Creating Hot for History

History has always been a subject that has fascinated me. I have always had an unquenchable thirst to learn about the past. It never really mattered what, or who it was, Medieval Knights, ancient Mexico, the golden age of Rome, or the trenches of World War 1. I want to know about all of it. I particularly love to learn about not-so-well-known events throughout history. The stories most overlook or have forgotten.

It has been said that you can not know where you are going if you do not know where you have been. With that said, history can be boring and dry for some. That is where the idea hit me like a ton of bricks. How can you teach others about our history while still making it entertaining? That is when it came to me, a game show! I pitched the idea to Jay, and he looked at me like I was crazy. "How are you going to give a history lesson and keep people who are not interested in history engaged". 1st you set the environment and the mood, transport them to where you want them to go. 2nd, you spin it like a story and not a boring history lesson. People want to be entertained; that is how you make it interesting. But you still want your audience to learn something in the end. We will ask them questions throughout the story. For every wrong answer, we will punish them, it's only fair. If you do not know your history, you are doomed to repeat it, right? To make it interesting and entertaining for the audience, we will make them eat extremely hot foods or make them drink for every wrong answer. Then, we get to laugh at them (and with them of course, we are not bullies) while they squirm uncomfortably through the rest of the story. It forces the contestant to think and consider their next answer carefully to avoid hot foods or more drinks. Finally, everybody likes being recognized for a job well done. They are rewarded, with the Hot for History Globe Trophy and the title. But that title must be defended, like any title worth having.

Thus, Hot for History was born. The goal was to share history in story form while making it fun, competitive, and entertaining. It was a long process to figure out how to add all those ingredients and come out with something edible. The KnightOwl team wrote the show, rewrote the show, and wrote the show again. It was not an overnight success. It came down to the writing and storytelling. The core of what the KnightOwl Network was built on.

Sharing a good story with someone can change one's entire outlook on life. The lessons that can be taken from these stories is often overlooked. I love to create and write my own stories of course but, some of the best storytelling comes from real life. Life is some of the most entertaining content out there. The best part is it is relatable. We know these stories; we go through the same struggles and victories in our own time.

The show was a large undertaking for the KnightOwl team due in part to our small team. It takes most of the day to film a single episode. We wanted the set to feel like the study of a world traveler, a time traveler, and a collector. An individual who has been from one side of the globe to the other and has countless stories to tell. We wanted the guest to feel as if they were being told a story from a first-hand account. The goal was to transport our contestants to that specific place in history. A full emersion into that moment, but that moment with your best friends. Not all the events in history are sunshine and rainbows, as we all know. The past is strife with struggles, pain, and some of the darkest moments mankind/ womankind has ever experienced. But, with your best friend by your side, you can get through anything.

This show is very much still a work in progress. However, we cannot wait to share it with you all. We are working tirelessly to share our journey through some of our history's most fascinating moments.