History Bites
The series
History Bites was a television series on the History Television network that ran from 1998-2003. Created by Rick Green, History Bites explored what would be on television if the medium had been around for the last 5,000 years of human history. Typically, a significant historical event was chosen and mock news, sports and entertainment programming was created around it. Each episode included several segments of Green offering historical background of the episode's chosen era and otherwise showed frequent shifts from one comedy sketch to another representing a channel-surfing viewer who never watched any one sketch for more than a few minutes at a time. Reruns of History Bites are currently being shown on History Television and The Comedy Network.
Episodes
Season 1 · 13 episodes · 1998
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Episode 11 Oct 199830m
The Black Death
The greatest medical disaster in Western History is seen through the eyes of television. Featuring news updates on the spread of the plague, as well as How-To shows on avoiding the plague, Martha Stewart's plague tips, a Dating Game to hel…
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Episode 230m
Caligula Is Croaked
He's incompetent, insane, incestuous, and in charge. A Roman reign of terror ends with news coverage of the death of Emperor Caligula. As we scan the TV dial we see ancient Romans playing Jeopardy, Martha Stewart's orgy tips, infomercials,…
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Episode 330m
Dead Philosopher Walking
The troublemaker who has upset so many apple carts, gets his punishment: death by Hemlock. As Athenian news anchors update us on great man's last hours, government officials and friends of the condemned Socrates argue who's to blame for th…
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Episode 430m
Great Fire Of London
Throughout history great cities all over the world have had one thing in common: burning down now and then. The fire that scorched most of central London in 1666 was particularly well documented by writers and historians of the time. A sm…
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Episode 530m
Charlemagne
The story of one of the great lights of the Dark Ages. Charlemagne, the greatest European king of the his century, ends his century with an unexpected bonus: he is crowned Emperor of Rome by the Pope. Is it pious papacy or power politics?
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Episode 630m
The Declaration Of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was one of history's greatest documents. It was also a dangerous one to have your name on. Television reporters are there when the final draft is finished, then wait to see who will dare put their John Hanc…
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Episode 730m
Magna Carta
It's power politics at it's most dangerous, and the beginning of democracy as we know it. The medieval media cover the signing of the Magna Carta, and explain it's significance for both barons and serfs. This episode also includes televisi…
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Episode 830m
Pure Vandalism
The Vandals, barbarians from Northern Europe, had already conquered the Roman Empire to the South and East. In the year 455 AD, they arrived at the gates of Rome, ready to sack the city. They weren't the first barbarian tribe to take Rome,…
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Episode 930m
The French Revolution
Set in the cruel climax of the French Revolution, this episode explores the death of famed firebrand Robespierre. After running out of fat aristocrats and corrupt church officials to behead, the mobs began to turn on each other. While the …
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Episode 1030m
The Spanish Inquisition
Nobody expects it. It's the infamous official witchhunt to end all witchhunts, as seen through news reports, stand-up comedians, Seinfeld, Jeopardy, exercise shows for expelling demons, and television ads for witch cures, ethnic cleanser, …
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Episode 1130m
Bjarney & Friends
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Episode 1230m
The Battle Of Waterloo
It's Napoleonic news coverage of Bonaparte's last stand. This breaking story is covered in live updates from the confusion of the battlefield, in-depth analysis from military experts, and exclusive post-battle interviews with the winners. …
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Episode 1330m
The Bloody Aztecs
The story of the fateful meeting between two warrior cultures, that started out peacefully, went from bad to worse, and ended in a running battle across the swamps on central Mexico. The Aztecs win the battle, but are doomed to lose the wa…
Cast
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