such a talented group of individuals were unable to 'gel' as a team, and how the 2006 WC campaign went from high expectations to relative mediocrity. 50 minutes run-time and, again, well worth your time.

[imref]

After ending The Late Show Thursday night, Stephen Colbert hosted "Only in Monroe" last night on Monroe, Michigan Public Access Television. Guests included musical director Jack White (using an old boom box), Eminem, and Jeff Daniels.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

After ending The Late Show Thursday night, Stephen Colbert hosted "Only in Monroe" last night on Monroe, Michigan Public Access Television. Guests included musical director Jack White (using an old boom box), Eminem, and Jeff Daniels.

what's this show?

[imref]

what's this show?

It’s a public access news and info show about Monroe Michigan. Colbert guest hosted it in 2015.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

It’s a public access news and info show about Monroe Michigan. Colbert guest hosted it in 2015.

for real? not satire?

[imref]

for real? not satire?

Show is absolutely for real but Colbert put his own twist on it. It was bizarre and hysterical imho.

[English Natsie]

Just watched the latest 'American Masters' - a (generally) even-handed profile of W.E.B Du Bois. The only notable omission was any acknowledgement of the rejection of 'The Talented Tenth' in the rise of more radical Black Power movements from the mid 1960's onwards. It's a longform (113 minutes) but well worth your time.

Noticeable how the 'American Masters' strand is now including profiles which are as much about politics as culture - taking up some of the slack from 'American Experience', perhaps?...

[English Natsie]

Just watched 'Origin Of The Dream', on PBS. An interesting, and informative, examination of the relationship between MLK and Langston Hughes, and how each influenced the other. Well worth your time (57 minute run-time).