Modern Marvels
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2008-07-15T08:03:18Z
Patcat88
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{{Infobox Television
|show_name = Modern Marvels
|image = [[Image:Modern Marvels title credits.jpg|300px]]
|caption = The ''Modern Marvels'' introductory title through [[2007]].
|genre = [[Documentary film|Documentary]]
|creator = Bruce Nash
|developer =
|presenter =
|starring =
|voices =
|narrated = [[Max Raphael]] (current)<br />[[Harlan Saperstein]]<br />[[Will Lyman]]<br />[[Greg Stebner]]<br />[[Bill Ratner]]
|theme_music_composer =
|opentheme =
|endtheme =
|country = {{USA}}
|language = [[English language|English]]
|num_seasons = 14
|num_episodes = 508
|list_episodes = List of Modern Marvels episodes
|producer =
|executive_producer = Don Cambou
|location =
|camera =
|runtime = 44 minutes
|network = [[History Channel|History]]
|picture_format =
|audio_format =
|first_aired = [[January 1]], [[1995]]
|last_aired = Present
|website = http://www.history.com/minisites/modernmarvels/
|imdb_id = 0199248
|tv_com_id = 14749
}}
'''''Modern Marvels''''' is a [[Documentary film|documentary]] [[television series]] on [[History Channel|History]] that answers the question of how many things in the [[modern world]] are possible and where they came from.
Premiering on [[January 1]], [[1995]], ''Modern Marvels'' has produced over 500 episodes of [[scientific]], [[technological]], and [[mechanical]] topics varying from [[bullet trains]] to [[demolition]]s to [[St. Lawrence Seaway|the St. Lawrence Seaway]] to [[rats]] to [[Apollo 11]]. Part of the appeal of ''Modern Marvels'' and what has probably kept the show on the air for this long is the fact that it covers a wide range of subjects. Unlike other science and technology shows, ''Modern Marvels'' focuses a significant portion of the episode on the [[history]] of the subject.
Occasionally, a special sub-series of the show airs called "Engineering Disasters." These periodic episodes describe the circumstances of situations in which technology ''doesn't'' work correctly, resulting in magnificent [[blunder]]s (and sometimes the loss of life). Including "Engineering Disasters: [[New Orleans|New Orleans]]" there have been 22 original "Engineering Disaster" episodes of ''Modern Marvels''.
''Modern Marvels'' is distinctive not only for the content of its installments but for its introduction: the sounds and visuals of a [[bolt]] being turned by a [[wrench]], followed by a [[computer-generated]] sequence involving [[construction worker]]s building and hanging the title.
There have been a few [[narrator|narrators]] in the history of the series. The most current and longest running is [[Max Raphael]], whose style is factual and straightforward. Raphael has also narrated other ''History Channel'' series such as ''Command Decisions''.
The History Channel has repackaged some episodes that originally aired in other [[television series|series]] and stand-alone [[Television special|specials]] into episodes of ''Modern Marvels'', such as "[[Ice Road Truckers]]" which originally aired in 2000 as part of the ''Suicide Missions'' series. These episodes are not narrated by Raphael. Many episodes contain [[B-roll]] footage, [[product placement]] or [[brand]] placement and are produced with help from corporate sponsors, and frequently company representatives or executives of the corporate sponsors appear and are interviewed or discuss their companies' business, products, intellectual property, and technology<ref>example: [http://www.saltinstitute.org/rss/industry_news/2006/07/history_channel_salt_mines_dvd.html Salt Industry News: History Channel "Salt Mines" DVD available]</ref><ref>[http://www.prwebdirect.com/releases/2008/6/prweb1006984.php History Channel Taps Doe Run for ‘Modern Marvels’ Episode]</ref><ref>[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/06-25-2008/0004838492&EDATE= Startech Environmental's Plasma Converter System Appears on History Channel's 'Modern Marvels' TV Program]</ref><ref>[http://boards.historychannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=600018911&tstart=0&start=2] Criticism of Modern Marvels having corporate sponsorship in Official message boards</ref><ref>http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Misc/misc.transport.road/2008-02/msg01905.html</ref> .
[[Bruce Nash]] is credited with creating the series. [[Don Cambou]] has acted as [[executive producer]] on over 350 episodes for [[Actuality Productions]], the production company behind the series.
==Episodes==
''Main article'': [[List of Modern Marvels episodes]]
==References==
*http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0199248/episodes
==External links==
*[http://www.history.com/minisites/modernmarvels/ ''Modern Marvels'' official site]
*{{Tv.com show|id=14749|title=Modern Marvels}}
*{{imdb title|id=0199248|title=Modern Marvels}}
[[category:American documentary television series]]
[[Category:History Channel shows]]
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