July 15, 2007

Blogging TCA: Welcome to the 60's

Seth Arenstein on The History Channel's presentation at the TV Critics Association summer press tour

In his opening remarks here this afternoon, History Channel SVP David McKillop noted the "expanded definition" of History, using those words to quickly glide past programs like Ice Road Truckers, which have brought in ratings, but have raised questions as to relevance to the channel’s brand.

And the first question from TCA critics to the panel for Human Weapon (July 20 premiere) was: "What does this have to do with history?" The martial arts emanate from history, the experts responded. Another critic asked, "Throws, kicks, blows—doesn't this belong on Spike TV?" Exec producers Marc Etkind and Zak Weisfeld countered that it’s important to show certain martial arts while lecturing about their history “is an immersive experience” that entertains and educates. But the point about History’s direction was aired.

No such problems with History’s earlier panel for 1968 (Q4 premiere), a 2-hr piece based on Tom Brokaw’s forthcoming book and hosted by the veteran news anchor. The session, coincidentally, followed AMC's panel for Mad Men, which takes place in 1960.

At any rate, at TCA, execs—and, to a lesser extent, talent—try to avoid voicing strong opinions. Brokaw wasn’t among them. He blasted the “tolerance for experimental drugs” he saw as a reporter in San Francisco in '68. “I saw the ravages of drugs.”

He also told of being enraged while listening to tapes of LBJ speaking to a friend when he discusses his lack of confidence in winning the war. “I lost a friend” in Vietnam, he said, explaining the genesis of his rage. The most significant event of '68? “That we survived,” Brokaw says quickly. “And I don’t say that lightly…America was up for grabs.” That year started a profound distrust of the federal government. “We are still working through that today.”

But the special won’t be a total downer, Brokaw promises. He jokes that Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau tweaked the author of The Greatest Generation by asking him if he planned to call this special, The Worst Generation. “I assure you I don’t think of it that way,” Brokaw says he replied. He also promises young people will relate to the special. “I want them to say, ‘O.K., Dad, how much dope did you smoke?’” 

• EARLIER: Blogging TCA: Sex Sells