America's Book of Secrets (2012– )

I saw the original, 2-hour feature of the same title, upon which the series is very loosely based, circa 2011. I thought it was interesting. Like other curious people, I'd like to know about the secret inner workings of various institutions, be it the World Bank or my local cable company. And as is the case with all people who have their sanity and a lick of common sense, I realize that the odds of any actual secrets being revealed via the mass media is slim to none.

It's amusing to speculate about what might go on behind closed doors, but I wouldn't be so foolish as to think that I'm actually getting privileged information (along with millions of other miscellaneous persons) simply by turning on the TV. That's really obvious, right? Well, if you're one of the not-so-few who really and truly believe that a couple of middle-aged radio "shock jocks" whose careers have been based solely on saying literally anything to get attention have, for reasons unknown, have been made privy to "all the world's secrets -- and have an important message just for you"...this may well be the show of your dreams. If you've traded your tinfoil hat for a tricorn model with tea bags stapled to the brim, this series is for you. If you believe that the world is made up of only two types of people: those who know the *real* truth, and the fascist commies who are trying to separate you from this precious "knowledge", then it's a show that cannot be missed!

If, on the other hand, you have had your fill of the paranoid rantings of America's Republican Party pundits, you can save yourself from many hours of wasted time by finding something better to watch.

As other reviewers have noted, this series is completely devoid of any documentary content whatsoever. It's a pathetic compilation of whatever loony conspiracy theories are currently trending, slathered in a whole lot of highly partisan politics. The show's "experts" include Erich "Man-Cow" Muller, one of the many imitators who flocked to Chicago in "me too" fashion in the wake of the success of FM radio personalities Steve Dahl and Garry Meier. Muller apparently gained brief fame there, mainly by committing petty crimes on-air. Recently Muller has attempted to resurrect his career with a short-lived "reality" TV show featuring his brother, a used car salesman.

The other "expert", Alex Jones, also has a radio background as a "me too" clone of Rush Limbaugh. As with Muller, Jones' primary "talent" on this show is regurgitating GOP-sponsored hate/conspiracy theories. While content like this may have enough of a following to generate ad revenue for the History Channel, it's not actually history...or news...or even mildly interesting.