World leaders can't agree on how the global economy deteriorated so quickly. Nor can they agree on what steps to take to reverse the trend. Now we find out they also don't have a clue when we'll come out of it. Not exactly soothing words in these uneasy times, needless to say. So I turned to the past for comfort. History is the best teacher, so I flipped on the History Channel to learn how in previous times that countries facing the same challenges we do today turned it around. Alas, no shows like that on their schedule. However, it wasn't a total waste of time. I did discover a lot of great programming to take my mind off things.
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN JOUST? The undefeated Black Knight has cut a swath through medieval England through the first 10 seasons and King Arthur vows it's time to end the streak. So he enlists this renowned Knights of the Round Table: Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad, Sir Gawain, Sir Bedivere. Sir Tristram, Sir Percival and Jenna. Nobody is quite sure how a waitress from Des Moines became a member of the Round Table, but history will mark that it began the streak of having a girl named Jenna in every reality TV show from then on.
BIG BROTHER - NOAH'S ARK: Says a disgruntled Noah as the boat left the dock, "When I said I wanted two of every kind of animal, I meant of the furry variety, not these yahoos. This is gonna be a loooong trip."
RENAISSANCE IDOL: Renaissance contestants groove to the songs of the famous musical legends of the era including Tony Bennett and B.B. King. Hosted by the Renaissance's most popular announcer, Dick Clark.
LANCING WITH THE STARS: Spin-off to the popular So You Think You Can Joust.
THE GREAT HUMAN RACE: There is only one team in the competition, Adam and Eve. But they're not a lock to win. The evil Snake, who is seething because he couldn't find a partner, is lurking in the bushes.
THE BACHELOR - HENRY VIII: So far only one bachelorette has signed up - Jenna. It's been a tough sell. If you lose, you're beheaded. On the other hand if you win, you're beheaded.
THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE - CELEBRITY EDITION: The first season was a total bust. The Sorcerer left town for a few days after picking his apprentice and instructed him to clean up the castle while he was away. He returns only to find the house messier than when he left with brooms and pails of water prancing around to the strains of classical music. What's more, ratings were so lousy, network executives were talking about pulling the plug on the show, so the Sorcerer predictably turns to celebrity sorcerers to bail him out in season two. Among those signed up: Merlin, Faustus, St. Germain, Nicolas Flamel and of course, the ubiquitous Jenna.