Chuck Grassley Blasts History Channel For Lack Of History

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), has been a bit despondent lately -- not about the economy or the war in Afghanistan, but about the lack of history on the History Channel.

“I love history,” Grassley wrote in an email to The Washington Examiner. “A better understanding is going to strengthen our country. It’s going to strengthen patriotism.”

Plus non-history programming represents an unfulfilled promise by the network. “When I signed up for the History Channel on my satellite service, I expected to get history,” he said. “Instead, all I see are people chopping wood or driving trucks on an icy road.”

Back in February Grassley began tweeting about his discontent with the History Channel’s programming. “No history,” he tweeted “I used to get history. Why do we have such a channel when it doesn’t do history?”

As the Examiner reports, about a week later Grassley turned on the History Channel again and was still not pleased with what he saw. Again he took to Twitter to express outrage. “When will they put history back on the channel,” he tweeted.

Most recently, on March 10, Grassley tweeted twice, “just turned to History Channel. Once again no history.”

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Comments

[hornedcog]

10:43 AM on 04/28/2012

I agree with Grassley. Try to find music on MTV, I just don't get it.

[DavidEm]

01:26 AM on 03/18/2012

What's going on with the comments on here?

The most recent one posted is from 1:59 AM ON MARCH FOURTEENTH.

Although I have my later ANSWERS to those posts available under my profile name.

IS ANYONE AWAKE HERE??????????????????????

[liquidbread]

07:42 PM on 03/15/2012

I almost never agree with the GOP, but this has been a pet peave of mine for years. Using "Making History Everyday" as a motto, this formally great programming has devolved to the loweest common mental denominator of "reality" TV - which isn't reality either when it has a script and TV cameras all around the background. Calling it the History Channel is like calling Fox News "fair and balanced" - or even "news."

[MerhabaAbi]

12:55 PM on 03/15/2012

Kinda like MTV

[dgvb]

05:41 AM on 03/15/2012

Actually, since we already have February as officially Black History Month, why not make each month a History Month? Jan.-Women's History, March-Revolutionary War, April-Labor Movement, May-Civil War, June-WWI, July-20's/Great Depression, August WWII, Sept.-Korean Conflict, Oct.-Vietnam, Nov.-The Cold War, Dec.-Each Day a history of a foreign nation, or empire. I'm sure there's lots more, but if Grassley really wants to get more history on the History Channel, he could propose a bill like this and maybe The History Channel would feel compelled to contribute a little something from their own programming. Just a thought...

[ohbeehave]

04:10 AM on 03/15/2012

Same happened on MTV a long time ago Chuck. Where was tour your outrage then?

[HL Davison]

02:31 AM on 03/15/2012

Well, I have to agree with him. Cable use to be the answer to mindless network broadcasting-however, aside from PBS, which the GOP/RPers want to do away with, but there isn't anything on TV worth turning my computer off for. He is focused on whats important to him-maybe he doesn't have enough to do in Iowa or DC. The issues are worst than re-runs.

[Alex Dingiria]

01:41 AM on 03/15/2012

To be honest, I think it applies only to the (North) American version. Ditto Discovery, Investigation Discovery.

I was accustomed to the UK version of History (my fave channel after Crime & Investigation Network) until I came to Vancouver and was completely astounded by the programming choice.

I was shocked to find (non-historical) movies instead of exclusively historical documentaries. Don't even start me with that Ancient Alien show.

[mike456]

01:36 AM on 03/15/2012

And I bet he expects news when he turns on Fox

[Robert Kohr]

01:31 AM on 03/15/2012

I can't say I disagree with him. The history channel used to have a lot of history. You know cartoon network also used to only show animation. The problem with history... it doesn't make a lot of money. This senator should give some money to his local PBS station, they do more on history than history channel.

[Craig Merkey]

01:25 AM on 03/15/2012

haha which history fact or fact-less... I don't have time watch TV and I'm not a Senator!

[Marcie McClure]

09:31 PM on 03/14/2012

While I agree that this channel is not about History, it is formally listed and owned by several entertainment companies. Do we have some new laws about what is clearly listed as an entertainment channel having to be anything other? This is a non-issue.

[dannywanny]

09:25 PM on 03/14/2012

Interesting coming from a member of the Republican party, many of whose members lately seem to be proud of their historical ignorance.

[WTxIndependent]

08:44 PM on 03/14/2012

that programming, Mr. Grassley, features your much touted "real americans." As a Republican I can see why you don't want to bother looking at them, hearing them or learning anything about them.

But I agree with you Mr. Grassley, you shouldn't have to pay for crap you don't want to see. Come on, push cable and satellite companies to offer a la carte programming at reasonable prices.

[Silverwolf72]

07:57 PM on 03/14/2012

Their like Fox news, they do what it takes to make money. Today's world seems to be more about entertainment then educating the masses