|
Posts:
1
Registered:
9/27/08
|
|
(31 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 27, 2008 9:53 PM
|
|
THAT WAS AWESOME! Way to go Bre! I was wondering what happened to you when you stopped doing the MAKE: Weekend Projects.
|
|
|
Posts:
4
Registered:
9/27/08
|
|
(32 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 27, 2008 10:30 PM
|
For the people complaining that history was not a part of this show, do you somehow think that the rivalry between Edison and Tesla wasn't a part of our history? There was plenty of discussion of historical figures and events in the show. Saying it wasn't a history program is like saying I didn't eat bread for lunch because my sandwich also had turkey and mayonnaise on it.
I have no connection to this show. I'm not friends with anyone connected to the show and I'm not related to anyone that is a part of this show. I had never even heard of the host before I saw the show yesterday (I did join the forums to talk about the show though,) and I really don't care if you didn't like the show and want to complain about it, but don't sit there and say it doesn't belong on the history channel because it didn't discuss history when it did.
|
|
|
Posts:
2
Registered:
9/28/08
|
|
(33 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 3:38 AM
|
|
Great job, Bre! As a regular reader of Make: Magazine and its blog, I can tell you that Bre is a fantastic educator through most online media, and it's amazing to see what he can do with a 42-minute TV slot! Also, good job, History Channel, for bringing my interest back to your programming. In a time when I thought that you were all about re-slogging through conspiracy theories, Nazi war crimes, UFOs, and trebuchets again and again and again, and then injecting cheapened versions of the "REAL Reality TV" that's become the hallmark of the Discovery family of channels to try to broaden your audience, it's nice to see something with some real content. You're drawing in a new kind of viewer, which seems to be what you need, and you're not depending on your time-honored trick of using violence in history to grab everyone's attention (R. Lee Ermey and Mail Call being a delightful instance of this, OORAH!). But thank you for making a change. It will certainly draw you new viewers like myself and every one of the others who have posted in this thread.
|
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
9/28/08
|
|
(34 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 8:00 AM
|
Bre, I've followed your work with Make magazine for several years, so I've been looking forward to seeing your first production more than a few minutes long.
I've seen it twice now - once alone, and again just now with my nine-year-old son, who could watch Pokemon or How It's Made with equal interest. I liked it, but he loved it.
I think the show has great promise, but needs work:
* Too Much Content
There was enough material in that show for a two-hour special, and the result was disorienting. I'd have liked to see either more or less of: the do-it-yourself segments, the how-its-made tours, and the history of Tesla vs. Edison. The pace of narration felt OK, but there was too much data to absorb before you switched topics, so I ended up remembering little but the visuals. Directing viewers to a website for more details could have helped.
* You Need a Science Editor
Some of the comments didn't quite work, like saying you wanted to make the neon tube "emit light particles", or shortening "generator" to "genny" without warning. I also wondered why you made the neon tubes into a lightning bolt, rather than laying them out in a line to show the effect of distance on wireless power transmission. The History Channel tries to package much of its content into classroom-friendly forms; if you arranged your shows into lesson-themed chunks, it might also help the result feel more focused. Bring in a local high-school science teacher or three, and keep them in the loop from start to finish.
* Look and Feel
The Infinite Workshop was fun, the technical animations were excellent, the historical animations were interesting but creepy, and the skateboarding around was a good segue gimmick. (And the "waffles are tasty" line was fun - keep it up.) You should probably consider stripping out some of the variety, though, because it looks like two or three shows edited together.
I hope you get picked up for a series, but you may need to find a different network first. If this wasn't the History Channel, I'd say cut that part down, and go with your strength: hands-on how-to. Otherwise, you might want to consider splitting this into two separate shows - one for History, one for A&E.
Thank you, and good luck!
|
|
|
Posts:
486
Registered:
6/7/07
|
|
(35 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 10:41 AM
|
|
So you people who have followed this guy for years, I am guessing would watch him if he was on the food network. Superficial attempts at history are not good enough. This is still nothing more than a run of the mill science show, being peddled as history.
|
|
|
Posts:
1
From:
dallas
Registered:
9/28/08
|
|
(36 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 1:17 PM
|
|
WOW!!! I freaking LOVE this show. I can't wait to see another one!!! Hurry hurry hurry!!!
|
|
|
Posts:
1
Registered:
9/28/08
|
|
(37 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 1:44 PM
|
|
I found the show to be very entertaining and educational. I also enjoyed the way the show demonstrated how to build some of the devices mentioned. I believe the hands on type of learning made it much easier for those who were unfamiliar with the devices in the show, and translated it into a more easily understood form.
|
|
|
Posts:
486
Registered:
6/7/07
|
|
(38 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 2:01 PM
|
|
Alright you one hit wonders, that come here showing so much support for the show, I have question for you all. Was it the links from this: http://brepettis.com/blog/2008/09/21/help-turn-the-history-hacker-pilot-into-a-tv-show/ That led you all here to show so much support for the show. If the answer is yes than, you don't give a flip what channel this guy is on. So please leave this channel for the history buffs and take Bre somewhere else like Discovery.
|
|
|
Posts:
947
Registered:
12/31/07
|
|
(39 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 2:41 PM
|
Like I said before, does anybody with more than one post have anything good to say about this show ?????????
Looks to me like friends and relatives of Bre are trying to stack the deck- as do supporters of the reality crap- to keep this program on NON-HISTORY.
True there was a little bit of "historical" background presented in NON-HISTORY HACKER, but just like the 15 second flash of B/W film inserted into AX MEN, does not make it a "history" show.
Viewers of these shows, have a personal, regional, or occupational interest in these shows- AND WOULD WATCH REGARDLESS OF WHAT CHANNEL IT IS ON !
They do not watch to learn "history". Take a look at the "Reality" crap forums- they look like some "teen idol's" FAN SITE.
The only reason they insist that these shows are "history" is because they are on NON-HISTORY, and they buy into NON-HISTORY's crap that this is "history".
By showing support for these shows, they hope that
NON-HISTORY will continue to air these shows, and continue in their agenda to make the once unique THC just like every other channel- and eventually, if not already there, into the garbage dump.
|
|
|
Posts:
486
Registered:
6/7/07
|
|
(40 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 4:01 PM
|
Have no idea why this did not post, but anyway Bre seems to have stacked the deck, per this from his blog
"There are four things you can do to help make the pilot a TV show.
1. Tell people. Please forward this as email, write about it on your blog and help get the buzz going.
2.. Please tune in on a Tivo if you?ve got one to help boost Nielsen ratings.
3. Once you?ve seen the show, send a feedback email telling the folks at History what you think. Email historyhackerfeedback@brepettis.com.
4. Also after the show has aired, please drop a note in the History Forums."
Note: History Forums was a weblink to this thread
|
|
|
Posts:
947
Registered:
12/31/07
|
|
(41 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 7:27 PM
|
|
Sounds like "stacking the deck" to me. There must be a handbook out there for the supporters of this stuff- and I'm going to hazzard a guess and say that the publisher is NON-HISTORY !
|
|
|
Posts:
486
Registered:
6/7/07
|
|
(42 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 8:13 PM
|
|
Just some guy so desperate to get his show on tv. I doubt History is telling them how to do this. No it seemed more like he was begging his loyal readers to stack the deck so his pilot will become a show. All thsi did was provide some insight into how these non history shows keep on getting put on the air It turns out we really do have some ringers. No wonder on the reality show forums, we have some many of the stars of the shows family and friends. I guess they were told to support this new show that they would be on, much the same way Bre's fans showed up in droves.
|
|
|
Posts:
2
Registered:
9/27/08
|
|
(43 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 9:42 PM
|
Wow, you two really don't get it do you? If there are viewers, the networks will listen to them, not the rantings of a few irritable, disillusioned "regulars" who have no reason to attack a new show other than their opinion that it doesn't fit the network. Seems like the only thing "stacked" here is a boatload of whining.
Then again, there's no such thing as bad press, so keep drawing attention to this show you'd like to disappear!
And if you read back, not all of the posters here came from Bre's site. It had much more exposure than that, but congratulations on your sleuthing.
|
|
|
Posts:
1
From:
Philadelphia PA
Registered:
9/28/08
|
|
(44 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 9:46 PM
|
Hey. First off, the show was awesome. And yes, I would watch it even if it were on the Cooking channel, or HBO, or where ever.
Ltrazordaddio and sovietcollector, if History Channel (or any channel) offers you to pilot your own show, you would be
crazy not to what you call "Stacking the Desk" and tell all of your friends about it, and encourage them to support you.
I'm sorry you feel threatened by this influx of people that aren't hardcore history fans, and I can see where you are coming from. And yes, this thread is overrun with fans and friends of Bre. And yes, it's a change of pace from History Chan's regular offerings.
But you have to admit, it's a lot of love that draws dozens of people to create a login and post a single message or two as fans. These are people who loved the show, and want to see it anywhere or anyhow it gets produced. I'm sure if History doesn't pick it up, with this kind of a rabid geek following, some other channel will.
|
|
|
Posts:
486
Registered:
6/7/07
|
|
(45 of 101)
Re: New Pilot This Friday - History Hacker
Sep 28, 2008 9:53 PM
|
|
And I hope someone that is not the History Channel picks him up so you all can have your show for Bre and maybe the history buffs can get this channel back.
|
|
|
|
|
