Does any else feel that the prominent featuring of Dr. Aryeh Nussbacher – with his over-the-top, exaggerated mannerisms and commentary which borders on the obvious - in the series “Top Tens”, “Weaponology” and most especially “The Lost Evidence” (the latter shown on a different network) somehow diminishes the overall quality and, dare I say, credibility of the programs?
Even though “Weaponology” is made in a documentary style which seems to not take itself too seriously, Aryeh Nussbacher takes this a step further in, what appears to be, his self-appointed role as "court-jester" of the series. In contrast, I do welcome the commentary of the other two Britain-based contributors: Richard Holmes and Andrew Robertshaw, the former of which is one of Britain’s most acclaimed Military Historians and presenter of many series on the BBC.
While Holmes and Robertshaw continue to appear as commentators in the second season of “Weaponology” (albeit in the later episodes on the SAS, Royal Marine Commandos and Extreme Warriors), Dr. Aryeh Nussbacher, however, is no where to be found.
I wonder if Flashback Television (the company based in the UK which produces all three series) finally wised up to viewer annoyance with him or simply lost interest after he had a sex change operation this past year and is now Dr. Lynette Nussbacher (if you don’t believe me, check out the War Studies Department on Sandhurst’s webpage).
I found him very annoying.He seemed to explain the subject in question as if people were totally uninformed as to what he was talking about. I have allways thought history and discovery channles went so much deeper into subjects than what a "lay" person wanted or needed to know detailing some of the lesser known features of systems, battles and tactics. As far as his personal life , who cares.
I found him entertaining, a counterbalance to the the other commentators, most of whom were board-stiff (as opposed to "bored stiff"). He has a passion for the subject matter, which comes through in his commentary. I like him.
Of course, if London's Sun newspaper is correct, the real reason Dr. Nussbacher was removed from the shows was because he had become Dr. Lynette Nussbacher. Yep, now he's a woman:
You mean like in the “Sniper Rifles” episode of “Weaponology” when he’s dancing around saying ‘Look at me! Here I am! I’m the Sniper, shoot me!” when referring to how the smoke discharge from a powder shot betrays a sniper’s position? Or on the “Crossing the Rhine” episode in the “The Lost Evidence”, when he makes the understatement of the series by saying (with a chuckle) that the Americans under machine-gun fire on Remagen Bridge “must have been really relieved” when their fellow soldiers in a more advanced position finally silenced the German machine-gun nest firing at them?
No, that’s not being funny – that’s being sophomoric, juvenile and very anti-intellectual; especially for someone who got his Ph.D. at Oxford and teaches at one of the most prestigious military academies in the world. I understand that these programs are made for the general viewer and probably the on-site producer from Flashback Television was encouraging him to be entertaining. But given his credentials, there is something very demeaning about his elementary commentary and lack of professional demeanor.
