that same rebranding effort, The History Channel dropped "The" and "Channel" from its name to become simply "History". The "History 100" documentary initiative was announced in March 2018 that would produce 100 documentaries covering major events and notable figures from last 100 years. In 2021, the History Network ordered a documentary series covering the history of the decades long Star Trek science fiction franchise. Brian Volk-Weiss is the planned director who had done documentaries for Netflix, as well as a previous History Channel special on Star Trek for its 50th anniversary in 2016. They planned to go over the long history of the franchise including its various television series and conduct cast interviews. On December 7, 2021, History received a major rebrand for the first time since February 16, 2008. The logo kept the golden letter ‘H’ that had been used since its launch in 1995. Programming Programming on History has covered a wide range of historical periods and topics, while similar themed topics are often organized into themed weeks or daily marathons. Subjects include warfare, inventions, aviation, mechanical and civil engineering, technology, science, nature, artists, composers, authors, mythical creatures, monsters, unidentified flying objects, conspiracy theories, aliens, religious beliefs, disaster scenarios, apocalyptic "after man" scenarios, survival scenarios, alternate history, dinosaurs, doomsday, organized crime, secret societies, and 2012 superstitions. Occasionally, some programs compare contemporary culture and technology with that of the past. The channel's programming would expand into scripted dramas with the premiere Vikings in 2013. Criticism and evaluations The network has also been criticized for having a bias towards US history. Another former sister network, History International, more extensively covered history outside the US until 2011, when it was re-branded as H2 and started broadcasting more material that had to do with US history. The network was also criticized by Stanley Kutner for airing the series The Men Who Killed Kennedy in 2003. Kutner was one of three historians commissioned to review the documentary, which the channel disavowed and never aired again. Programs such as Modern Marvels have been praised for their presentation of detailed information in an entertaining format. Some of the network's series, including Ice Road Truckers, Ax Men, and Pawn Stars, garnered increased viewership ratings in the United States, while receiving criticism over the series' nonhistorical nature. US Senator Chuck Grassley is a critic of the channel and its lack of historical or educational programming, showing particular