Six Sickeningly Exploitative 9/11 Specials

08.31.11 Written by Josh

Do you remember what you were doing on September 11, 2001? I was in my ninth grade American history class, probably learning about Archduke Ferdinand, because at no other time in your life do you ever learn about Archduke Ferdinand (he caused World War I!), when someone yelled from the hallway to turn the TV in our room on. And ever since that moment, nearly a decade ago, there has been an endless stream of TV shows and specials about the tragedy that happened that blue September morning. That media coverage will culminate in the coming weeks before the ten-year anniversary with more than 40 TV specials across various networks.

Many of the three-dozen-plus specials sound extremely worthwhile and well-meaning, like Linda Ellerbee’s “Nick News Report on 9/11,” aimed at kids too young to remember the events of September 11 (this Thursday at 9 p.m. on Nickelodeon). But — and this will come as a big shock, I’m sure — many networks are set to broadcast programs that do nothing but exploit the tragedy to bring in viewers. Here are six of the worst.

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What’s On Tonight: Rebuilding Ground Zero

08.25.11 Written by Matt

The Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero (Discovery) — With the ten-year anniversary of 9/11 just around the corner, the first three hours of this six-part documentary air tonight at 8:00 Eastern. It’s executive produced by Steven Spielberg, so pack Kleenex and expect tinkly music at the dramatic climaxes of familial tragedies and triumphs. (image via Gothamist)

Aaliyah: One in a Million (BET) — Another tragedy that occurred ten years ago: Aaliyah’s death in a plane crash at the age of 21. Damn those terrorists for overshadowing Aaliyah!

Jersey Shore (MTV) — Tonight is rumored to be the episode where The Situation gets punched in the face by Ronnie. Might be worth watching just for that.

Louie (FX) — Louie goes to Afghanistan in this hour-long episode. In case you missed it, check out Josh Kurp’s list of the ten best guest appearances on “Louie.”

Community (NBC) — Yes, it’s a rerun, but it’s the brilliant “clip show” episode, arguably the best episode of the show’s stellar second season.

Expedition Impossible (ABC) — Season finale. If you missed this season, don’t worry: CBS is coming out with another season of “The Amazing Race” soon.

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Trailer for Scorsese’s George Harrison Doc

08.23.11 Written by Matt

Here’s the trailer for HBO’s upcoming documentary George Harrison: Life in the Material World, directed by Martin Scorsese. Most of the buzz surrounding this is overwhelmingly positive, but I’m only lukewarm on it since I don’t particularly like documentaries or the Beatles (I’m a Stones guy: rock songs should be about sex, not peace). I will, however, freely admit that I find Harrison the most interesting of the Beatles, and I think it’ll be cool to learn more about him — how he funded Monty Python’s Life of Brian, how the Traveling Wilburys came to be, and which drugs were necessary to make Ravi Shankar’s sitar music sound good. God I hate hippies.

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What’s on Tonight: Real-Life Superheroes

08.08.11 Written by Matt

Watch out, they've got inhalers!

Superheroes (HBO) — This new documentary looks at the growing trend of real-life superheroes (RLSHs), also known as “Extreme LARPing.” At the very least, it should make a good companion piece to Jon Ronson’s excellent article about RLSHs in the month’s GQ. Watch the trailer below.

Bachelor Pad (ABC) — Season premiere. Jake Pavelka and Vienna Girardi are back on-screen together for the first time since he douched his way out of America’s heart on national TV. Vienna has since gotten a nose job, but remains in need of eye-straightening surgery.

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (Travel) — Tony cruises around the California desert in a classic Thunderbird with Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme. Dammit, Bourdain, I want your life. If the episode’s travel guide is to be believed, two of the spots they hit are the Country Kitchen in Joshua Tree, which is a terrific kitschy little greasy spoon I used to love, and Pappy and Harriet’s in Yucca Valley, one of the few places in the high desert that has decent entertainment.

Switched at Birth (ABC Family) — Summer finale. I still don’t think this channel actually exists, and I don’t intend to ever find out otherwise.

LATE NIGHT GUESTS: Gordon Ramsay and Bryce Dallas Howard on Leno; Aziz Ansari on Kimmel; Rudy Giuliani on Fallon; and Piers Morgan and J.B. Smoove on Conan. CBS’s late-night shows are in re-runs, but Ferguson might be worth watching anyway for Brooklyn Decker.

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Discovery Orders SEAL Team 6 Doc

06.17.11 Written by Matt

Capitalizing on America’s love affair with the black-ops execution of terrorists, Discovery has ordered a documentary about DevGru, better known as SEAL Team Six, the unit responsible for the daring raid that killed Osama bin Laden.

In Secrets of SEAL Team Six, the network will introduce viewers to the team’s founder Dick Marcinko and former members as it explores the team’s history, training, weapons and technology. “[It’s] a group that will kick ass and save you,” Marcinko says.

Though the top-secret identities of the team members who participated in the Pakistan mission are, of course, not identified, the show will go behind closed doors to reveal new details of this unit — including talking to the wives of team members (Can we request a Real Housewives of SEAL Team Six spinoff?). [EW]

Even better than “The Real Housewives of SEAL Team Six” would be “The Real Housewives Executed by SEAL Team Six.” Compelling television AND an excellent use of our tax dollars.

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