Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Before We Ruled the Earth


 * The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review).  No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was keep. ✗ plicit  12:01, 2 June 2022 (UTC)

Before We Ruled the Earth

 * – ( View AfD View log | edits since nomination)

PRODded with notability concerns, but it had already been prodded in 2010 over unclear concerns about original research that likely regarded content that is no longer in the article. Only current source is IMDB, Allmovie has no reviews (Part 1, Part 2), and the miniseries is not even on Rotten Tomatoes. –LaundryPizza03 ( d c̄ ) 04:28, 19 May 2022 (UTC)
 * Note: This discussion has been included in the deletion sorting lists for the following topics: Television and History. –LaundryPizza03 ( d  c̄ ) 04:28, 19 May 2022 (UTC)
 * Delete as prodder (There really needs to be a better way to catch that). Nominator has proven my point that no sources exist. Ten Pound Hammer • (What did I screw up now?) 15:34, 19 May 2022 (UTC)
 * Delete -- A two-programme TV series of 20 years ago is clear NN. It is merely reporting facts on certain species, probably nothing particularly original.  Peterkingiron (talk) 18:17, 19 May 2022 (UTC)

Keep per the significant coverage in multiple independent reliable sources.<ol> <li> The book provides 2.25 pages of coverage about the subject. The book notes: "Before We Ruled the Earth (2003) U.S.; dir. Pierre de Lespinois; Evergreen Films/Discovery Channel. 2 49-min. parts; color. Producer, Bill Latka; writers, Brian Fagan, Sandra Gregory, Bill Latka; music, Dean Grinsfelder; narrators, Linda Hunt, John Slattery." The book further notes: "Dramatic reenactments (including computer-generated images of extinct animals) show the lives of Homo Erectus, Neanderthals and early Cro-Magnons, including the use of fire and tools and the development of communications. There are several brief segments titled "How We Know What We Know" which discuss fossils and other evidence on which the program is based. ... This excellent documentary packs a lot of information into its little dramas. The first part is about humans whose bodies and brains were different from ours. The second part deals with anatomically-modern humans. Humans advance from scavengers to predators. People first speak not at all, then fluently. ... Of course the reenactments are speculative but they reflect sophisticated, up-to-date information about prehistoric man. ... The stories are dramatically effective precisely because they are convincing. The tale of the Neanderthals' failing in their last hunt is perhaps the saddest scene in any prehistoric film or TV show, while the story of the three incredibly brave Berringian women killing the mammoth is probably the most terrifying and awe-inspiring scene involving early humans. There are no films that do as much as this program to encourage respect for our ancient ancestors."</li> <li> The article notes: "The series started yesterday with the premiere of Before We Ruled the Earth. The two-hour programme looked at the development of humankind from as far back as 1.7 million years ago in Africa. Hunt or be Hunted, the first part of the programme, featured the evolution of early humans, Homo Ergaster. In the world of scavengers, it was men against beasts. However over the years, men made major progress with the discovery of fire and various uses of stone. From scavengers, men became predators. ... To end the week-long series, dinosaurs come into focus in When Dinosaurs Ruled: At the Ends of the Earth. A far cry from the action-packed movie Jurassic Park, this documentary showcases the toughness of dinosaurs which survived the extreme heat of Australia and the icy cold of Antarctica."</li> <li> The article notes: "Before We Ruled the Earth is an odyssey of evolution, from Homo ergaster in Africa at 1.7 million years ago, to Paleo-Indians living in North America at 11,000 years ago. Detailed recreations of hominid life over seven time periods, stunning wilderness locations, state of the art makeup effects and photo-realistic 3-D animated animals bring the past to life. Factual. Entertaining. Riveting."</li> <li>Less significant coverage:<ol> <li> The article notes: "SUNDAY ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL at 8 p.m. "Before We Ruled the Earth" airs two one-hour episodes, "Hunt or Be Hunted" about the Homo ergaster who scavenged to survive in Africa 1.7 million years ago, and "Mastering the Beast" about the Cro-Magnons 15,000 years ago, who possessed all of the abilities of modern humans: speech, reasoning skills and a belief in the afterlife. The program combines dramatizations with photo-realistic animated creatures."</li> <li> The article notes (my bolding): "75. Sound Editing for Nonfiction Programming (Single or Multicamera): "American Experience: Seabiscuit," PBS; "American Masters: Joni Mitchell: Woman of Heart and Mind," PBS; "Before We Ruled the Earth," Discovery Channel; "James Cameron's Expedition: Bismarck," Discovery Channel; "Unchained Memories: Readings From the Slave Narratives," HBO."</li> <li> The article profiles Pierre de Lespinois. The article notes: "In 1999 de Lespinois founded his own company Evergreen Films, based in Pacific Palisades, California. Impressed by Verne, Discovery Communications came knocking, which resulted in their 2001 co-development of Montreal-based Meteor Studios for the latest visual effects and digital animation. "In the first year, we delivered forty films," he says. A dozen more were due to wrap by Christmas, including Before We Ruled the Earth and Prehistoric Worlds, upcoming on Discovery."</li> <li> The article notes: "Before We Ruled the Earth offers the latest scientific knowledge on evolution from early Homo sapiens' fight for survival over seven time periods. Speed: Without Limits takes viewers on a fast-paced look at the world behind the wheel."</li> <li> The article notes: "Discovery Channel's Before We Ruled the Earth airs two one-hour episodes at 8 p.m. Sunday: "Hunt or Be Hunted" deals with the Homo ergaster who scavenged to survive in Africa 1.7 million years ago; "Mastering the Beast" is about the Cro-Magnons 15,000 years ago."</li> <li> The article notes: "Before We Ruled the Earth. 8 p.m. Sunday on The Discovery Channel. A new two-hour special on evolution that examines the first days of our lives, or rather, our ancestors', from Africa's Homo ergaster 1.7 million years ago to the paleo-Indians of North America 11,000 years ago. Filmed in wilderness areas around the world, with dramatizations using photo-realistic animated creatures."</li> </ol></li> </ol>There is sufficient coverage in reliable sources to allow Before We Ruled the Earth to pass Notability, which requires "significant coverage in reliable sources that are independent of the subject". Cunard (talk) 09:55, 21 May 2022 (UTC) </li></ul> Please add new comments below this notice. Thanks, North America1000 10:50, 26 May 2022 (UTC)
 * Keep based on sources listed above. Donald D23   talk to me  14:26, 21 May 2022 (UTC)
 * <p class="xfd_relist" style="margin:0 0 0 -1em;border-top: 1px solid #AAA; border-bottom: 1px solid #AAA; padding: 0px 2em;"> Relisted to generate a more thorough discussion and clearer consensus.


 * Keep as per the multiple reliable sources coverage identified above including books and newspapers so that WP:GNG is passed and deletion is unnecessary in my view, Atlantic306 (talk) 20:53, 26 May 2022 (UTC)
 * Keep. An Emmy nomination plus the sources provided above meets GNG. Jacona (talk) 11:21, 30 May 2022 (UTC)


 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. <b style="color:red">Please do not modify it.</b> Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.