Reply #52: Inspiration from the BBC

[muriel_volestrangler]

Who did "Great Britons" about 3 years ago; several other countries have followed suit.

Don't knock it - it can actually turn out to be a good exercise. Britain named the top 100 (and there were a few silly nominees in there, like Michael Crawford, who must have had a fan club vote), and then cut it down to the top 10, and did a programme on each. That's where it can get good - each was co-written, and presented, by someone famous (politicians, broadcasters) and the general standard of them was excellent - interesting, informative, and entertaining. Then they had a studio debate with all the presenters.

Looking at this press release, it looks as if Discovery is doing it on the cheap - just one programme with a debate between the celebrity advocates (maybe they'll get to do a short film each, but it was the chance for things like a full hour biography of Charles Darwin that was more interesting in Britain). But that does say the top 100 were voted for by the public too. I can't see any other way so many current politicians would have got in, either. With all due respect to Barack Obama, he hasn't become great yet.