Chasing Mummies

I don't enjoy the format of the show such as the director's narrating and the annoying interns but as a graduate history major in ancient cultures, I appreciate the show for revealing the dirty world of archaeology. You have to deal with rude people, bureaucracy, preservation, interpretation, etc. The sad truth is that the general public does not want to see Dr. Hawas, an icon for historians and archaeologists, in an unflattering manner because he is the face of Egyptology----a very popular topic for people around the world. Many people do not like his opinions and his attitudes, but have any of you read his research and books? He has contributed a lot to this field and has helped bring Egyptology back to Egypt when was usurped by the British for decades.

If you ignore the B.S. such as the interns, meltdowns, and emergencies and listen to what Dr. Hawas is explaining such as the shawabtis and the "gang" tombs. This is great material! Also, everyone of the crew members and interns were told of the dangers of this assignment. If you have claustrophobia, do not get into a cramped space! If you are uncomfortable, do not do it. Dr. Hawas informs each one of them about these dangers.

Look past the crap and you'll find gold...just like the archaeologist wading in sand before he finds something. :)

Avoid this program at all costs. That is if you thought it was a real documentary series. I tuned in because I wanted to see a fresh documentary on the subject of Egyptology, but what i got was something that I found hard to believe, literally. It's one of the worst scripted unreality shows to come down the pike since The Hills. I hope that telling you this show is obviously scripted, doesn't count as a spoiler? If you want a real documentary, look elsewhere. If you want to see bad acting from Dr Hawass, tune in. I'm sure i wont be the only one saying this here. The Facebook page for The History Channel, is full of people laughing at how ridiculous this show was.

I disagree with the other reviewers. I think this show displays the idiosyncrasies of dealing with the management of massive quantities of archaeological elements in a part of the world that is used to operating with a generally lesser educated workforce, difficult physical environment,and complex politics in play.

Dr. Zahi is a media hog, no doubt, but without a strong personality and demanding the people around him deliver 110%, the person in his position could not function. There must be a coherent vision and plan in play as Egypt continues to discover treasures. There are over 30,000 workers in Egypt working on excavations, how else could these be managed? It is also important for Egypt (read: Dr. Zahi)to give a united, comprehensive and competent presentation when discussing their national treasures; you cannot have every nut job with a shovel, opinion or doctors degree conveying their opinions of national treasuries in situations where the content may be out of context, inaccurate or just wrong.

I have little doubt the interns or "Fellows" were selected for dramatic effect, and that Dr. Zahi has a pre-planned agenda to push the interns to their breaking points, however, I do not think everyone is reading a script - remember the producers have hundreds of hours of video to edit, and it is easy to target in on one stupid comment made over several days, like "aliens could have built this"; he could have competently discussed intelligent and historic facts all day, but the editors targeted in one one sentence.

Regarding the peeing, if that was really pre-planned and scripted don't you think they could have come up with another more dramatic idea? And regarding Dr. Zahi's reaction, remember that HE brought foreigners into the countries sacred treasures, how would this be viewed from the Egyptian public, or flip the situation as if someone from Egypt pee'd on Mount Rushmore, or other national treasure?

The problem with this show is with the context the editors present to us, if you can see beyond that and read between the lines, it is a good show.

This show is probably going to to be valuable in several ways but not in the way you think.......first, it has very little to do with science and everything to do with the personalities including and surrounding a fellow named Hawass who has had a strangle hold on Egyptology in Egypt for the last 10 or 12 years.

Hawass is a pretentious, self centered, quite maniacal blow hard with a penchant for hogging the spotlight for discovery in Egyptology in Egypt for himself whenever possible regardless of who actually did the science.....he is also a scientific obstructionist in regard to new ideas and advanced scientific techniques regarding Egyptology.

Unfortunate as well is Hawss' very public, outrageous anti-semitic tirades and racial slurs against black Africans..........he is the worst kind of representative for science in almost every way.

In order to work in Egypt in Egyptology, one must kowtow and do whatever one has to in pleasing Hawass apparently, in order to be allowed to work there........it is a disgrace.....Of course, some may say, look at all he has discovered.........well, if you are the only one allowed the credit then every discovery is yours alone, right?

Basically, while you will glean very little education with this show, you will get to see Hawass in all his vainglory, which i suppose has some value in exposing the grossly pompous and counter-productive Zahi Hawass.......essentially the show is about how everyone involved has to walk on eggshells to avoid upsetting Mr. Hawass.

In the end i guess their is some value in documenting this unbelievable jerk Hawass but after that, I wouldn't bother watching this show.

I think we all got tricked into watching this show. I can't imagine how the History Channel could think this was going to fool anyone. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be dramatic re-enactments of events that took place throughout his career or just a straight scripted show but it is just awful. The acting is so bad you owe it to yourself to watch part of an episode just to see it.

I find myself calling into question everything I have ever heard the once esteemed Dr. Zahi Hawass speak about. I think the History Channels credibility is going to be permanently damaged by this show if it is on the air for more than few episodes unless it develops some kind of cult following like the films of Ed Wood.