Hatfields & McCoys’ is a ratings record

The Times Herald via AP ^ | 06/02/2012 | LYNN ELBER

[Kid Shelleen]

In the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys, the History channel proved the winner.

A miniseries about the warring families set basic cable viewing records, according to Nielsen Co. figures the channel released Thursday.

The three nights of “Hatfields & McCoys” were the top-rated entertainment telecasts ever for ad-supported basic cable, History said. Wednesday’s finale of “Hatfields & McCoys” was the most-watched of the three nights, with 14.3 million viewers. According to the History channel, that makes it the No. 1 non-sports and non-news program ever on ad-supported cable.

[Terry Mross]

Thanks. Very interesting read. I especially like the explanation of Devil Anse’ name. He was nicked named “Devil Ants” because of his fierce nature.

[Windflier]

Some recent family history has emerged that shows how common the mixed loyalties were. Turns out that my great grandmother’s grandfather and his brother signed up to fight for the union on the same day but the brother never returned north.

Same thing happened in my family. My GGG Grandfather was in the US Army prior to the Civil War, but when hostilities broke out, he sided with the Confederacy, while his brother signed up to fight for the Union.

They both survived the war, but I don't believe they ever spoke again.

[Windflier]

Here is a pretty good blog from one of the Hatfield decendents.

Think I'll forward your link to my wife. She's related to the Hatfields from way back in her family tree. Thanks.

[Windflier]

...the excellent documentary on the History Chanel this evening before the rerun of the movie

Why does all the best stuff come on while I'm Freeping? Darn...

[Linda Frances]

It was a great series!

[mylife]

true enough

[jocon307]

“Powers Booth was excellent as Judge Hatfield
Ronan Vibert was excellent as Perry Cline”

Yes, they were very good. Everyone was good, I thought.

It showed what a hard life people lived back in the day. Made me really happy to be watching from my lazy-boy recliner and not having to kill anyone or have anyone seeking to kill me.

PBF, I hope you watched this show.

The only thing that was VERY, EXTREMELY annoying, we watched the re-run and History channel had the banner for “Ice Road Truckers starts....blah blah, etc” up in the corner ALL THE TIME. Very distracting and irritating. I sure hope they didn’t do that during the first run.

[mylife]

Costner was ecxellet

[mylife]

I thought

Powers Booth was excellent as was Ronan Vibert

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

I recorded it on DVR so I could fast-forward through the commercials.

[POWERSBOOTHEFAN]

Isn’t Powers Boothe always excellent?

[GenXteacher]

Southern Appalachia was very much more divided than most people learn about. I did a study of it during the Civil War in place of a thesis. It was quite enlightening- a lot of people who put up Rebel flags nowadays would be quite shocked to learn that great-great grandpa was probably dodging the Confederate draft, or even joining the Union army.

[jocon307]

That’s always a good idea. On the re-run they really over did the commercials.

Boothe was very good, the cast was very good all around.

[Ditter]

My husband watched every minute of it, I drifted in and out of the room. The horrible violence turned me off. But it was well done. My ancestors lived like those people as they moved from the east coast to Texas over several hundred years. Every other generation moved south and west and the living was hard. As I sat in my air conditioned den and watched on my flat screen TV I went back in time.

[cripplecreek]

Yeah from everything I’ve read I’ve come to the conclusion that its a waste of time arguing over the civil war. Not everyone in the south wanted to secede just as many in the north didn’t want a war.

Seems that I read about a strong anti secessionist sentiment in northern Alabama that was pretty brutally crushed just as many in the north went to prison for their opposition.

McWHIRTERS IN THE UNION ARMY - THE REASON WHY

http://www.swannco.net/1st_Ala_Cav/mcwnews.html

[WVNan]

Hi cowboy! Yep, happens all the time. I’m hoping that they will run it again. Hope you are well.

[WVNan]

...”The whole feud was basically just a continuation of the Civil War.” I was quoting what the historian said on the documentary at the end of the program.

[cornfedcowboy]

Really liked it although not for children.

[Red_Devil 232]

The the part of your quote about the McCoys fighting for the union was incorrect. The documentary made that point quite clear a couple of times.

[jaydee770]

I said aloud, “When will enough BE ENOUGH?”

That thought went through my mind many times during the episodes. For two families who were led by relatively intelligent adults, they became completely unreasonable and seemed to lose all rationality when it came to the feud.

In an attempt to empathize, just consider the blind, raw, emotional, hatred some have over the upcoming election. We see those sort of emotions (not the murderous kind, thankfully) that seem to control the decision making process of some of the posters here on FR whenever any of the candidates are discussed - especially Romney. Not to say right or wrong, but just to point out how some folks tend to allow more emotion into their decision making process than others.