Time Traveling with Brian Unger

TV review by Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media
Time Traveling with Brian Unger Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 10+

Visit U.S. locales, discover their past with engaging host.

Travel Channel Educational 2015
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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the history-themed Time Traveling with Brian Unger offers lots of interesting stories about and images of iconic locations with the help of computer graphics. It's pretty mild, but there are stories concerning violent gunfights and on at least one occasion a very subtle reference to prostitution. Drinking (beer) is sometimes visible. Kids may not be immediately interested, but they may like it if they give it a chance.

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What's the Story?

TIME TRAVELING WITH BRIAN UNGER is an educational series that reveals the history of some of the most famous locations around the United States. From exploring the Woolworth Building in New York City to Arizona's infamous OK Corral, host Brian Unger takes curious locals around some of America's most famous sites while sharing unique insights and information about them. During the tour he takes them to places where tourists usually aren't allowed, giving them a chance to discover (or rediscover) their glory and, in some cases, learn how time and Hollywood has distorted the histories of their pasts. Viewers at home get the added bonus of "seeing" what places looked like before these locations became famous with the help of computer graphic imagery, historical footage, and actor reenactments, all designed to take us back in time.

Is It Any Good?

The series offers lots of interesting details about a range of well-known U.S. historical locations and iconic sites. But what makes it truly fun are the visual recreations of what these historical places looked like before and soon after famous buildings and bridges were built and when famous events took place. These images make it easier to understand what places actually looked like then and how much things have changed today.

The narratives offered here are quick-paced and full of humorous commentary that make the series entertaining as well as educational. If you can get kids to watch, they may be surprised when the facts offered differ from the stories they've learned or grown up with. Nonetheless, history and travel buffs will certainly enjoy what's being offered here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the ways history is preserved and told. What causes how we recall past stories or important events to change over the years?

  • What period of American history would you like to return to and explore? What makes it interesting to you?

TV Details

Our Editors Recommend

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