A reader corrects me:
The History Channel didn’t update its graphic at all. The “dancing” monkey
who begins the procession of the evolution of man is Proconsul, which was
discovered in the 1930s and is believed to be the direct ancestor of all
great apes, including humans (yes, we’re apes, genetically speaking). If
they drew that graphic to scale, little Darwinius would be barely visible.
Even if this find is being overhyped, it at least isn’t being done as
irresponsibly as it was with the LHC, and the more interest it inspires in
the public about biology and human origins, the better.
We’ll have to wait until the 25th to see just how much “hype” is in the show before I’ll agree with the last sentence.