Jon Stewart, who knows a thing or two about irony, will create a two-hour special on a perfect target—the U.S. naturalization process—for History Channel, to air in the fourth quarter.
Stewart's show, The Naturalized, is among the highlights of History's most substantial programming investment ever. The network's robust slate of specials and series, to be announced May 14 at History's upfront presentation, ranges from a sweeping 12-part series about the creation of America, to a critical examination of holiday traditions (and the anxiety they engender) by comedian Lewis Black.
The projects are among 16 new series and 13 new specials greenlit or in development for the 2009-2010 season.
The Naturalized, to be produced by Busboy, Stewart's company, follows eight individuals through the bureaucratic morass of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The special will also include interviews with undocumented and deported illegal immigrants.
“It's a look at that process that is very much in Jon's tone and manner,” says Nancy Dubuc, History's executive VP and general manager. “The early stuff we're seeing is quite funny but really poignant and relevant.”
How could this NOT be awesome? I think that if I had been given the opportunity to have Jon Stewart teach a history class to me while I was attending high school or college that I would STILL remember every single fact that he laid out, because he would have done it in an entertaining way that is would be a joy to remember.
I was very fortunate in my life to have great teachers and I still cherish the hours I spent in their classrooms listening to them talk a bout a subject that they clearly loved and understood so completely.
Which reminds me of one of my favorite shows on HBO.
It is called "Assume the Position", and it features the comedian Robert Wuhl, teaching a class of college students about the truth behind many of our dry historical facts. It is a ton of fun to watch.
Here is a clip. (Warning it may feature some language not suited for a work environment.)
I just stopped by to steal your http thingy to put you on the feed so when you post I'll be alerted. Sorry it's taken so long to do this, but I have an aversion to house work that seems to have spilled over to doing blog tidying.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the notification of this special. I tape the Daily Show every day even though I always stay up late enough to watch it live. So I will be taping this as well.
I'm frantically searching the History channel's programing on the 14th and I can't find this. You said on the 14th of May. That's wed. Wassup with this? I need more information in order to program my tivo.
ReplyDeleteRe: Assume the Position
ReplyDeleteGryphen - that is one terrific clip! Now you have me thinking about satellite teevee. Hmm ...