Anyone watching "Texas Ranch House" on PBS?

[LJC1861]

I love these shows, and PBS usually does a really good jobe with them. So far I am liking this one almost as much as " Frontier House " which was on a few years ago.

I admire these families for even attempting these projects, and it is so interesting to see just how accurate the historians are in researching and setting things up for the participants.

What does everyone else think?

Linda

 

[rhanditresmom]

Oh gosh, I love these shows. I have been so out of it lately I didn't know there was a new one on. I'm gonna have to check this one out!

 

[bicker]

It really annoys me that they don't just have a series name for these shows, so I can Wishlist it on my TiVo and I won't miss any. Thanks for the heads-up; I've put all four two-hour episodes in my To Do List.

What was the previous series before this? I remember the Colonial House, the Frontier House, the 1940s House, and the Manor House. Were there others?

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Oh thank-you! I love these shows too. Did you have to "to do" them each seperatly? I am going to look for them as soon as the Disney show is finished taping. Thanks again.

 

[bicker]

I did it that way, because all four episodes were already in grids. I could have done a Season Pass.

 

[paigevz]

I like it. I was thinking like the "girl of all work" though........I'd rather go out on the ride than stay home doing all the chores. Sure, it's work too, but I don't know..........I'd just rather. I'd want to eat the food back at the house though. I don't think Nacho is really living up to what he could do if he tried, unless he lied about his chef job. I feel bad for the General.............I think I might've hit Nacho too if he'd goaded me into it...........but rules are rules...........to his credit, he accepted it well.

 

[bicker]

We just finished watching this series (on DVD). Very interesting. I think the Cookes got off easy with the evaluation -- the judges, as much as they slammed them, weren't nearly as critical as I believe they should have been. The thing that blew my mind more than anything else was how two-faced Mr. Cooke was, first making a big deal in his negotiations with the Comanche about how he wouldn't bargain for a person, and then practically trying to claim that he paid for Jared's freedom. The lack of respect stemmed from the Cookes, towards the cowboys.... it is not surprising that that lack of respect was returned in kind.

Next up will be (Australian) Outback House, which will be broadcast (this time) on A&E.

 

[LoraJ]

This was a great series.

After I watched it, I went to the televisionwithoutpity.com forums and some of the cowboys were posting on there. There's also a yahoo group where the cooke family and the other woman post. They all still seem to be fighting and have bitter feelings towards each other.

 

[Syrreal]

I have to say that it was my least fave of all the houses. I have some issues with all the houses b/c when people sign up for these things, they supposedly are all about the experience and how neat it'll be to "live" back then. But as soon as they notice the rather harsh reality of what went on back then they immediately try to impose 21st century ideas. (i.e. Mrs. Cooke getting all into the business of the ranch when she should have kept her mouth shut and allow her husband to make decisions.)
Would it upset me that I had to keep my mouth shut? Sure. That's why I don't sign up for these things. Another example was in the one they taped in Montana (I forget which house it was) where all one of the families did is complain that they couldn't wear makeup. Maybelline wasn't even invented yet!

 

[bicker]

they immediately try to impose 21st century ideas

Well Maura let something slip on screen which I never knew before -- the participants are not instructed to try to live as historical people! They are explicitly instructed to live as modern-day people. I don't know why would the producers make that decision, but that really changes the context of a lot of things that happened, both in this program and in previous Historical Hosue programs.

 

[Syrreal]

That they would be told to live like 21st century people doesn't make sense to me. What makes it different than just going to your local renaissance fair (or an equivalent)? And if you are using your 21st century ideas, how do you get the experience of living back then? Why even bother wearing period clothing? What's the point?

<okay, jumping off my matchbox now- not big enough to be a soapbox>

 

[bicker]

It was a big surprise to me. I thought the whole idea was to try to live like it really was "back then". However, that does really explain a lot about why things went off the way they did.

 

[Syrreal]

I know that in the British ones they are told that they are actually supposed to treat things like they are really living back then. I guess that may be why I have less issues with those. My fave is still the 1st one- The 1900 house. But I also liked Manor house and the Regency house. The one I really didn't get into was the 1940s house and I think it's becasue that one is too close to right now still