Plot Synopsis

Hosted by former naval officer and actor Jamie Kaler, AMERICA: FACTS VS. FICTION reveals surprising hidden facts and fills in the blanks for the most familiar and beloved stories from American history. Occasionally, little details don't fit nicely into the broad strokes of history, and time has altered details for the sake of a more compelling narrative. For instance, Paul Revere never galloped through the streets of Boston yelling, "The British are coming!" to warn people of the impending Revolutionary War. And technically, George Washington wasn't the first President of the United States. In each 30-minute episode, this series reveals the full truths behind the more commonly accepted half-truths for a single topic, such as: "Flying Machines," chronicling how Apollo 11 made it home because of a pen and discussing how Air Force One is a code name; "Founding Fathers," revealing who else rode with Paul Revere and that George Washington wasn't the first President; "Pilgrims and Witches," exploring how the Pilgrim Thanksgiving was about fasting and that the only witchcraft in Salem was done by young girls; "Trick or Treat," documenting the origins of Halloween and the truth behind Edgar Allan Poe; "The Inventors," showcasing the real relationships between Thomas Edison and the light bulb and Ben Franklin and electricity; and more topics like "Presidential Conspiracies," "The New World" and "Roadside Stories." Season 2 premiered on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, as AHC: American Heroes Channel aired back-to-back new episodes. In the season opener, "Fool's Gold," Jamie reveals the real facts behind America's biggest economic boom and biggest bust, as he discovers a treasure of nuggets about the California gold rush and the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Then, in the night's second episode, "Last Man Standing," Jamie explores the true stories of the Alamo and Custer's Last Stand, which are very different from the way people remember them. Season 3 kicked off with back-to-back episodes on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 from 10-11pm ET/PT on AHC. In the season premiere (10pm), Kaler reveals the truth behind Dwight D. Eisenhower's climb to the U.S. presidency as well as one of the best-kept secrets of army general Douglas MacArthur during World War II. Then at 10:30pm, Kaler uncovers the truth behind one of America's most fanatical past times -- amusement parks and their most famous rides, roller coasters. Then, he explores the truth behind the world's fairs, where the most innovative products were revealed -- one of which could have even saved a U.S. president from his death bed. Topics in subsequent episodes of Season 3 include: myths that cloud over the facts about Manhattan's famous landmarks, such as the Empire State Building and Grand Central; the true stories behind Pocahontas and renowned explorers Lewis and Clark; how Charles Lindbergh was far from the first man to fly the Atlantic, and the biggest danger astronaut John Glenn faced was actually on the launch pad; and many more myth-breaking facts.
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On Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT, AHC: American Heroes Channel premiered the season finale of AMERICA: FACTS VS. FICTION. In the season ender, "Bad Medicine," America's medical history is infected with myths. George Washington's doctors may have inadvertently killed him; Abraham Lincoln used a toxic remedy that warped his mind; and heroin was once a best-selling cough suppressant.