In politics, there’s an unwritten rule that whoever first evokes Hitler should lose the argument. The same really ought to apply to television, as the channel still known as History – for ...

Today's "History," as the channel is now known, is filled with series with such titles as Pawn Stars, Counting Cars, American Pickers and worst of all Ancient Aliens.

In what constitutes fortunate timing, the lower-profile Smithsonian Channel counters that bloated production with a mercifully spare one, “The Day Hitler Died,” which premieres on Nov. 16.