Making History (2017) User Reviews (30)

Better than you'd think

[FamousGirlfriend · 7/10 · 8 April 2017]

First off: I'm very tired of mean jokes and people trying to be oh so edgy. Not because series like that are necessarily bad (they really can be hilarious!), but because I know you can be fun and clever in a more laid back way. That's one of the seven stars (if I vote below five means you're wasting your time).

This series is not genius in any way, BUT IT IS GOOD FUN. The acting is good, Meester and Lester perform well, while Pally will improve, hopefully (or maybe I'll just have to get used to his character). Some room have been kept for decent character development. The script and comedic timing is enjoyable and makes up for Pally's awkwardness. It's not The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, though I do get a few laugh out loud-moments in every episode. Good enough for me!

I guess you could watch a sitcom about a family in front of a TV, and that it would be OK too. But this is a far better option.

I found my grove

[puppygal-29028 · 7/10 · 6 March 2017]

Personally, I found myself confused at the start. Finally after 10 minutes in. I found my grove. Surprisingly funny and enjoyable. If you have, a good sense for history, movie quotes and comedy. This show may just, capture your goofy/smart side. On my short wish to watch list. ;OS

Situation comedy that struggles

[puzzledresearcher · 5/10 · 6 March 2017]

The time-travel genre is blossoming these days with several series in 2016 and 2017. Sadly none of the shows are particularly strong, and Making History is just one more that struggles.

Time travel is just the entry into a situation comedy built around three people. The usual poor treatment of time travel paradoxes is clear in the first episode, but as this is not really a sci-fi show I propose we just let that pass.

Rather, this is a comedy, in which the situations for our characters are built around how two of them are awkwardly out of their time when they travel backwards (and for the third person, Paul Revere's daughter, when she travels forward.) Most of the humor I found flat, hardly worth a giggle.

I suspect this will be a short lived series.

great silly start

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 11 May 2017]

Dan Chambers (Adam Pally) is a slacker janitor at a New England college. He discovers a time machine in a sack among his late father's possessions and uses it to travel to pre-revolutionary Lexington. He likes to spend his time drinking with John Hancock (John Gemberling) and Sam Adams (Neil Casey). He's also dating Deborah Revere (Leighton Meester), the eldest daughter of Paul Revere. All of the changes have derailed the American Revolution. In order to fix the past, he brings along history professor Chris Parrish (Yassir Lester).

It's a great silly start. Adam Pally is at his best idiocy. At first, I wasn't sure where this show was going to go. Apparently, the writers aren't that sure either because the thing starts to ramble around. It fits the Chambers character with his aimlessness. I almost wish that they roll the dice and try to assassinate baby Hitler. I don't understand going back to gangland Chicago. This is a free-for-all. There is some fun with loads of lunacy but it is held back by its instability.

Entertainment that doesn't stress you out!

[esperancaed · 9/10 · 26 April 2017]

I'm a post-modern human being so watching TV-Series is, of course, one of my favourite things, except that shows containing a lot of earnest violence, tension, cliff hangers, love triangle situations, murder, sadness and/or a general abundance of negative situations stress me out more than they entertain me.

I'm the kind of person who enjoys shows that employ a "make-fun-of-yourself- sometimes" kind of humor, have relatable characters, plots that are fun to follow and at least one female character that's not just there to make the male ones look tough. That's why I like 'Making History'! It has/does all of the above. It's hilarious, and manages to be that without making insensitive cheap-shot jokes about gender or race! There definitely are a lot of jokes based on stereotypes, but they usually go against and not with them and I like that a lot.

I recommend this series to people who enjoy shows such as 'New Girl', 'Modern Family' and 'Parks and Recreation'. It's just really good for relaxing and having a good time, and it's also great for watching with friends that enjoy different genres of shows but all like a good laugh, since elements from several genres kind of come together here. As in those other shows the actors here seem really good at their jobs, and the terrible jokes are delivered with great comedic timing so that they are extra funny.

I would not recommend it to people who need sequences about time travel to be science-y and believable, think sarcasm is the best kind of humor and/or hate puns, because this show will probably annoy them.

Needs time to hit its stride

[rabidbeaver-17250 · 6/10 · 2 April 2017]

I think this is one of those shows that is going to take its first season to really get into - but in my mind, this makes it little different from the first season of Star Trek: Next Generation; the acting in those early episodes is so wooden, the show would have died without the ST label, according to other reviews here.

As it is, things take a turn for the somewhat heavy at the end of the fourth episode.

It seems to have definite potential, after a questionable pilot, and a rather weak follow-up. I'm giving it a 6 as a preliminary score, but I hope I can say I want to raise that up by the end of the season.

Not surprised it was cancelled

[rdfarnham · 4/10 · 2 August 2017]

I quit watching after episode 6 Here are two supposedly intelligent men who can't seem to function in any situation. They are constantly doing stupid things, especially Chris, or stating out loud that they have a time machine. They never seem to be interested in actually using the time travel ability to correct some historical disasters such as 9-11. They are constantly doing things that make no sense and Chris, who is a history professor, seems to know less about history than Dan who is supposedly not all that bright. In addition Deborah seems to immediately fit into the future with no sign of culture shock and she even speaks in the modern idiom. I love time travel stories but this series left me cold.

Awesome Show! Sad It Only Got To Run For 9 Episodes.

[collectorofsorts · 10/10 · 8 August 2019]

It's a hilarious show. Basically, what would a pea-brained janitor do if he found a time machine? Well, this one found one after his dads passing and does some ridiculously funny things with it. If you can find the series online, give it a watch. If you like immature humor, you'll laugh for days!

Great show!!

[susanaoliveiravalerio · 7/10 · 4 April 2017]

I loved the show! It's pure entertainment... Many will say that the show is "cliché", but I disagree. It's a show to relax and enjoy, just like a glass of wine at the end of the day! The actors are doing some great work, especially Leighton Meester. She is perfect for the role! I will be waiting for the new episode.

mediocre

[vriddheeg · 3/10 · 6 March 2017]

The pilot dives into time travel without giving us any background on the plot, the first few minutes felt fast forwarded where I was trying to grasp what was going on, there should have been narration or some introduction to characters and scenarios.Its a mindless comedy but without a good pilot to show for.

Time traveling fun

[krisdice · 9/10 · 20 March 2017]

I'm a sucker for anything with time travel involved and also love me some comedy. This show has both and I really enjoy watching it. I was already a fan of Adam Pally from The Mindy Project and he is perfect on this show. Hope more people give this show a chance. My son likes this show as well, and so far there hasn't been anything inappropriate for underagers. Before I go, I wrote you all a song: "Near, far, wherever you are, this show is so funny, so watch it right noooow" Byesies.

This show lights up my day

[je-93696 · 7/10 · 9 April 2017]

This show is so hilarious, it is the funniest thing I have ever seen in recent years. I first am attracted to this show, because of Leighton(I am so into Blair from Gossip Girl), but then the funny plot about time traveling and old yet beautiful costume grabs me so hard. Seriously, this show needs to be know!!! I hope there will be more,Love it.

Sherman drags Mr. Peabody back in time...

[etsuo · 3/10 · 6 March 2017]

Oh wait, that's too highbrow for Fox TV. No this is more like "Voyagers!" for the-short-attention-span-generation. Do we have a character who knows next-to-nothing-about-History-and-just-wants-to-get-it-on? Check. Do we have a character who could go on and on about period minutiae even as a horse deposits road apples on his shoes? Check. Do we have a smart woman with common sense and is another "Ellen Ripley"? Check. Now turn the comedy writers loose on this mess, stand back, and...why isn't anything happening? It will have to do, I guess, since "Timeless" isn't coming back and "History is Bunk." So Junior found out how to build a "duffel bag time machine while going through his father's papers, found Love in 1775 Massachusetts, (supposedly)kept The American Revolution from happening, and dragged in a pedantic History professor to fix the time line. One stays, one comes into the 21st century, and surprise, surprise, History has been changed. Stay tuned for "A Sound of Thunder," network TV-lite version.

watchable until episode 4

[vjbehm · 6/10 · 24 August 2021]

I'll keep this short. I had a lot of expectations. I decided to give this a shot after being entranced by time after time, timeless and Oleander and then I ran out of episodes to watch. This is entertaining to start but loses traction quick...if you have an hour to spare, I'd say give it a go, episodes are short..btw episode 3 and 4 it goes from The Revolution to WW2 and then modern times and from there I ran out of opinion.

Loved it, wish another network had picked it up

[jenn-79618 · 8/10 · 2 September 2019]

Fox was the wrong place for it. I loved this show and looked forward to where they would travel next (I am not a sucker for time-traveling stories) which is a first for me. The premise is hilarious. I like all the actors, esp. the 3 main characters. There's a good mixture of high- and low-brow comedy. I just wish it had been on a network that would have given it time to develop. Like most shows, it needed time to simmer slowly and for the writers to get things to gel. (I love watching Adam Pally.)

Enjoyed it

[mrmghoff-1 · 7 March 2017]

I too felt like I missed an episode. However, once into the show I really liked it. i like the idea of history and comedy. I like historical shows, like Turn, and this is different in a good way. I'm hoping it keeps getting better - but for sure I'll be watching future episodes.

Im just glad to get read of son of Zorn

[chrisdye-21481 · 7/10 · 14 March 2017]

I will say that I have been watching this show it has its shining moments and memorable quotes I have grown to love the team and the battles they face with humor I love dr Chris he is hilarious and this is a much needed replacement for the awful son of Zorn yea this might be Corny but come on the other show all around sucked and it was just a extremely sorry excuse of how fox can create anything and people will buy it for awhile but this is a breath of fresh air maybe not by much for some but it is a very good try at what it is supposed to make people do which is language if you don't have a sense of humor this is not the show for you if you find comedy to be ridiculous this is a show u will be skipping but if you have a good sense of humor and want to get some laughs this could be the show your looking for i recommend that you watch it

The Fox series Making History is going to be "history."

[BomberBuck · 1/10 · 18 March 2017]

I watched Season 1, Episode 2, Pilot on Amazon Prime (thank goodness it was free) and couldn't stand to watch another minute when one of the main characters said, "Let's talk bro to bro" to a couple of British soldiers and then shortly afterwards stated, "To infinity and beyond." Horrible writing and terrible acting even if it is supposed to be a comedy.

I normally don't write reviews, but something I saw on Facebook moved me. I saw this same actor, Adam Pally, being interviewed on the street (March 15, 2017) where he was asked how close we are to real time travel (as if a Hollywood know-nothing would have a useful opinion) and then "Who would you not want to spend an hour with (if you could go back in time)?" His response..."Oh I'd have to like, gee I'd have to kill Trump or Hitler." What an imbecile. After watching the show I couldn't see Fox renewing this insipid attempt at comedy for next season, and now one of its lead actors is trying his best to seal its fate.

Funny Show

[mzz_hney_bar · 10/10 · 5 March 2017]

This is an awesome show. I would recommend it. A facilities manager at a small college discovers a way to travel through time and transports himself into the 1700s, where he falls in love and makes new friends; meddling in the past turns out to wreak havoc in the present. Leighton Meester plays Adam Pally girlfriend.

Though not as good as other network comedies it's still not the worst of shows

[chrisman-24354 · 6/10 · 4 April 2017]

I have been watching this show for awhile and I got to say that while I have seen funnier shows in the month of March premiering but it is a good time and cute show I like dr Chris he is hilarious if you are looking for a good idea for a boring Sunday night then I recommend that you give it a try you might like it who knows don't expect much from it and keep your mind open and you should have a great time watching it

What a waste of "time"

[drw907 · 2/10 · 17 March 2017]

Gave it a try as I thought it might have potential. Trite poorly executed script with wooden acting, especially by Adam Pally.

Even Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure did time travel more effectively and of course the Back to the Future trilogy makes this attempt look like it was performed on a Junior High School stage level.

Sorry, even for a made for TV series this is purely pathetic.

Amazing

[lovenutella-66013 · 10/10 · 14 April 2017]

This is both a really interesting concept and a hilarious comedy. Adam Pally is amazing as always and this is just a really great, really funny show that does well to point out problems in society both now and in the past. I feel like if you're the type of person who prefers to ignore social issues, this isn't the right show for you but it's actually really hilarious and very interesting as far as history goes and I can't wait to see more episodes.

Comedic Lead

[tillzen · 2/10 · 1 May 2017]

The good news is that "Making History" has a premise and a lead (Leighton Meester) with promise. The bad news is that the comedic choices of the writing doom any chance the show has to resonate with any viewer unbaked. Adam Pally is GREAT everywhere BUT here and the material as written seems a major cause? In the pilot he offered goofy and endearing hope but ever since he seems lost within TERRIBLE writing? Each of the 3 story arcs so far have taken us to fascinating locales but with ZERO comedic payoff. Al Capone and Founding Fathers as comedic foils have proved to be comedic lead. These choices (like Hitler's spoon) suggest show runners with terrible (and addled) judgment. Wastes of talent and money as exemplified by "Making History" is proof positive that network television comedy is bereft of producers, writers and network executives with the chops required to deliver comedy above the bar of sub-mentality. And I'm an Adam Pally fan.

Adam Pally seriously underrated

[mikeblanco-52347 · 8/10 · 25 July 2021]

The fish outta water premise has been done to death, but I like the quirks thrown in here. It doesn't work without Pally though. To me, this is a star turning role (I did like him a lot in Happy Endings). There's some good sci-fi being written with a comedy element being showcased. This is similar to the good work being done with Futureman, comedy wise. Different in execution. I liked this show a lot!

It's a less bold knock off of Time Travelling Bong

[jerseykris-73140 · 5/10 · 13 March 2017]

Comedy Central already explored this exact premise with Time Travelling Bong. Whatever one's opinion of that brief show, it's clear that Comedy Central has a lot more freedom and they really pushed the limits of taste, with often better results.

For review purposes, let's pretend that Bong never existed.

Making History (MH) has some good concepts and clever writing. However, the delivery of some of the better dialogue is spoiled by truly horrific acting on the part of the sub-characters. Adam Pally, Leighton Meester & Yassir Lester handle themselves well enough, but something just seems lacking.

I wouldn't say it's a complete wash, it definitely has potential. So I'll keep giving it a chance in the hope that it gets better.