Josh's Blog

Chasing Mummies: The Adventures of Dr. Zahi Hawass

I caught this promo yesterday and laughed with joy—Dr. Zahi finally has his own TV series! Mabrouk, Zahi!

The posters just went up in NYC this week, as History has begun promoting the July 14th premiere. From what we can see in this promo (and from what I’ve heard from my friends who were involved), it’s part archaeology, part reality-show, and part just-hold-on-and-see-what-Zahi-does. He truly is a man of boundless energy and I’m hopeful people respond well to the series. Lord knows he’ll love that attention.

I give History and Leslie Greif credit for making this happen, and for injecting a little fun into the project. The title alone sounds like a comic book—perfect for someone larger than life like Dr. Zahi.  Official site for the show is here.  Curious what you think of the show.

Posted by ExplorerJosh on 07/01 at 08:22 AM

1. Damn I’ve always been hopelessly egyptized but not sure if I’m lucky enough to catch “Chasing Mummies” in this obscure part of the globe.

   For folks who’re keen in Egyptian history, I’ve 3 blog entries on the series of Egyptian lectures conducted by Egyptologists Dr Salima Ikram & Dr Bob Brier in the National Museum of Singapore earlier this year. Am most glad to share if any of you guys are interested. It’s a private blog but you can use the below email addy & password for viewing purpose.

   http://the-solo-traveller.blogspot.com
   email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
   password: oscarwilde

   Yep just wanna share these enlightening lectures with all history buffs out there =)

   Posted by Wenshi on 07/01 at 11:50 AM

2. Greetings Josh….Happy 4th of July Weekend!

   
   L-M-A-off, while watching a preview for “Chasing Mummies"on the History Channel. As soon as I heard Dr. Zahi ask, in that commanding voice of his, “SHOW ME THE MUMMY!” I knew we were all going to be in for ONE WILD & CRAZY RIDE!
   ...‘cause, after all he is the GRAND-DADDY OF ALL MUMMIES!

   
   Today is the 1st of July… in just 14 days -Bastille Day & xtina’s B-day respectfully- you too can go “Chasing Mummies”
   IF, you can keep up with Zahi, that is! Josh, I must say, I enjoyed reading the last three sections in chapter two of your book, where you “take on” this larger-then-life man! Whew! Glad you didn’t end up a mummy! hehehe

   
   One thing’s for sure….this series won’t be DULL! *_*  -Esther

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/01 at 01:45 PM

3. I would be more excited to be watching YOU!!! Sorry, but a little of him goes along way.Did I miss your annoucing your spring up-coming plans??? Its summer.Will we ever see YOU,again on Discovery? The site says you are out seeking adventures and will return,but????? Thanks, Sharon

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/01 at 03:30 PM

4. The show is going to be interesting. It’s nice that History Channel is actually showing history show’s again. Good luck on all your endeavors. =]

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/01 at 04:09 PM

5. That is so cool about Zahi’s new show on the on the History Channel. I’m so honored to have met this wonderful man at the Los Angeles County of Museum of arts.(LACMA) back in 2007. He was so nice and so willing to answer questions. His lecture and presentation was beyond measure. Thanks for putting his upcoming show on your blog. God bless you.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/01 at 05:35 PM

6. 7/2/10

   SOUNDS LIKE DR HAWASS’S SHOW ON HISTORY, WILL LIVEN UP THE CHANNEL.  GOOD LUCK, DR HAWASS.

   ALSO, AGREE WITH SHARON, WOULD BE NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN ON A SPECIAL OR SERIES, JOSH.

   HAPPY FOURTH, TO YOU JOSH.  AND TO ALL!

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/02 at 01:47 PM

7. It should be iteresting, I’ve seen some of the other specials hes been in and they were good. Good luck to him and you!

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/02 at 06:32 PM

8. Did I fall asleep and this is DFT in the year 2040? LOL I couldn’t help comparing this promo with any DFT shot in Egypt (photography, landscapes, THE HAT, the blue shirt).

   Best wishes to Zahi and History but I still hope to see you again on History Channel and on these type of shows.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/03 at 07:29 PM

9. Will definitely catch the show; the clip was both funny and intimidating.  Dr. Zahi is a remarkable man…I also miss seeing YOU on tv, Josh.

   Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/04 at 12:58 PM

10. Without a doubt he is an amazing person. Full of energy and joy. And I can’t wait to see him in action, specially when he is muttering while doing something hard, like when he is crossing a slit by crouching.

    http://www.drhawass.com/

    Posted by Josele Pereira on 07/04 at 05:15 PM

11. I am very excited about this new show “Show me the Mummy”.  As most others people have commented Josh, we all miss you and would like to see you come back to a series.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/05 at 09:34 AM

12. Hey, Josh, just curious-will you be a guest on “Chasing Mummies”??? The Dr. was a expert guest on both your series quite often so, will he return the favor? It appears hes even wearing your GIFT hat. Still would rather see YOU !!!take care, Sharon

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/06 at 03:28 PM

13. Sweet!  Reality TV meets history!  Should be fun to watch.  By the way, do think it odd that everyone is more interested in knowing when you will be on tv next instead of this new show?  Just curious.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/10 at 11:25 PM

14. Hi,josh Ive watched several of you and dr.zahi, the head president of egyption museums.they where all great shows,would love to take a look at this show of his.It would be great to see you in egypt again.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/12 at 01:30 AM

15. I guess it was okay, but to be honest… It seemed way too contrived.  I was hard pressed to believe that what I was watching was ” reality” and not an overly produced show to get the viewer involved in the Hawass show.  Enough of the drama and more of the archaeology and don’t feel you have to hype the show this way.  My two cents…

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/14 at 11:30 PM

16. I was hoping for a good archaeology series from the History Channel and was so dismayed with what they came up with.  I don’t think there will be any danger of a season 2.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/15 at 10:50 AM

17. Well, not very taken with the show,sorry. I think all archaeology shows from now on can’t help being compared to D.F.T.T. It was the best of its kind[not to mention so was the Host!]It will not be easy to top that show and this one so far YAWN.I’ll see it once more,tho, give it a chance.I’d just as soon see them re-run “Digging” ha-ha.If this is all they can come up with?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/15 at 12:17 PM

18. Such a disappointment.  ‘Chasing Mummies’ felt cheap and sensational.  It’s sad because Dr. Hawass is such a fascinating man.  DFT had more substance, including a wonderful host.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/16 at 12:28 PM

19. Last night I took some time to watch the Chasing Mummies episode titled ‘Stuck’. With its exotic location, timeless topics, and passionate characters, this series has vast potential. On a few levels, however, the first episode did nothing for that potential.

    1) With his continuum of nasty quips and threats, is Hawass really THAT much of a drama queen, or was the show edited to depict him in that light?
    2)The jerky camerawork nearly left me with motion sickness (I’ll not watch it on the 62” TV next time) and did nothing to share Egypt’s photogenic beauty.
    3) The interns were distractingly irritating, especially Zoe, the ‘stuckee’, who shows up out of nowhere for a fellowship - that just doesn’t happen, folks.

    This show may be stepping away from its potential if it continues on the same track. Regardless, I have the next two episodes recording this week, and will reserve final judgment until I’ve watched them. Overall, the show’s basic concept is more than enough edu-tainment without the contrived feeling that Geoff mentions above.

    Hoping for better,
    ~Idee

    Posted by Alive2Dive on 07/21 at 09:38 AM

20. I was really looking forward to this show but after watching it it just comes across as horribly staged.  Just couldn’t get past the feeling that I was watching really bad actors.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/22 at 01:30 PM

21. I’m a huge fan of Dr. Hawass’ work, and I was terribly excited to see the show.  Must say I am still “digging” the Dr.,(sorry, had to go there), but my goodness he can throw some temper tantrums!  Not so sure how much of that I can watch without becoming a little disenchanted with the silliness of it.  I’ll keep watching and hoping for the best.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/04 at 06:03 PM

22. I did not care for Dr. Hawass’s temper tantrums. With his heavy accent, I didn’t always understand what he was saying. I liked Josh as host. His shows are more entertaining.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/08 at 04:29 PM

23. I haven’t seen the show but when ‘reality TV’ was mentioned I sort of lost interest. After watching the promo, I can understand why people are saying it looked contrived. I thought one of the scenes came from a movie or something. Such a shame though because I love documentaries even more so archaeological documentaries but this one is not for me.

    Posted by Rin on 08/15 at 05:07 AM

24. Having seen all the episodes so far, I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about it.  It is interesting to see how hectic a day in the life of Dr. Hawass is and as he is a rather passionate individual, it’s definitely not boring.  They have also had some excellent footage of excavation sites that most individuals would not have the ability to see normally.  I’d have to say my one issue, so far, is with the interns.  Either they are actors, idiots or dumbing themselves down for the show.  The lack of knowledge they’ve displayed regarding Ancient Egypt has one scratching their head as to how they managed to get into the fellowship program to begin with.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/29 at 11:43 PM

25. I was really excited about the Chasing the Mummies series with Dr. Hawass, but after watching the first show, I was disappointed in all the temper tantrums he was throwing and outright abuse of the interns - not very much substance about mummies in that one.  But I hung in there for the next episode - that was when the particularly annoying female intern was begging him for a second chance and their vehicle broke down in the middle of the desert.  After watching them all struggling in the heat AWAY from the road at Hawass’ insistence - when they finally arrived at the site, all the food was spoiled.  That’s when he sent the begging girl and the male intern out with some nomads who had offered to help them with food and supplies.  As soon as I saw the crying baby camel being restrained by one of the nomads and a knife came out, I had to hit the channel button fast.  Watching a poor defenseless animal being slaughtered is NOT my definition of entertainment.  I was so upset by this brief glimpse, that I couldn’t sleep for hours.  I have NOT gone back to the show since then.  I know this is their culture and that they do indeed kill their camels for food, but I think there either should have been a warning that this was going to be shown - or better yet, don’t bother to share that particular piece of culture with us.  My opinion of Hawass declined hugely in just these two shows - both for the lack of sensitivity to his viewers and for his egotistical tantrums…...  I WANT JOSH BACK!!!!!  I so miss his great smile and thoughtful guidance to these incredible sites…

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/30 at 09:18 PM

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