Posted by RabbitEars
After the sad and shocking death of poor Flower on Meerkat Manor last week, I just can’t take the heartache any more! I need to find a new “animal soap,” and I just may have it with Orangutan Island, premiering November 2 on Animal Planet and airing Fridays (filling in the void left when MM goes on hiatus; the season finale of MM serves as a lead-in to the new series on the 2nd). [Read more →]
The creepy, supernatural, quirky and just plain bizarre non-fiction stuff to watch this week:
Titles in red indicate premiere programs
Posted by RabbitEars
Tonight’s episode of The War begins with an incredibly eerie account from Ray Leopold, who explains a conversation he had with a German soldier who had just been captured by his outfit. The German, in perfect, accent-free English, persists in asking Leopold the exact location from which he comes. When Leopold tells him he is from Waterbury, Connecticut, the German turns out to be very familiar with the minute details of the area. Puzzled, Leopold asks how he knows so much. [Read more →]
Posted by RabbitEars
Ken Burns’ The War picks up again this Sunday with the first of its final three episodes. When we last saw the series, hopes of a quick end to the war in Europe were running high following the D-Day invasion, and the Allies’ rapid advance toward the German border.
But as we see in this episode, nothing can be assumed, certainly not victory against a desperate opponent in wartime. Overconfidence can lead to things becoming “FUBAR” — F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition — very quickly. [Read more →]
Posted by RabbitEars
In “Pride of Our Nation,” the last episode of The War for this week (three more are to come next week), we see Americans’ hope begin to increase as the long-awaited invasion of France — D-Day — finally occurs. [Read more →]
Posted by RabbitEars
Tonight’s episode of The War, airing on PBS at 8pm ET/PT, covers the months from November 1943 up until June 1944, and is titled “A Deadly Calling.” It’s an apt title, coming from one veteran’s recollection of how he (and most others) came to accept their duty to kill in this now total war, where once they had subscribed to “Thou shalt not kill.”
It also describes how the American public came to realize just how deadly this calling was. [Read more →]
Posted By RabbitEars
In the first episode of The War, Ken Burns’ incredible new miniseries premiering this Sunday on PBS, a veteran of World War II describes that conflict as “a necessary war.” History has proven that to be correct.
And history should also determine that Burns’ documentary is a very necessary and worthwhile endeavor, as it manages to put on film valuable recollections of that monumental moment in world, and particularly American, history. [Read more →]
Posted By RabbitEars
I’m not big on reality TV — at least the human kind.
But when it comes to the natural world, you get all the same fighting, intrigue, sex, backstabbing, poignant emotional moments and more. Granted, you don’t see animals get drunk. But you also don’t get to see the cast members of The Real World eat each other (unless those are in the outtakes), so it all balances out.
Most importantly, with animals you get honesty. Nothing is staged for the cameras. And that’s what makes Meerkat Manor so endearing. It’s simply a story of families literally struggling for survival. You like competition series? You’ve got it here. But the competition here isn’t for a record contract — it’s for life or death.
