According to one Internet source, Ken Burns’ The Vietnam War documentary reached some 34 million viewers. That’s about 10% of the U.S. population.
It took me several months to slog through the many hours of misery contained in the 10 episodes, but I can now count myself as one of the 34 million viewers.
I think I can guess who most of the viewers were: People like me who were directly affected in one way or another. Median age of the viewers had to be >60.
An excerpt from The New York Times’ review:
The saddest thing about this elegiac documentary may be the credit it extends its audience. “The Vietnam War” still holds out hope that we might learn from history, after presenting 18 hours of evidence to the contrary.
I see no evidence that the present or future leaders of this country learned one goddamned thing from all the boneheaded blunders made by leaders past. Credit the NY Times for sifting through all the myriad, deep, and enduring sadnesses to name the worst.
I saw that series and it made me really angry. I knew there was a lot of crap that went on during that war, but I didn't know to what extent. Ken Burns does an incredible job.
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