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The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, October 7, 2011 2 coverstory Shaping America PBS presents a history lesson with 1812 documentary By Kyla Brewer TV Media A s millions sink deeper and deeper into video game addictions and online obsessions, it appears fewer people have been hit- ting the books. Indeed, there are those who believe televi- sion has also been rotting the brains of North Americans for years. However, not all TV is creat- ed equal. While there's al- ready an abundance of mind- less entertainment in prime time, one network has forged a reputation for more enlight- ening fare. Once again, PBS aims to inform and educate viewers in "The War of 1812," premiering Monday, Oct. 10. The network has almost sin- gle-handedly pioneered the educational television genre, and now it presents the story of the conflict that quite liter- ally shaped North America. "The War of 1812" takes viewers back to a time when Americans fought Canadian colonists, British soldiers and Native warriors. Between 1812 and 1815, battles waged on both sides of the border as Brits, Canadians and aboriginals tried to push Americans back as they sought to expand north. The documentary is a pro- duction of WNED Buffalo/To- ronto and Florentine Films/ Hott Productions Inc. in asso- ciation with WETA Washing- ton, D.C. Experts offer per- spectives from both sides of the border, making this a must-see program for Cana- dians as well as Americans. "We have proudly created 'The War of 1812' for both na- tions," explained Donald K. Boswell, president and CEO of WNED. "This timely exami- nation of a shared history al- lows us to celebrate our past together and renew the bond of our present and future as national neighbors." Broadcasting from Buffalo, N.Y., WNED has a large view- ership in Canada, as do at least 14 other PBS stations that share a border with the nation to the north. "The War of 1812" comes at a poignant time for the two nations as communities in both the U.S. and Canada prepare to com- memorate the conflict's 200th anniversary. The HD documentary goes beyond the myths and leg- ends that the war produced. Historical re-enactments, ani- mation and expert commen- tary provide a detailed ac- count of what really hap- pened during those two and a half years when neighbors became enemies. To ensure the film was as historically accurate as possi- ble, producers enlisted the help of dozens of experts. Their hard work resulted in in- terviews with 26 authorities A scene from "The War of 1812" on the subject, including American, British and aborigi- nal historians. Ranging from Wayne State College profes- sor Donald R. Hickey and Ca- nadian director of Military Heritage Peter Twist to Shaw- nee Native American Donald Fixico, the experts weigh in on what really went down. Filmmakers also inter- viewed Sir Christopher Gerald Prevost, great-great-great- grandson to George Prevost, legendary for leading the largest army ever to invade the continental U.S. Prevost was just one of many famous characters to emerge from the war. Viewers will also hear the story of Te- cumseh, a Shawnee nation member who dreamed of forming a confederation of Native nations. His life was cut short on the battlefield while his adversary, William Henry Harrison, went on to become president of the United States. The PBS documentary sheds light on another hero with the story of Laura Secord, a Cana- dian woman who warned the A/Auto Boutique B/The Green Giraffe 2 x 2 British that the Americans were planning to attack. The lesser-known stories of ordinary citizens, Native American peoples and African American slaves are explored as well. The war's crucial moments come to life as the PBS produc- tion recounts the burning of Washington, D.C., the rescue of a portrait of George Wash- ington from the White House by First Lady Dolley Madison, and Andrew Jackson's Battle of New Orleans victory. Lest viewers forget, the documen- tary also details how the American national anthem came to be. Francis Scott Key penned "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the Battle of Baltimore at Fort McHenry. While these moments may be well known to history buffs, "The War of 1812" telefilm reveals the lesser- known side of the conflict. Ex- tensive research and inter- views expose a war rife with foibles and blunders that have been swept under the rug as far as many history books are concerned. Not to worry, PBS is pre- pared to set the record straight -- not only with the documentary, but also with a wealth of educational re- sources besides. Those look- ing for even more War of 1812 information can pick up a copy of the film's compan- ion book, "The War of 1812: A Guide to Battlefields and His- toric Sites," by John Grant and Ray Jones. Chirstopher's Coins 2 x 2 hollywoodQ&A By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: Where is Syfy's "Haven" filmed? A: The popular Syfy channel series, based loosely on Ste- phen King's 2005 novel "The Colorado Kid." It is set in King's beloved state of Maine, but it is in fact filmed just east of there in Nova Scotia, Canada. The series is named after the fictional town of Haven, Maine, where all the supernatural happenings, well, hap- pen. In the series, the town has a history of paranormal trou- ble, and the arrival of an FBI agent with a difficult past marks a resurgence in the town's supernatural activity. I say "in the series" because in fact, the novel by legend- ary supernatural-thriller writer King didn't have any such out-of-this-world inexplicability. "The Colorado Kid" was in fact a fairly straight-up mystery story, published on the de- tective-genre imprint Hard-Case Crime. But to be fair to the show's producers, the novel clocked in at fewer than 200 pages, so they had to add something to make it into a series. And King's grocery lists probably sound spooky when you read them. "Haven" is in the midst of its second season, and its rat- ings suggest it'll likely be picked up for a third. It's a U.S.-Canada co-production launched by Canadian company Entertainment One. It premiered on Syfy on July 9, 2010 in the U.S. and in Canada on the Showcase network on July 12. A/Crazy Tom's B/Allstar Auto Wash 2 x 3 Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. Please include your name and town.

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