Thursday, August 28, 2008

History Detectives

Do any of you out there enjoy watching the History Detectives on PBS
as much as I do? Most Monday nights at 9:00 I am glued to this
program! It's a solid hour, with no commercial interruptions, of glorious
historical detective work! A talented team of researchers, Wes Cowan,
Elyse Luray, Gwen Wright and Tukufu Zuberi solve historical mysteries
usually centered around a family heirloom, old house or historical
structure by scouring historical archives, libraries and consulting other
professionals. Elvis Costello's "Watching the Detectives", from his
1977 album My Aim is True, is the show's catchy theme song. And
it's drum sequences serve as fun segues between each of the three
segments of an episode. I am totally in my element here; I absolutely
love history, research and antiques. I have thoroughly enjoyed the new
episodes, which are only aired in the summer months. I do hate to see
this part of summer coming to and end!

27 comments:

  1. Sounds like a good one as I love history and research also! And with no commercial interruptions I could see that being my kind of show, I lose interest when it seems that's all you see!

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  2. I have never heard of the show but I have not sat down in front of a television for long except during the last Olympic games - no time. However, too bad, this would have been a show I would have loved to follow.

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  3. Yep, a really really good show.

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  4. I will be sure to check it out. It sounds neat.

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  5. I think it would be really fun to have that job, don't you? I've only seen the show once or twice. I can never figure out when it's on here!

    Um...correct me if I'm wrong, but something tells me you sort of like chocolate. Right?

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  6. Oh yes! The professor and I love this one too.

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  7. I've never seen it! I'll mark it on the calendar...and make sure snacks, drink and bathroom break are all ready and prepared before the show starts so I won't miss a minute! ;0

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  8. I have not seen it. I've been so busy with preparations for my fall trips that I have hardly watched TV at all recently, but now I'm feeling bad I missed it--sounds interesting. I even worked through the Democratic convention just so I could watch enough to find out what's going on! If it's on longer, perhaps once I'm on the road I can try to catch it--thanks for the heads up!

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  9. Your blog is a feast for the eyes - and yes, I have seen the History Detectives - it is good - my husband a bigger fan than I

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  10. I don't think its been this way, but sounds the sort of program I would enjoy. Have you heard/seen 'Silent Witness? Its a thriller about a female forensic pathologist, who solves crimes/murders (a bit like a modern day female Quincy) by analysing bones etc of the victims.
    I hate to name drop, but feel the need to share this with you.
    My sons long term partners father wrote this series. He was a Police Officer here in Nottinghamshire, until he suffered an injury whilst on duty, which unfortunately meant the end of his police career. He had always had a skill in penmanship and decided to do even more research into the pathology of postmortems etc. It was a top series here and made Amanda Burton's career. He later sold it to the States, and apparently its been a big hit out there... I'm totally fascinated when he's explaining how he comes up with some of his gruesome ideas. He has also written 'New Tricks' (not sure if thats made the States yet). Its about 3 retired police detectives who are brought back into the job to solve unsolved murders or the wrong person has been sentenced for the crime. They are working under a female Superintendent (Amanda Redman), its has humour along with the drama. Sorry I seem to have rambled on a bit there.
    I will look out for the "History Detectives"..

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  11. Pamela, every time I watch it I say how much I would love that job! And yes, I do like chocolate just a tad. Mmm, how could you tell? ;)

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  12. Jeane, thank you! And welcome to the Manor! Hope you stop by again very soon. I'm headed over to your place for a little visit...

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  13. Queenie, I have heard of this series, but have never actually seen it. Amazing that you have a personal connection to this program! I am intrigued with crime investigation, too. I must check this out. Thanks so much for sharing the background. Wow!

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  14. Being a historian myself, I adore the show. So much fun! It's like CSI with a library!

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  15. I LOVE the History Detectives Willow! I have been to busy to watch it lately. I wish they would re-run it!
    Hodge podge lodge, Lamby, the Pre Rafaelites, History Dectectives...what else?

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  16. Willow, I haven't watched this program but will put it on my list of things to do. Hope that you have a relaxing unofficial 'End of Summer' weekend. David

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  17. I'm a total PBS junkie and this is one of many shows on PBS that I enjoy. Along with Nova, Nature, Masterpiece Theatre, Frontline, Antiques Roadshow, Mystery, British anything and on and on... PBS on my TV and my beloved CBC on the radio (cbc.ca). The Canadian version of NPR.

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  18. I haven't caught this programme and it sounds just up my street. Thanks for the alert!

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  19. Ah, detective shows! How I hanker for those halcyon days when a younger Cuban in London sought out the latest whodunnit novels and television programmes and like you remained glued until the very end! Unfortunately over the years I have jettisoned that part of my life. Why? I have no idea. Like you, I love antiques and research. Recently the series 'Damages' was premiered on BBC and my other half was absorbed in it. She even mentioned Glenn Close's name as she is aware that I swear by her performances, but to no avail. I am just not very interested.

    (Note to self: dig into your memory bank and check for any missing cable pertaining to the investigative and curiosity areas)

    Good post, though. I enjoyed it.

    Greetings from London.

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  20. Cuban, not to worry. It was most likely replaced with parenting, etc., like most of my interests were at that stage in my life. It has only been recently that I've had more time and energy to devote to my own "stuff"!

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  21. Emma, I know! It's scary!!! What's next...?

    You know, I'm pretty sure they do re-runs through the fall and winter months. Check them out here:

    http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/

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  22. That show sounds amazing! I don't have a tv...I wonder if I can rent it?

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  23. I love the show, but I haven't been able to find it since we got Direct TV! Back when I got only 5 channels with the rabbit ears, it was easy to keep up with the times my favorite shows came on.

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  24. Willow,
    Don't watch much TV. Do more reading and I am so bad of a keyboarder it takes me hours to write a blog!

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)