A&E Television Networks launched History, originally The History Channel, in 199 5.

History has long been popular, performing at or above the networks average. Pr eferring traditional analysis-oriented documentaries, some critics lament the ad dition of close-up process-oriented coverage of pawn shops, truckers, inventors, antique collectors and alligator hunters. What is the focus of the new shows? Seeking ratings like those of ABCs Shark Tank, History proudly presents Invention US A. Inventor Reichart Von Wolfsheild and theoretical physicist Garrett Lisi evalua te new inventors sales pitches and decide if they are worth investing in. The hos ts evaluate inflatable shelters, a fall-proof ladder, a combustible weapon for d eterring animal attacks, a better skateboard design and devices that ward off pi geons and copper thieves. Reaching back 500 years, History is reconstructing the original contact sport in its new show Full Metal Jousting. In this medieval sport of knights, traditional armor has yielded to modern suits of steel and high-speed cameras. Modern compet itors create 30-mph collisions; the last man standing wins a large cash prize. T heatrical jousting, popular at Renaissance fairs, has been transformed into a mo dern, competitive full-contact sport. Currently, 200 hundred jousters compete ar ound the world. In his 900 months of life, the average American male will spend two months shavi ng, five months on hold on the phone, two months having sex and 198 months watch ing TV. The United States of America presents statistical facts about who we are a s individuals and as a nation. Standup comedians and identical twins Randy and J ason Sklar find incredible stories to illustrate statistical facts, adding their irreverent humor and innovative graphics. The average American spends an additi onal five months complaining about his boss and lives with the other 99 percent of citizens crowded onto only 8 percent of Americas land. He is also more likely to be killed by a delightful-looking deer than a slithering serpent or circling shark. The top fishing port in the country, New Bedford, is featured in the new show Nore aster Men. The Apollo fishing vessel takes viewers out into the cold and unforgiv ing depths of the ocean. As such shows demonstrate, harsh and dangerous climates characterize this grueling industry. Only a love of the sea could overcome the challenges of commercial fishing. The miniseries The Men Who Built America extols the achievements that made cultura l icons of men like Rockefeller, Carnegie, Ford and Morgan. The captains of indu strial development defined the American Dream while transforming the oil, steel, shipping, rail, auto and financial industries. This new show incorporates 12 mi llion historical photographs from the Library of Congress; many are being shown for the first time. For the common man, Larry the Cable Guy hosts Only in America. This new show featu res Larry traveling the country, immersing himself in the jobs, hobbies and life styles of those he meets. Larry shoots guns, breeds mules, puts on boxing gloves , goes after gators, makes moonshine and rides with Hells Angels. Battling American animal infestations, Larry challenges feral hogs, nasty nutria and even some vo racious fish in the Iowa Carp Rodeo. History still employs the wide-angle lens of documentary-style programming that ex plores topics of traditional, historical import. New programming also continues using the close-up lens of reality-based shows that closely examine social roles a nd the individual citizens by whom history is made fresh, daily.