NOTE: Times listed are both EST/Pacific. Individual television ratings:
All rated [G] or [PG] unless noted. [NR] = Not Rated or news-related program.
Today, from 12am this morning to 12am tonight. Listings change to tomorrow at 12am EST Note: daily listings are posted in javascript. If you can't see javascript, try new glasses
Programs @ 8pm,9pm,10pm,11pm each repeat at least once starting at 12am
Schedules usually available one week in advance
Friday, May 1, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Paint
From the Impressionist canvas to the Space Shuttle...from customized hotrods to the brilliant orange hue of the Golden Gate Bridge or tiny electronic devices--paint is one of our most ubiquitous products. And paint adds more than just pigmentation. It's a crucial engineering element, protecting ships from water corrosion, stovetops from heat, and the Stealth Bomber from radar detection. In homes and businesses, it provides a balanced spectrum of light and protects surfaces from wear. In this colorful hour, we discover how this marvel of chemistry and engineering is made, and how it is applied. Come see what's beneath the surface as we reveal one of man's most ingenious methods of defeating the elements and adding spice to life!
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Ice Cream
From the gelato of Italy, to the French Pot process of the 1800s, to the numerous assortments of frozen delights being served up today, learn the history of this delicious dessert. Visit factories at Dreyer's, TCBY and the Joy Cone Company where ice cream, frozen yogurt, and the cone, roll off the assembly line. Get the scoop on how Ben & Jerry's come up with their crazy ideas and watch as one of their madcap inventors creates a new flavor, just for us.
9-10pm -- Patton 360 - Rogue General
Sicily, July--September 1943: Frustrated by the slow progress of his British allies, Patton ignores orders to stay by their side and pushes on to capture Palermo. The Seventh Army prepares to assault Messina and liberate the besieged city before the British do. But instead of a hero's welcome at Messina, Patton is relieved of command for slapping two shell-shocked soldiers. His battlefield command days may be over.
10-11pm -- Battles BC - Judgment Day at Marathon
After years of perceived disrespect, a gravely offended Persian army sets sail to teach the insolent Athenians a lesson. The massive Persian fleet seems predestined to overpower the small Athenian army, abandoned by their allies the Spartans. But a brilliant defensive strategy, the extreme mettle of Greek troops, and a runner whose route would go down in history, all combine to drive the Persians back across the Aegean defeated, dripping in their own blood. The Battle of Marathon sets up one of the most famous battles between Greece and Persia... the Battle of the 300.
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Saturday, May 2, 2009
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5:30-8pm -- Reel To Real - Tombstone
Movie. After success cleaning up Dodge City, Wyatt Earp moves to Tombstone, Arizona, and wishes to get rich in obscurity. He meets his brothers there, as well as his old friend Doc Holliday. A band of outlaws that call themselves The Cowboys are causing problems in the region with various acts of random violence, and inevitably come into confrontation with Holliday and the Earps, which leads to a shoot-out at the OK Corral. Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer and Sam Elliot star (1993)
8-11pm -- Unforgiven
Movie. Clint Eastwood stars and directs in this unforgettable Western that won the Oscar for Best Picture. Clint plays a reformed killer (William Munny) who reluctantly teams up with another former gunslinger (Morgan Freeman) to hunt down the cowboys who mutilated a prostitute for a bounty of $500. Gene Hackman plays the sadistic sheriff who tries to stop them. Munny's struggle to give up his new moral code and return to a life of violence is what the movie is all about, and represents Eastwood's reflection on his own career in film. Also stars Richard Harris and Frances Fisher (1992)
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Sunday, May 3, 2009
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7-8pm -- Gangland - Biker Wars 2
A gritty, true-life series exposing the world of history's most notorious and dangerous gangs.
8-10pm -- Art of War
Sun Tzu was the Nostradamus of warfare, and his book Art of War, written 2,400 years ago, is still the ultimate how-to book for winning. This two-hour special brings his words to life. Shot like a graphic novel, it weaves together several epic stories, including the story of Sun Tzu himself, and a war soon after his death where a city is saved using his tactics as China takes the first step toward unification. We'll also follow other epic battles in history--Roman battles, The Civil War, WWII, and present day--that illustrate more of Sun Tzu's lessons, to detail how the people who understand his strategy are the most dangerous weapons of all. And while his ideals were originally created for battle, his lessons could be used by anyone who wants to win--whether at sports, business, or life.
10-11pm -- Life After People - Outbreak
In this episode, savage forces seize control from man. Thousands of domesticated animals break loose, feats of engineering will self-destruct, pets will escape, and a deadly virus will spread once again. Invasive vines will blanket the South, while the Sears Tower and Big Ben struggle to remain standing. In an outbreak of nature what will endure? It is a journey that will take us to the future of Chicago, Atlanta and London--as well as haunting locations already devoid of man. This isn't the story of how we might vanish--it's the story of what happens to the world we leave behind.
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Monday, May 4, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Corpse Tech
Do you ever wonder what happens to your body after you die? You might be surprised to discover that the human body is host to a multitude of hidden secrets. Discover how coroners and forensic anthropologists use a body to both save lives and catch killers. Visit the University of Tennessee's famed "Body Farm," a crematorium, and one of the largest tissue banks in the United States.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Carbon
It is the chemical basis of all known life and yet this simple element is also the foundation of modern technology. Carbon burns hotter, cuts deeper, insulates more thoroughly and absorbs more fully than any other material. See why carbon is the key both in heavy-duty industries, as well as in tools like the graphite pencil, the charcoal water filter, and the diamond saw blade. Watch how carbon fiber, a material stronger than steel and lighter than fiberglass, is made into the fuselage of a new Boeing 787. Discover why "activated charcoal" is the material of choice for absorbing everything from toxic heavy metals in your drinking water to funky odors in your shoes.
9-10pm -- Gangland - All Hell Breaks Loose
A gritty, true-life series exposing the world of history's most notorious and dangerous gangs.
10-11pm -- Ax Men - 22 - Fresh Meat
New faces are welcomed to the fraternity of men known as Ax Men. Rygaard and Conner Aviation hope their new greenhorns fare better than the last class. At Pihl, a missing cutter sends the crew on a search mission, and tempers at S&S Aqua Logging reach crisis level.
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Tuesday, May 5, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Superhighways
Millions of drivers travel the world's superhighways each year. See a multi-billion dollar expansion project in Houston, Texas where a stretch of superhighway is being widened to 20 lanes. Take a ride atop the High-Five, a 12-story, five-level interchange that's become the latest Dallas tourist attraction. Then it's off to China's 28,000-mile National Trunk Highway System. Discover how a single distracted driver can cause a major traffic jam. Finally, play a cutting-edge video game that's training emergency personnel how to unclog a clogged superhighway.
8-9pm -- Life After People - The Bodies Left Behind
What if every human being on earth disappeared? This isn't the story of how we might vanish--it is the story of what happens to the world we leave behind. In this episode, we'll see what happens to some of the bodies left behind. Most embalmed and buried, some mummified, others cryogenically frozen. Will any of them truly achieve immortality? Or will they be outlived by other memorials to mankind, like the Statue of Liberty or the Sistine Chapel. This is just part of a journey that will take us to the future of cities of Boston and Houston--as well as haunting sites already devoid of man.
9-10pm -- Life After People - Outbreak
In this episode, savage forces seize control from man. Thousands of domesticated animals break loose, feats of engineering will self-destruct, pets will escape, and a deadly virus will spread once again. Invasive vines will blanket the South, while the Sears Tower and Big Ben struggle to remain standing. In an outbreak of nature what will endure? It is a journey that will take us to the future of Chicago, Atlanta and London--as well as haunting locations already devoid of man. This isn't the story of how we might vanish--it's the story of what happens to the world we leave behind.
10-11pm -- Life After People - The Capital Threat
Our nation's capital is under attack. Forces of nature threaten to destroy our national treasures. What will happen to The Capital, The Washington Monument or the Constitution after man disappears? Three thousand miles away, Los Angeles, the center of the entertainment world, faces the same threat. Wilted palm trees set the scene for a massive inferno. What will survive? What creatures might take our place? And could another capital to mankind emerge in the Pacific Ocean when we're gone?
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Wednesday, May 6, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - The Manhattan Project
At 5:30 a.m., July 16, 1945, scientists and dignitaries awaited the detonation of the first atomic bomb in a desolate area of the New Mexico desert aptly known as "Jornada del Muerto" (Journey of Death). Dubbed the Manhattan Project, the top-secret undertaking was tackled with unprecedented speed and expense--almost $30-billion in today's money. Los Alamos scientists and engineers relate their trials, triumphs, and dark doubts about building the ultimate weapon of war in the interest of peace.
8-9pm -- MonsterQuest - Lake Demons
A fifty-foot monster is said to lurk beneath the cold, isolated waters of North America. The stories from Lake Okanagan date back to the earliest First Nation peoples, who lived in fear of this terrifying creature in the lake that became known as "Ogopogo." According to eyewitness accounts, this ominous creature has a large snake-like body, large eyes and can move at high speeds. Sightings of this lake creature are so common that it has been seen more times than Scotland's Loch Ness Monster, making Ogopogo the world's most documented lake creature. With new, photographic evidence and an array of high-tech technology, MonsterQuest launches expeditions to this lake.
9-10pm -- MonsterQuest - Gigantic Killer Fish II
Monsters lurk in our lakes and rivers and along our coastlines, waiting to get their jaws into their next victim. The Goliath Grouper is a monster fish that inhabits the tropical shallow waters of Florida and the Caribbean. In 1895, the New York Times reported on a monster grouper that measured in at over 1,500 pounds. This super-sized fish is making a comeback, growing to immense proportions with the aggression to match. A recent victim was attacked while spear fishing and describes having the Goliath grouper wrap its vicious jaws around his head. Meanwhile, in Minnesota, a resurgence of a monster no less aggressive is on the rise: the Muskie. Also known as the muskellunge, this monster fish has frightening teeth that draw blood from a growing list of victims. Now, our team launches expeditions beneath the waters of Florida and sends ROVs under the ice of Minnesota to find out how large and how aggressive these creatures can get.
10-11pm -- UFO Hunters - UFO Relics
From microscopic particles, to large pieces of unknown metal--UFO "trace cases" offer some of the most convincing evidence that UFOs may have been visiting earth for centuries. Our team examines the most compelling relics available. In Pennsylvania, they uncover reports of a UFO spraying a strange blue mist, witnessed by multiple people. They examine a mysterious glass-like rock found in Poland at the scene of a UFO sighting. And in Missouri they meet a man with a unique otherworldly piece of metal he witnessed falling off a UFO. Our team will conduct a scientific test never-before-done on this unidentified metal. The results of this test could be revealing.
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Thursday, May 7, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Coin Operated
Every 15 minutes, Americans insert over 3.5 million coins into vending machines. We'll visit a sprawling factory that mass produces the latest in high-tech vending machines, and a small company that makes a giant gumball machine that holds 40,000 gumballs. Then, there's the dreaded parking meter, including new ones that can take credit cards and text message for help when they are being robbed or vandalized. We'll visit America's last pinball factory, and see what strange coin operated fare kept people amused 100 years ago. Is coin counting Coinstar the ultimate coin operated machine? We'll follow their coins all the way to a Brinks warehouse. Our last stop is Marvin's Marvelous Mechanized Museum, housing some of the weirdest coin-op machines ever invented. If seeing a life-sized, robotic old man vomit is your idea of entertainment, drop a couple of quarters into "Dr. Ralph Bingenpurge". Now, that's money well spent.
8-9pm -- Gangland - Everybody Killers
9-10pm -- Gangland - 07 - Stone to the Bone
10-11pm -- Warriors - Islands of Blood
Big Island & Oahu, 1790s: Warring chieftains engage in brutal inter-tribal battles for domination of the Hawaiian archipelago. Green Beret Terry Schappert delves into the brutal culture of the Hawaiian warrior, including the deadly martial arts, vicious shark tooth combat weapons and the rituals of human sacrifice that allowed a warrior king to dominate the islands.
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Friday, May 8, 2009
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7-8pm -- History's Mysteries - Ship of Gold
In 1857, en route to New York from California, the steamship Central America vanished in a killer storm off North Carolina's coast, taking with her 400 passengers and nearly 21 tons of gold bullion. Here is the story of the worst US peacetime sea disaster, and how high-tech treasure hunters recovered her fortune over 130 years later.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Truck Stops
Catering to more than twenty million truckers, truck stops are bigger and better than ever. These mega-pit stops are essential to the trucks and truckers that haul eight billion tons of freight annually. Tour the world's largest truck stop that offers fuel, food, parking, private showers, a movie theater, a dentist office, and a barbershop. Look at how 18-wheelers can power up their rigs with a high tech parking lot hookup called IdleAire; complete with heat, air conditioning, a telephone line, a computer with high speed internet, and of course satellite TV. We'll also see how 30,000 gallon underground diesel storage tanks are manufactured. And we'll weigh and inspect a truck while it's barely slowing down. In an interview with Willie Nelson, we'll explore one of the most unique truck stops in the United States and the revolutionary fuel it sells: biodiesel.
9-10pm -- Patton 360 - American Blitzkrieg
England/France, September 1943--July 1944: Patton's victories in Sicily are overshadowed by the infamous "slapping incident." Instead of leading the D-Day invasion of France, Patton is assigned to command a fictitious army in England as part of a ruse to fool the Germans. The deception pays off, and the Allies land on the beaches of Normandy. Patton helps plan the break-out from the weeks-long battle, and American armored forces blast through the German lines. Patton is finally able to lead some of the lightning-fast armored assaults he is famous for.
10-11pm -- Ancient Discoveries - Ancient Death Machines
Military innovation is consistently at the cutting edge of technological advances. Almost all technology on the planet today owes its origins to inventions driven by one purpose--war. From apocalyptic skyscraper siege machines to ancient landmines and flamethrowers which had the potential to extinguish hundreds of lives in minutes, most of today's lethal weapons owe their origins to the inventors of the ancient world.
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Saturday, May 9, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Strange Weapons
Modern arsenals have become much more sophisticated than bullets and bombs. Discover microwave-like rays that make the enemy flee when they feel the heat and laser weapons, mounted on trucks and airplanes that can blow missiles out of the sky. Some of the newest non-lethal weapons include a B.B. machine gun that can fire 150 pain-causing pellets a second and a flashing device nicknamed "the pukelight" that may make you lose your lunch. Finally examine ancient weapons that include a cutlery set containing hidden pistols and Ninja hand claws that would put the X-Men's Wolverine to shame.
8-10pm -- Ancient Aliens
What if life on Earth began in outer space? Millions of people accept the theory that intelligent life forms visited Earth thousands of years ago and were worshiped as gods by primitive man. Are monuments like Stonehenge and Easter Island the last remains of an ancient alien visitation? From unexplainable super structures, to knowledge of the solar system, mathematics, and even the ability to make electricity, this special explores evidence of super-human influences on ancient man and embarks on an around-the-world search for answers. It's an investigation into a theory some believe cannot be true, but many agree cannot be ignored. (New--2009 special.)
10-12am -- Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier For forty years Star Trek has engrossed our imaginations and sent us on voyages across the galaxy. Through ten films and five series this entertainment juggernaut has become a pop culture icon and a window to our society. We will look at the impact that Star Trek has had on fans around the world. From the conventions in Europe and Las Vegas to the billionaire collector who scours the world for memorabilia, we will try to find out just what it is about this supposedly "silly" series that has meant so much to so many. Leonard Nimoy hosts.
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Sunday, May 10, 2009
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7-8pm -- UFO Hunters - UFO Relics
From microscopic particles, to large pieces of unknown metal--UFO "trace cases" offer some of the most convincing evidence that UFOs may have been visiting earth for centuries. Our team examines the most compelling relics available. In Pennsylvania, they uncover reports of a UFO spraying a strange blue mist, witnessed by multiple people. They examine a mysterious glass-like rock found in Poland at the scene of a UFO sighting. And in Missouri they meet a man with a unique otherworldly piece of metal he witnessed falling off a UFO. Our team will conduct a scientific test never-before-done on this unidentified metal. The results of this test could be revealing.
8-10pm -- Angels & Demons Decoded
Investigate the fascinating truths behind Dan Brown's (The Da Vinci Code) first novel. From centuries-old secret societies to real-world cryptography, from the high-stakes intrigue surrounding the installation of a new Pope to the sometimes uneasy relationship between the Vatican and leading scientists, this special will thrill and inform viewers about this monumental time in world history. The clues Brown's hero Robert Langdon follows in frantic pursuit of the Illuminati will inspire further investigation--into religious conspiracies and the Freemasons, secret "codes" hidden in Roman architecture and artwork--as well as controversial theories about religious iconography. Features scenes from the new movie as well as interviews with renowned symbologists, art historians, religious scholars, scientists and other experts will help unravel the mysteries and expose the diabolical plot to destroy the Church.
10-11pm -- Life After People - The Capital Threat
Our nation's capital is under attack. Forces of nature threaten to destroy our national treasures. What will happen to The Capital, The Washington Monument or the Constitution after man disappears? Three thousand miles away, Los Angeles, the center of the entertainment world, faces the same threat. Wilted palm trees set the scene for a massive inferno. What will survive? What creatures might take our place? And could another capital to mankind emerge in the Pacific Ocean when we're gone?
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Monday, May 11, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels: Harvesting
Cutting, digging, picking, stripping, shaking, and raking--whatever the crop, there's a custom machine to harvest it. It all began with handpicking and today it's often one man and one machine harvesting hundreds of acres in a single day. The farmer may even get a little help from satellites. Far above the earth, high-resolution photography is giving the grower more opportunities to cut costs and maximize the harvest. From the debut of the sickle in ancient Egypt to McCormick's famous Reaper to the field of ergonomics that assists human harvesters, we'll dig into the past and future of the harvest.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels: Commercial Fishing
Battered and fried or simply raw--seafood is a popular dish, no matter how you serve it. Americans consume more than 5-billion pounds yearly, an order that takes more than a fishing rod to fill and worries conservationists. We follow the fish, the fishermen, and the science trying to preserve fisheries for future generations--from ancient ships on the Nile to a modern technologically sophisticated factory trawler on the Bering Sea to the University of New Hampshire's open-ocean aquaculture research project. And we witness a wide variety of fishing methods--from gillnetting and longlining to lobster trapping. Hop aboard and sail through time and around the globe as we explore the harsh conditions of life at sea and experience firsthand one of history's deadliest jobs. Brace yourself and feel the ice-cold, salt spray on your face as we explore commercial fishing!
9-10pm -- Gangland: Root of All Evil
10-11pm -- Ax Men: 23 - Clash of the Titans
The gap between winners and losers is narrowing. Rygaard's new greenhorn battles to prove himself, while Conner Aviation's substitute pilot gets wild with the chopper. Dwayne Dethlefs leaves Pihl Logging high and dry, while the Aqua Loggers are sunk by bad weather. At Browning, Jesse's crew tries to catch Rygaard's lead.
11-11:59pm -- Life After People: The Capital Threat [repeated from yesterday]
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Tuesday, May 12, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Renewable Energy
In the young 21st Century, two realizations are dawning on the world's population: we are hopelessly dependent on petroleum, which is only going to get more expensive; and global warming, caused mainly by our burning of fossil fuels, will impact civilization in ways that we're only beginning to grasp. Stepping in to fight both of these massive problems are the rapidly evolving technologies that harness renewable energy. We will see how air, water, earth, and fire are transformed into clean, reliable sources of heat, electricity, and even automobile fuel. We'll take an in-depth look at the most proven and reliable sources: solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels, and tidal power. From the experimental to the tried-and-true, renewable energy sources are overflowing with potential... just waiting to be exploited on a massive scale. And unlike fossil fuels, they'll always be there.
8-9pm -- How the Earth Was Made - Iceland
It is the largest and most fearsome volcanic island on the planet. We'll scour the island for clues, to address the mystery of what powerful forces are ripping Iceland apart and lighting its fiery volcanoes. Here, lava rips huge tears in the ground and new islands are born from the waves. Yet despite the active volcanoes, Iceland historically has been covered in and carved by ice. Fire and ice collide, locked in a titanic battle, as glaciers explode and cataclysmic floods decimate the landscape. But Iceland's volcanoes have had ramifications far beyond the shores of Iceland, causing climatic chaos and devastation across the planet; a fate which may one day happen again.
9-10pm -- How the Earth Was Made - The Alps
The jagged backbone of Europe, spanning seven countries and providing essential water to millions, the Alps is Europe's most important geographic landmark. But how did marine fossils get here, seven thousand feet above sea level? Investigators as far back as Leonardo da Vinci have attempted to fathom out how the Alps evolved, a story that takes us to the bottom of the sea, up the slopes of the infamous Eiger and Matterhorn and deep into the heart of a glacier. But these iconic peaks won't be here for long. The mountains are tumbling down, glaciers are melting and the Alps are being washed away.
10-11pm -- Life After People - Heavy Metal
Once people disappear, New York City experiences its next great crash. In this episode, we reveal the breaking point of precious metals: skyscrapers face collapse, bridges hang by a steel thread; and the fate of our nation's secret stash of gold. Meanwhile, a fatal weakness is exposed in the Gateway Arch, breweries reveal untapped potential for disaster, and horses make a surprising bid to stay alive in a life after people.
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Wednesday, May 13, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Water
It's nature's precious elixir--so powerful it can carve our landscape, yet so nurturing it can spawn life and support its intricate matrix. And it's the only substance on Earth that can exist in three separate forms at the same temperature--liquid, solid, and gas. We take it for granted, yet compared to other natural compounds, it's a genuine oddity. We'll paint a vivid portrait of this common entity that's anything but as we explore water's multidimensional character--from its place in the $10-billion bottled water industry to its critical role in a Canadian nuclear reactor. We watch it flow from huge irrigation machines that have revolutionized American agriculture, blast 200 miles into space from a newly discovered geyser on one of Saturn's moons (via computer animation), coaxed from the clouds by chemical injection, captured by innovative "fog-catchers", and cascade with artistic flair from compressed air jets at the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas.
8-9pm -- MonsterQuest - Sea Monsters
Mariners have long told stories of frightening beasts that stalk the coast of Florida, but new video could prove that old sailors were seeing real sea monsters. A forked tail, ferocious teeth and a large body were all characteristics of the historic sea monsters. Now, one Florida man says that not only has he witnessed these creatures on countless occasions, but he also has hours of video proof. Experts are divided over the controversial evidence that shows tantalizing glimpses of these strange sea creatures. One marine biologist claims it is a disfigured known species, another expert says it is a seal thought long extinct, and still others maintain that it is something altogether unheard of. Whatever monster lurks here, close to innocent vacationers, MonsterQuest will investigate.
9-10pm -- MonsterQuest - Isle of the Lost Tiger
A remote island off the coast of Australia was once home to a real monster with vampire-like tendencies. The Tasmanian Tiger, which was known for its massive jaws and sharp incisors, stalked livestock and terrified the human inhabitants of the island before a bounty brought about the Tiger's extinction almost eighty years ago. But if the eyewitness stories and scientific breakthroughs are correct, this creature may be on the verge of making a comeback. Across Tasmania there have been over 350 sightings of this monster, including reports from experienced biologists and outdoorsmen. Meanwhile, in an Australian laboratory, one scientist is using a preserved strand of DNA in an attempt to resurrect the tiger. Now, the MonsterQuest science and expedition teams will seek to find the ultimate proof that the Tasmanian Tiger could be alive and stalking the subtropical forests of this distant island.
10-11pm -- UFO Hunters - Underwater Area 51
Everyone's heard of Area 51--Groom Lake, Nevada. However, 2,500 miles away there's an underwater facility that's also highly secretive. Perched on the cusp of The Bermuda Triangle, it's called AUTEC. The Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center is a laboratory said to be used by the U.S. Navy for weapons testing and underwater research. UFO and USO activity in and around AUTEC fuels speculation that the U.S. government is secretly working with extraterrestrials; engineering and testing alien technology. The team heads here to speak with former base employees and to search the waters around one of America's most top-secret facilities.
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Environmental Tech II
Take a look at the innovations designed to hold off a global warming meltdown. Visit giant solar energy towers in Spain, install a rooftop wind turbine and ride in a car that runs on air. Will a daring attempt to remove carbon dioxide from our atmosphere by dumping iron in the ocean really work? Discover how everyone can go green with the flick of a switch.
8-9pm -- Gangland - Dead Man Inc.
9-10pm -- Gangland - Gangster City
9-10pm -- The Universe - Mars: The Red Planet
It has been fifty years since man first ventured into space, but the greatest secrets are yet to be revealed. Mars is the planet in our solar system most similar to Earth despite otherworldly features such as the largest volcano in the Solar System. Rumors of life on Mars may be substantiated as NASA orbiters and rovers discover new evidence of frozen water just beneath the rusty soil. Did alien life exist there? As Earth reels with the effects of global warming, Mars becomes the most likely candidate for eventual human habitation. Cutting-edge computer graphics are used to show what life would be like on Mars, and to imagine what kind of life forms might evolve in alien atmospheres.
10-11pm -- Warriors - Special Forces
Green Beret Terry Schappert reveals the origin of his own American warrior culture, the U.S. Special Forces: The Alamo Scouts, an elite reconnaissance unit that operated behind enemy lines during World War II. Terry not only tests weapons like the Thompson submachine gun and M1 Garand, he demonstrates their guerilla tactics. These unconventional fighting skills led to a daring POW rescue that made the Alamo Scouts legendary.
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Friday, May 15, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Secrets of Oil
Rubber, Plastic, Nylon, Aerosols, Resins, Solvents, and Lubricants--none can exist without oil. If we stopped driving our cars tomorrow, America would still need five million barrels of oil a day. Visit Vulcan Materials, where oil tanks are emptied into massive double-barrel mixers to make asphalt and then continue to the Rolls Royce Aerospace Facility where complex jet fuels are blended. Travel back to the 1870's to see how an unemployed whale oil salesman turned a greasy oil-drilling by-product into a household staple: Vaseline. Finally discover how cutting-edge recycling techniques can breathe new life into used motor oil, and where a number of renewable fuels and technologies take aim at oil sovereignty.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Salt
It's the only rock we eat, and we need it to live. History has shown that those who have salt rule the world--and today, this versatile substance has 14,000 known uses. Travel to a salt mine 1,800 feet below Lake Erie where workers blast salt from a massive deposit spanning four states, to an evaporation facility near San Francisco where machines harvest salt from the briny ocean. Visit a Florida restaurant that offers 40 different varieties of salt...and journey to New York to explore salt's surprising number one application: de-icing snowy winter roads. See how a high-tech desalination plant removes salt from ocean water, producing 25 million gallons of drinkable water every day. And if it's speed you're after, look no further than a natural drag strip in Utah made of pure salt.
9-10pm -- Patton 360 - Leading the Charge
France, August 1944: As American forces tear through western France, Patton's superiors order him to stop before completely trapping an entire German Army. The Third Army reaches the outskirts of Paris, but Patton is denied the glory of liberating the city when the Free French Army is chosen instead to enter the city first. Patton's men engage in street fighting in the city of Troyes and, by the end of the summer, advance to within 60 miles of the German border.
10-12am -- The Templar Code
For nearly two centuries, the Knights Templar were the medieval world's most powerful order, a fearsome and unstoppable Crusader militia. Then came accusations of unspeakable crimes. Who were the Templars, really? How did they become so powerful, so fast, and why did they fall just as quickly? Evidence hints that the Templars excavated under Jerusalem's Temple of Solomon. What did they find there? Was it, as The Da Vinci Code suggests, the true identity of the Holy Grail--the bloodline of Christ? Or an unimaginable treasure, documented in the Dead Sea Scrolls, buried 1,000 years before Christ's birth? We explore the Templar's origin, how they lived, trained, fought and became a medieval world power, and the suspicious circumstances behind their sudden downfall. Plus, we reveal why these warriors, dead for seven centuries, and their treasure still populate Hollywood blockbusters. Narrated by Ed Herrmann and featuring preeminent Templar authors.
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Saturday, May 16, 2009
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9-10am -- Wild West Tech: Shootout Tech
Shootouts are a staple of western-themed movies and TV shows. Funny thing is, they weren't everyday occurrences in the Old West. But when they happened they were wild and weird, and liquor was usually the fuel that ignited the spontaneous conflicts. Participants faced off at close range and fired with the technology of the day--the 6-shooter. Host David Carradine examines techniques and tricks employed by some of the best pistoleers around (the terms "gunfighter" and "gunslinger" are modern ones). We'll show you how practice made perfect and how even the experts needed a little luck to survive as we illustrate various shootout stories brought to life through multi-dimensional graphics
7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Cheese
From cheddar to brie, Parmesan to blue, take a look at both ancient techniques and new technologies behind some of the world's most popular cheeses. Visit the cow pastures of Wisconsin to the giant cheese factories of California to discover how cheese is made. Travel through history from the Roman Empire's diversity of cheeses to the 19th Century birth of industrial cheese. And yes, we'll answer that eternal question, "Why does Swiss cheese have holes?"
8-10pm -- Angels & Demons Decoded
Investigate the fascinating truths behind Dan Brown's (The Da Vinci Code) first novel. From centuries-old secret societies to real-world cryptography, from the high-stakes intrigue surrounding the installation of a new Pope to the sometimes uneasy relationship between the Vatican and leading scientists, this special will thrill and inform viewers about this monumental time in world history. The clues Brown's hero Robert Langdon follows in frantic pursuit of the Illuminati will inspire further investigation--into religious conspiracies and the Freemasons, secret "codes" hidden in Roman architecture and artwork--as well as controversial theories about religious iconography. Features scenes from the new movie as well as interviews with renowned symbologists, art historians, religious scholars, scientists and other experts will help unravel the mysteries and expose the diabolical plot to destroy the Church.
10-11:58pm -- Beyond The Da Vinci Code
Is it the greatest story ever told--or the greatest story ever sold? A best-selling novel sparks a debate that could change Christianity forever. Were Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and co-leaders of their movement? Was Mary Magdalene, herself, the Holy Grail--the vessel said to hold Jesus's blood--and mother of his descendants? Did the early Church know this "truth" and deliberately mislead followers? Is there a secret, ancient society, the Priory of Sion, which still protects this bloodline? Have some of the most illustrious names in art and science been members? These are some of the questions that Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code raises. We examine both sides of the story--the conventional view of Christianity and the "alternate history" proposed by Brown--so that viewers can decide.
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Sunday, May 17, 2009
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7-8pm -- UFO Hunters - Underwater Area 51
[repeated from Wednesday, May 13]
8-10pm -- How Bruce Lee Changed the World Bruce Lee is universally recognized for prying open the doors of ancient Chinese martial arts to the mass market. The history of Lee's life, and death at the age of only 32, is shrouded in mystery, but his influence on popular culture continues to be felt today. This special pieces together rare family archival footage owned by the Bruce Lee Foundation, together with in-depth interviews with individuals who have cited inspiration from Lee. Viewers will journey across the US, Asia and Europe exploring Lee's influence on popular culture worldwide--even joining Shannon Lee on a trip back to her father's roots in Hong Kong; nearly fifty years after Lee arrived to make his first kung fu film. Also features in-depth interviews with actor Jackie Chan, comedian Eddie Griffin, rappers LL Cool J and RZA, Marvel Comics' Stan Lee, and renowned film directors John Woo and Brett Ratner. Lee's friend and business partner famed Hong Kong film producer, Raymond Chow gives a rare interview.
10-12am -- Valkyrie: The Plot to Kill Hitler
Was it an act of treason or patriotism? Bold in concept and challenging in execution, learn the real story behind the Valkyrie plot--a plan by a group of German officers to assassinate Adolph Hitler and take control of the government. The events leading up to July 20, 1944 are brought to life through interviews with survivors, relatives, firsthand witnesses and historians. Newsreel footage, archival photographs and re-creations are also included. Discover what the Valkyrie Legacy means to Germans and Germany, and what it says about the sometimes complex nature of heroism, and the legacy of the Resistance overall.
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Monday, May 18, 2009
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8am-2pm -- Ax Men marathon, episodes #17-22, repeated 2-8pm
7-8pm -- Ax Men: 22 - Fresh Meat
[repeated from Monday, May 4]
8-9pm -- Ax Men: 23 - Clash of the Titans
[repeated from Monday, May 11]
9-10pm -- Ax Men: 24 - The Reckoning, Part 1
The final week of logging's toughest season begins. Impossible goals leave no room for error, as each crew races the clock. While Rygaard and Browning are locked in a fight to the finish, Conner Aviation battles for survival. At Pihl, one man won't survive the week.
10-11pm -- Ax Men: 25 - The Reckoning, Part 2
As the logging season winds to a close, the drama heats up. Conner fights off defeat, while the men of Pihl fight each other. Jimmy's barge refuses to budge, and for Browning and Rygaard, eleventh hour catastrophes send the competition down to the wire.
11pm-12am -- Life After People: Heavy Metal
In this episode, we reveal the fate of our nation's gold reserve, steel skyscrapers and beer vats. Also, how horses make a surprising bid to stay alive in a life after people.
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Tuesday, May 19, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Doomsday Tech 1
Doomsday threats range from very real (nuclear arsenals) to controversial (global warming) to futuristic (nanotechnology, cyborgs, and robots). Despite the Cold War's end, we live under the shadow of nuclear weapons, arms races, and accidental launches. Next, we stir up a hotter topic--the connection between global warming andfossil fuels--and ask if they're cooking up a sudden, new Ice Age. And we examine 21st-century technologies that typify the dual-edged sword of Doomsday Tech with massive potential for both creation and destruction--nanotechnology (engineering on a tiny scale), robotics, and cybernetics. We witness amazing applications in the works, wonder at the limitless promise, and hear warnings of a possible nano-doomsday, with tiny, out-of-control machines devouring everything around them.
8-10pm -- Nostradamus: 2012
Whatever is in store--a massive cosmic collision, a global environmental disaster, an Armageddon-like religious showdown, or a more subtle transformation--many believe that December 21, 2012 will mark a major shift in the history of our planet. There is no cogent distinction between the sobering facts and hysterical fiction--what, if any, modern scientific proof exists? Is there any other compelling evidence throughout history that 2012 will be a year of unprecedented, deadly upheaval? This special looks for the parallels between the nightmarish daily headlines and the 2012 prophecies from Nostradamus and others. From the mystical realms of the Guatemalan jungles to the Hopi elders and Mayan shaman to respected thinkers of the modern age--Nostradamus' doomsday warning will be cast in a frighteningly modern context.
10-11pm -- Life After People - The Invaders
In a life after people, invasive animals and vines spread: pythons battle alligators, plants strip oxygen from lakes, and sandstorms invade Phoenix. Also, Shanghai sinks and Miami is submerged.
11-11:59pm -- The History of Sex: From Don Juan to Queen Victoria
This part of our sexual sweep through history covers the intensely romantic (Don Juan, Casanova) and the darkly perverse (Marquis de Sade), then moves on to the 19th century with its quirky views. It is the era of Queen Victoria, yet mail-order pornography takes off. We also reveal carnal kinks of the Pilgrims and Puritans.
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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - More Doomsday Tech
The second deadly hour examines more threats--both natural and manmade--that may endanger civilization. From the far reaches of space to tiny viruses, doomsday sources are many. But so are technologies used to keep doomsday at bay. Asteroids of significant size have hit our planet before and likely will again. Asteroid hunters demonstrate the Near Earth Asteroid Tracking (NEAT) program and methods being developed to destroy earth-aimed asteroids. Then, it's onto bioterrorism's sinister technologies--how highly virulent agents like smallpox and plague can be weaponized. Next, an ex-hacker turned cyber-security expert shows how vulnerable the nation's computers are to cyberterror. Finally, we visit the controversial world of biotechnology. Could genetically engineered crops backfire? Does a brave new world of genetically selected beings loom in our not-so-distant future?
8-9pm -- MonsterQuest - Mysterious Ape Island
In the Pacific Northwest, a small island may hold the clue to unravelling the mystery of the legendary Sasquatch. Vancouver Island is a densely forested land mass located about 70 miles northwest of Seattle, Washington. The island is separated from Canada's mainland by water and is a popular destination for hikers, hunters and possibly something frightening and mysterious. Natives told tales to their children of an ape-like beast to be feared that would steal them should they venture into the forest. More than just stories of a bogeyman, recent witnesses tell equally terrifying stories of a monster that attacks as they sleep and is seen devouring fish on the coastline. Now our expedition team follows up these reports, launches their own hunt and finds that recent scientific discoveries of swimming apes could lead them to their most astounding discovery yet.
9-10pm -- MonsterQuest - Bigfoot in New York
What is the Monster of Whitehall? In 1976, in upstate New York, several police officers reported seeing an animal that they couldn't identify. It was described as a "large creature, seven to eight feet tall, walking like a gorilla hunched over and making a sound like "a woman screaming." More than 30 years have passed and the sightings continue. The original police officers have agreed to be tested. Follow our team as they work with local researchers and renowned wildlife experts on the trail of the Monster of Whitehall.
10-11pm -- UFO Hunters - UFO Surveillance
Go on the trail in search of UFOs! Follow Bill Birnes, Kevin Cook, and Pat Uskert as they investigate UFO cases around the world. The team's access to UFO evidence is unparalleled--and their expertise allows them to quickly identify bogus claims of UFOs. Together, they use eyewitness accounts, scientific experimentation, documents recently released through the Freedom of Information Act and footage that has never been seen on television to piece together compelling--and at times chilling--evidence of UFO phenomena.
11-11:59pm -- The History of Sex: The Middle Ages
In this steamy history, we trace the evolution of sexual beliefs and practices from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Renaissance. We'll also uncover the conflicting extremes of medieval romance and sex--from the bawdy life of European city dwellers to the staid and dangerous practice of courtly love. Medieval scholars offer humorous and interesting carnal tales of lusty knights, bawdy widows, naughty priests, and chaste maidens
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Thursday, May 21, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Future Tech
A paper-thin, wall-sized holographic television...a car that runs on processed seawater...an army of robotic killing machines...outer-space luxury resorts and a cleaning droid controlled by your mind? Buckle-up for safety as we race into the near future--where fantasy becomes fact. There have always been visionaries, futurists, and dreamers predicting the world of tomorrow--flying cars, space-station colonies, and android personal assistants. But time has proven the fallacy of many of their predictions. So what future technology can we realistically expect? With the help of 3D animation, we present some pretty far-out predictions and take you to various research labs to see working prototypes of these technologies in their infancy. Join us on a rollicking ride through the entertainment room, down the road, over the battlefield, through the mind, out in space, and into the future, where science fiction becomes science fact.
8-9pm -- Gangland - Blood Oath
9-10pm -- Gangland - Crip or Die
10-11pm -- Gangland - Biker Wars 2
10-12am -- Terrain (Bio Channel only)
New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world. What if we could strip away the buildings and re-create the Manhattan of 1609? Take a journey back in time and discover the forces that shaped the landscape from a sweltering tropical region to fertile Indian hunting grounds, to today's modern metropolis. Dive beneath New York Harbor, climb to the tops of the highest skyscrapers and delve 600 feet down to the deepest tunnels to see how New York became "New York" and what the future may hold for the city.
11-11:59pm -- The History of Sex: Ancient Civilizations
In this hour, we study sex in the ancient world--from Mesopotamians, who viewed adultery as a crime of theft, to Romans, who believed that squatting and sneezing after sex was a reliable method birth control. We also look at revealing Egyptian and Greek practices--from the origins of dildos, to intimate relations between Egyptian gods and goddesses, to the use of crocodile dung as a contraceptive.
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Friday, May 22, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
In the land of Mardi Gras, jambalaya, and zydeco, exists an engineering marvel called the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway that seems to go on forever. Two ribbons of concrete span the largest inland body of water in Louisiana, and at nearly 23.87 and 23.88 miles long, these two spans form the world's longest automobile bridge. At midpoint--12 miles out--water surrounds travelers who are unable to see either shoreline. The bridge is so long, it actually transverses 1/1000th of the earth's circumference!
8-11pm -- Unforgiven
Movie. Clint Eastwood stars and directs in this unforgettable Western that won the Oscar for Best Picture. Clint plays a reformed killer (William Munny) who reluctantly teams up with another former gunslinger (Morgan Freeman) to hunt down the cowboys who mutilated a prostitute for a bounty of $500. Gene Hackman plays the sadistic sheriff who tries to stop them. Munny's struggle to give up his new moral code and return to a life of violence is what the movie is all about, and represents Eastwood's reflection on his own career in film. Also stars Richard Harris and Frances Fisher (1992)
11-11:59pm -- Investigating History: Billy the Kid
He was the Old West's most infamous desperado, yet we actually know little about his short life--and more important--his death. Now, New Mexico has reopened the investigation into Billy the Kid's crimes and mysterious death in 1881. Did Sheriff Pat Garrett kill him or fake the death and allow his friend to escape? We talk to those involved in the investigation, including Governor Bill Richardson, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist N. Scott Momady, and historian Robert M. Utley to unravel the mystery.
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Saturday, May 23, 2009
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9-10am -- Wild West Tech: Disaster Tech
The frontier was full of rivers that needed taming and mountains begging to be blasted--and our forebears hoisted a hefty bag of tools to help them do it all. But of course, no one expected a frontier so dangerous--or so tempting! Trains, ships, towns--nothing could stop our expansion, until those technological monsters started biting back. Even then, we didn't always learn, and sometimes, it took massive disasters to teach us some very tough lessons. In this episode, we'll see how man's folly, pride, and stupidity led to some of the Wild West's worst catastrophes.
10-10:42am -- The Universe: Strangest Things
From stars, galaxies and moons to subatomic particles, black holes and invisible phenomena, discover the most bizarre, mysterious and exotic things in our universe. Learn about actual alcohol clouds floating in space that are filled with organic molecules which produce complex compounds like ethyl alcohol, the stuff we drink. Is there a hypothetical planet that exists beyond Neptune and what are pulsar planets? Mini Black Holes are a theoretical idea, but if they were to exist, some theorists speculate that they might have been produced shortly after the "Big Bang." Finally, delve into dark matter, a hypothetical form of matter that is invisible yet it exists everywhere.
10:42am -- Band Of Brothers all-day marathon to kick off Memorial Day weekend
6:30-8pm -- Band of Brothers - The Breaking Point
Having thwarted the Germans at Bastogne, Belgium, an exhausted Easy Company must now take the nearby town of Foy from the enemy. Several are killed and wounded in fierce shelling, compounded by the incompetence of their new commander, Lt. Dike (Peter O'Meara), about whom Winters (Damian Lewis) can do nothing. Easy takes Foy, but at an enormous cost.
8-9:14pm -- Band of Brothers - The Last Patrol
Easy Company arrives in an Alsatian town near the German border, and is ordered to send a patrol across the river to take enemy prisoners. Lt. Hank Jones (Colin Hanks), fresh from West Point and eager for combat experience, volunteers to lead, though he must convince a skeptical Winters (Damian Lewis). Also assigned to the patrol is Pvt. David Webster (Eion Bailey), back in Easy after rehabilitation of an injury. While successful, the mission costs a soldier's life.
9:14-10:29pm -- Band of Brothers - Why We Fight
Easy Company finally enters Germany to surprisingly little resistance, and relaxes for the first time in months. A patrol in a nearby forest discovers an abandoned Nazi concentration camp, still filled with emaciated prisoners. The local citizenry, unbelievably disavowing knowledge of its existence, is made to clean it up. Suddenly, news arrives from Berlin--Adolf Hitler committed suicide!
10:29-11:59pm -- Band of Brothers - Points
Mjr. Winters (Damian Lewis) leads Easy Company into the Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden--once home to top Nazi officers--and receives orders to take the abandoned Eagle's Nest, Hitler's mountaintop fortress. As German officers hand over their weapons, soldiers raid wine cellars and snap up souvenirs. But their elation is short-lived--most of the division faces redeployment to the Pacific Theater. A closing vignette tells what happened to the men of Easy Company after they returned home.
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
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7-8pm -- UFO Hunters - UFO Surveillance
Go on the trail in search of UFOs! Follow Bill Birnes, Kevin Cook, and Pat Uskert as they investigate UFO cases around the world. The team's access to UFO evidence is unparalleled--and their expertise allows them to quickly identify bogus claims of UFOs. Together, they use eyewitness accounts, scientific experimentation, documents recently released through the Freedom of Information Act and footage that has never been seen on television to piece together compelling--and at times chilling--evidence of UFO phenomena.
8-9pm -- MonsterQuest - Alligators in the Sewers
What if one of the most famous and terrifying urban legends was not a legend but a frightening fact? History tells us that Alligators lurking around in the sewers of New York City is based in truth. In the mid 1930s three teenagers pulled an eight-foot alligator from a storm drain. Reports persisted until a skeptical Superintendant of Sewers, Teddy May, was forced to investigate for himself. What May found shocked even him--swarms of alligators alive beneath the busy main street of America's biggest city. Crews were sent in to kill the deadly reptiles, but the stories of the gators in the sewers lived on. Experts, however, are divided over whether it is scientifically possible for alligators to continue to exist in the sewers, so a MonsterQuest team sets out to search for modern evidence of these monsters and prove that they could not only survive but also thrive.
9-10pm -- MonsterQuest - Monster Close Encounters
The most compelling evidence for the creature known as Bigfoot may be the increasing close encounters that are frightening witnesses in rural America. Historic stories have told of violent interactions that range from objects being thrown to frightening abductions by hairy beasts. As extraordinary as these stories sound, people continue to recount physical interactions with creatures that they cannot explain. Witnesses from Minnesota and Washington State have all had frightening run-ins with the monsters while driving; another witness in rural Indiana talks with terror of the night that he was grabbed by something very powerful out in a forest. MonsterQuest will investigate whether witness are seeing known animal or the same Bigfoot creature that has been spoken of throughout history. MonsterQuest employs polygraph examinations, DNA analysis and bite force tests to discover what monster is turning up its aggression.
10-11pm -- MonsterQuest - Snowbeast Slaughter
High in the rugged wilderness of Colorado's Rocky Mountains a large hairy creature is said to be preying on the elk and frightening residents. The stories date back centuries with the earliest settlers describing terrifying encounters with a large beast whose scream bellows across the hills. Even today ranchers and hikers report a monster they can't explain that may be attacking their horses. MonsterQuest will sift through the evidence and determine what may be killing the elk. The aerial search ascends to 11,000 ft in search of fresh evidence that could lead to the creature; as the ground team scales the side of Pikes Peak to hunt for the legendary Snowbeast.
11-11:59pm -- MonsterQuest: Mega Jaws
Sharks have terrified people for centuries and deep within the forbidding waters of Mexico's Baja Peninsula may lurk a mammoth sixty foot monster. Could it be a new giant species or some living relic, hidden in the sea? In prehistoric times, huge carnivorous sharks, more than twice the size of a great white, ruled the waves. Marine experts claim these giants went extinct, but evidence may challenge that. Meanwhile, frightened Mexican fisherman talk of being stalked by a "Black Demon"; and sailors report close collisions with a shark unlike anything that they have encountered before. In a search for answers, MonsterQuest uses a combined air and sea search for this monster shark that may be prowling the last unexplored frontier of our planet.
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Monday, May 25, 2009
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8am-8pm -- MonsterQuest marathon
7pm-8pm -- MonsterQuest: Sasquatch Attack II
Something has been attacking a remote cabin in Northern Ontario, Canada--it may have left behind a blood trail. DNA analysis suggests that the creature is a non-human primate. A follow up test will confirm or deny this, and the results could change history. Meanwhile, a new expedition, outfitted with the most advanced surveillance and detection equipment, will set up camp at the cabin and wait for the creature's imminent return. Scientists will be brought in to tell viewers what the evidence reveals. Repeated from 1pm
8-9pm -- Decoding The Past: Mayan Doomsday Prophecy
The world is coming to an end on December 21, 2012! The ancient Maya made this stunning prediction more than 2,000 years ago. We'll peel back the layers of mystery and examine in detail how the Maya calculated the exact date of doomsday. Journey back to the ancient city of Chichen Itza, the hub of Maya civilization deep in the heart of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, to uncover the truth about this prophecy. The Maya were legendary astronomers and timekeepers--their calendar is more accurate than our own. By tracking the stars and planets they assigned great meaning to astronomical phenomena and made extraordinary predictions based on them--many of which have come true. Could their doomsday prophecy be one of them? In insightful interviews archaeologists, astrologers, and historians speculate on the meaning of the 2012 prophecy. Their answers are as intriguing as the questions.
9-11pm -- The Link
It has been a secret for 47 million years. Have we finally found The Missing Link? Witness history being made as a revolutionary find begins to unravel this mystery and provide clues to the lost origin of the human species. This will be a global event unlike anything you've ever seen. This changes everything.
11-11:59pm -- Life After People: The Invaders
In a life after people, invasive animals and vines spread: pythons battle alligators, plants strip oxygen from lakes, and sandstorms invade Phoenix. Also, Shanghai sinks and Miami is submerged.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels: Salt
It's the only rock we eat, and we need it to live. History has shown that those who have salt rule the world--and today, this versatile substance has 14,000 known uses. Travel to a salt mine 1,800 feet below Lake Erie where workers blast salt from a massive deposit spanning four states, to an evaporation facility near San Francisco where machines harvest salt from the briny ocean. Visit a Florida restaurant that offers 40 different varieties of salt...and journey to New York to explore salt's surprising number one application: de-icing snowy winter roads. See how a high-tech desalination plant removes salt from ocean water, producing 25 million gallons of drinkable water every day. And if it's speed you're after, look no further than a natural drag strip in Utah made of pure salt. Repeated from 1pm
8-9pm -- Angels & Demons Decoded
Investigate the fascinating truths behind Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code first novel. From centuries-old secret societies to real-world cryptography, from the high-stakes intrigue surrounding the installation of a new Pope to the sometimes uneasy relationship between the Vatican and leading scientists, this special will thrill and inform viewers about this monumental time in world history. The clues Brown's hero Robert Langdon follows in frantic pursuit of the Illuminati will inspire further investigation--into religious conspiracies and the Freemasons, secret "codes" hidden in Roman architecture and artwork--as well as controversial theories about religious iconography. Features scenes from the new movie as well as interviews with renowned symbologists, art historians, religious scholars, scientists and other experts will help unravel the mysteries and expose the diabolical plot to destroy the Church.
10-11pm -- Life After People: Bound and Buried
The fate of the treasures left entombed, like the mysterious Doomsday Vault, the Mona Lisa, and the Declaration of Independence. Also, Philiadelphia's Liberty Bell cracks for good and San Francisco's cable cars and bridges snap.
11-11:59pm -- The History of Sex: The Eastern World
An exploration of sex in China, Japan, India, and the Arab world that offers an intriguing perspective on the interrelation of sexuality and spirituality in eastern culture. Among the topics presented are the ancient Chinese equivalent of Viagra, Japanese acceptance of prostitutes and pornographic art, and tips from the Kama Sutra.
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels: Corpse Tech
Do you ever wonder what happens to your body after you die? You might be surprised to discover that the human body is host to a multitude of hidden secrets. Discover how coroners and forensic anthropologists use a body to both save lives and catch killers. Visit the University of Tennessee's famed "Body Farm," a crematorium, and one of the largest tissue banks in the United States. Repeated from 1pm
8-9pm -- MonsterQuest: Swamp Stalker
In the marshy swamp land of Texarkana a legendary beast has hunted the residents of a small Arkansas town. Their story was immortalized in a well known movie, The Legend of Boggy Creek. The real events were a series of violent nocturnal attacks that left behind not only fear and panic, but also remarkable tracks. But the evidence is not just confined to history. Scientific clues continue to this day, and point to a malevolent monster that stalks the Deep South, with physical encounters by trained trackers and discoveries of tracks and scat. The strongest evidence will be examined using the latest scientific testing and two MonsterQuest teams isolate the search area using both kayaks and horse-back, penetrating deep into territory that may be the home of the swamp stalker.
9-10pm -- MonsterQuest: Killer Jellyfish
The most venomous creature of the sea is on the move and spreading across the oceans leaving a trail of baffled scientists and poisoned victims. These gelatinous monsters, which have been known to kill within three minutes, have been part of the ocean's ecosystem for more than 500 million years. However, changes to the seas and global warming may mean that mankind himself is creating this population explosion. Blooms of these floating death traps have been reported from New York's Hudson River to the beaches of Spain and have even shut down a nuclear power station in Japan. While little is known about many jellyfish species, new research is unravelling some frightening details: these creatures are not simply drifting blobs, but have an intelligence that proves that they are an apex predator of the sea.
10-11pm -- UFO Hunters: Alien Crashes
In the early morning hours of May 14, 2008, witnesses in Needles, CA saw a turquoise glowing object in a rapid descent over the Colorado River. Soon after, military helicopters carried away an object that appeared to be glowing, and according to witnesses, military personnel canvassed the town, intimidating witnesses and townspeople. But alleged cover-ups of strange crashes are nothing new--from Flatwoods, West Virginia to Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, reports of UFO clean-ups are rampant. The team visits the site of the most current UFO crash in the world to search for signs of what some say the government keeps trying to hide.
11-11:59pm -- UFO Files: Deep Sea UFOs
Join us for a detailed examination of the little-known phenomenon of USOs, or "Unidentified Submerged Objects", an advanced type of UFO that can operate just as efficiently in water as in the atmosphere. These supposed otherworldly vessels have been reported, some believe, as far back as ancient Egypt. Others believe that USOs were reported by Alexander the Great and Christopher Columbus, and might even involve the lost city of Atlantis. Highlights include the 1967 "Shag Harbour Incident", a government-documented USO crash off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, and a trip to the area around Laguna Cartegena in Puerto Rico, a reported hotbed of USO activity. Interviewees include the US Navy's Bruce Maccabee, UCLA's Kathryn Morgan, as well as USO and UFO experts Stanton Friedman, Bill Birnes, and Preston Dennett.
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels: Mold & Fungus
From magic mushrooms to athlete's foot to penicillin, fungi are everywhere. Learn about fungal organisms that live within our bodies, grow beneath our feet, float in the air and help create some of the foods and beverages we consume. Follow professionals as they battle mold inside the walls of one moldy home. Visit the Phillips Mushroom Farms, America's largest producer of specialty mushrooms and finally see how scientists are looking for way to use fungi to fuel cars and clean up hazardous waste. Repeated from 1pm
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels: Trucks
Icons of the open road, trucks form the backbone of the construction and transportation industries. The facility to handle nearly any load and the ability to deliver goods almost anywhere make trucks integral to modern life. From 18th-century steam-powered carriages to tomorrow's computerized trucks, it's a long haul you'll enjoy!
11-11:59pm -- The History of Sex: The 20th Century
A sensual, extensive series that looks at what sex has meant to the development of civilization--and what the development of civilization has meant to sex. From the first latex condom in the 1920s to the birth of the Pill in the 1960s, sexuality evolved at a rapid pace in the 20th century. How will sex change in the 21st century?
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Friday, May 29, 2009
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels: Corrosion & Decomposition
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the aging U.S. infrastructure is in danger of collapse. Learn about a company in Missouri that uses a trench-less technology to rebuild corroded sewer pipes from the inside out while engineers at General Motors Proving Grounds lead the battle against corrosive road de-icing salts. See how a bioreactor in Florida turns mountains of garbage methane gas. Finally, discover how the tiny termite is teaching us how to turn agricultural waste into ethanol at a fraction of the current cost. Repeated from 1pm
8-10pm The Link
(repeated from Monday, May 25)
10-11pm -- MonsterQuest: Lions in the Backyard
Mountain lions do occasionally attack humans, and when they do it makes headlines across the country. However, it has been reported that people are seeing something else--attacks by large black cats. Pictures and law enforcement encounters prove a big black cat is out there, while it resembles a mountain lion, there is no such thing as a black mountain lion. From Texas to Minnesota to West Virginia, follow the eyewitness accounts and physical evidence of these demon cats. Bones from a carcass that eyewitnesses claim was a huge black cat will be put to the DNA test. One-part history, one-part science and one part monsters discover the truth behind legendary monsters.
11-11:59pm -- MonsterQuest: Mutant Canines
Something strange is killing Fido. In 2006, a number of pets were killed in Maine and Minnesota by a beast locals describe as a mutant--one of these creatures was hit by a car. The body of this strange looking creature will be DNA tested to see what it really is. Two expeditions will be launched to trap other dog killers still at large. One-part history, one-part science and one part monster, discover the truth behind legendary monsters.
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Saturday, May 30, 2009
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7-8pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 06 - Driving on Thin Ice
Truckers have hauled more than 100,000 tons of supplies in temperatures of forty degrees below zero, but accidents and strict safety regulations have sent many drivers packing. Jay Westgard embarks on a trip to the De Beers mine with a 95,000-pound diamond ore scrubber. Without it the De Beers mine can't go into production in the fall, but Jay has to haul it across two hundred miles of lake ice to get there. Rookie T.J. Tilcox is being investigated for driver negligence. Rick Yemm continues to make the long hauls with no heat in his truck. Emergency crews spring into action when a truck goes through the ice.
8-9pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 07 - The Rookie Challenge
It's just over a month into the new ice road season and more than 800 truckers are on the ice, working around the clock. There are still 4,000 loads that need to make it to the mines, but with spring just around the corner, every load could be their last. Alex sets out on a daring new adventure, one that will take him across a brand new, 138-mile, ice road to the Colomac Gold mine. The main ice road is a major highway compared to this small, isolated back road. Hugh races to pick up his 17th load, but first he needs an oil and tire change. Drew runs out of gas on the side of the road in Yellowknife and his truck freezes up. This is just the latest in a long string of mechanical failures. His patience for life on the ice road is wearing thin so he calls his wife back home for a pep talk. Rookie TJ also suffers a debilitating blow. While driving, he's overcome with abdominal pain from an earlier injury strapping down a load.
9-10pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 08 - Into the Whiteout
It's day 37 of the ice road season and there almost 3,000 more loads to go. Drivers are washing out and the road is beaten up. Rick Fitch, has a backlog of critical supplies that need to be delivered and an arctic storm is brewing. Rick organizes a special convoy of five trucks to get the loads out. TJ gets separated from the convoy just as the storm hits the road. The rest of the convoy makes it to the mine just before the road is shut down and is stranded at the mine for 16 hours with no word from TJ. Meanwhile, Hugh Rowland struggles with having lost two of his drivers this season.
9-10pm -- Cities of the Underworld - Tomb of the Lost Mummies (Bio Channel only)
The urban sprawl of Cairo, Egypt belies its history as one of the world's oldest civilizations, where the Pharaohs' ancient secrets lay hidden deep below the vast deserts of the Nile. Don Wildman embarks on an underground quest to explore the massive engineering might of the oldest structures in the world, and learn how they survived a long history of invasions by the Mediterranean's greatest civilizations: the Greeks, Romans and Turks. The Step Pyramid, constructed a century before the great structures at Giza, reveals hidden insights into how the Pharaohs died; an eerily detailed roadmap to the afterlife known as "The Book of the Dead" is examined; and a lost tomb filled with 2,000 year-old mummies is serendipitously discovered. Cairo is a city of the living and the dead, with its darkest secrets hidden in the tunnels of the ancient underworld.
10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 09 - The Big Melt
It's day 53 of the ice road season and only the toughest truckers remain on a road that's sent many people packing. Alex is part of a last great push to get some critical loads up the ice before it's too late. In his convoy is the heaviest load ever to cross the ice---a 100-ton electrical unit for the Diavik mine. If this load damages the ice, it could be the last run of the season. Rick, who may be suffering from frostbite, has hit his limit with driving a truck in forty below with no heat and needs to make a tough decision. The most unlikely survivor is rookie T.J. He's suffered some of the worst blows of the season, and although it's not yet over, he's already feeling like a seasoned veteran as he heads out on his 18th load across melting ice and a road that will soon disappear.
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Sunday, May 31, 2009
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8am-8pm -- Ice Road Truckers marathon
7-8pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 22 - The Big Thaw
Warming temperatures are causing overflows all over the ice road, and with water rushing through cracks in the ice, hauling loads just got a lot more dangerous. Jody and Brett take on the challenge of removing the 66-ton derrick from the Langley site. The massive rig will have to be "two-trucked"--one truck will make the entire journey traveling backwards. Although maintenance crews create a detour around the overflow, Jody and Brett still need the help of a pilot car to navigate their double load along its winding turns. Forced to wait for the pilot car to arrive, the truckers sit with 200,000 pounds of dead weight on weakened ice, with freezing ocean water below. Hugh is hauling one of the only standard-sized loads of the day, so while everyone else is stuck driving at 15 mph, the Polar Bear is running full steam ahead.
8-9pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 23 - The World Crumbles
Hugh and Eric are neck-in-neck in their race to claim dominance over the ice road, but with only days before the end of the season, time is running out and the ocean waters are closing in. As the truckers race to remove every last piece of equipment from the Langley site, an Arctic whiteout threatens to halt operations, and may mean the difference between winning and losing in the load count. This handful of die-hard truckers pushes for every last load, but as the world around them crumbles, someone will be kicked off the ice.
9-10pm -- Ice Road Truckers - Deadliest Ice Road
Day 1 of the new Ice Road season begins. There are 6,000 loads of freight to move in just 12 weeks to the oil camps of Alaska's North Slope. The 400 plus miles stretch from Fairbanks to the remote outpost of Deadhorse, and is fraught with harrowing danger from steep mountain ice, to frozen tundra and the treacherous ice roads of the Arctic Ocean. From unexpected weather, virtual whiteouts and treacherous terrain, this is by far the most death defying route to date. So few drivers are qualified--or willing--to brave this perilous journey. Dispatchers are forced to look as far as Canada for Ice Road experts. Enter Hugh "The Polar Bear" Rowland and Alex Debogorski, the two titans and archrivals of the Canadian Ice Roads. But can they cut it in Alaska?
10-11:04pm -- Expedition: Africa - 01 - Zanzibar and Bagamoyo
Four modern-day explorers head into Tanzania's deep interior, to travel 970 miles through stunning and unforgiving African terrain. Using only a compass and basic maps, they will re-experience the spirit of a remarkable adventure in world history--American journalist Henry Morton Stanley's perilous 19th-century journey to find Dr. David Livingstone. They will confront obstacles and dangers similar to those encountered by the great explorers before them, traveling through Africa's varied terrains, facing danger from severe dehydration, diseases and wild animals. Conflicting egos, disorganization and personality conflicts threaten to sink the expedition before it begins: The team struggles on the first leg of their journey, traveling only 10 miles. Though very capable, the team squabbles over who is in command, and mistakes prove costly. As they understand more about the history of Stanley's expedition our explorers begin to realize that this journey will be much harder than anticipated. Encore showings at 11:04pm, 2am & 3am (2nd episode next Sunday)
GUIDE TO MEDITATION & YOGA Feel the stress melt away with the ancient arts of yoga and meditation to bring your emotional well-being into balance and keep your body fit! No classes to join, no monthly fees. "I am left with a sense of peace and relaxation that I did not think was possible in my busy life..." (Miriam W) For more information go to: Yoga Guide
The History Channel's real-life Pirates Of The Caribbean website including a clip of their favorite weapons: click on the pirate ship there to see video
Do you have written goals? In a survey of Harvard MBA grads in 1979: 84% had not set goals for themselves, 13% made goals but hadn't written them down, and 3% had written goals. By 1987, the 13% were earning twice as much as the 84% and the 3% were making ten times the earnings of the other 97%
R. Lee Ermey (Mail Call) has decided to play something other than a tough drill sgt. (Full Metal Jacket). His latest movie is a prequel to Texas Chainsaw Massacre called "Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning" as the head of a very strange & lethal family of mutants
For info on UFOs, check out the interview on MonsterVision's Mars Attacks page
Official HistoryChannel.com Homepage
Or find out what happened when with our exclusive History of the World Timeline!
GO TO: HistoryChannel.com/worldtimeline
Episodes of the quirky Northern Exposure are on Hallmark Channel. And episodes of the even quirkier "Twin Peaks" are sometimes on Bravo. Monstervision review & host segments of the Twin Peaks movie "Firewalk With Me."
Fun fact:
According to Ripley's Believe It Or Not, the 800-mile long Aruwimi River, which flows through the Aruwimi Forest in the Congo, was unwittingly named by famous explorer David Livingstone. He asked a native what the name of the river was. The native replied "Aruwimi," which means, "What is he saying?"
In 1942, Adolf Hitler inherited 9,000 acres of grazing land in Colorado from German relatives. The PT Boat of WW2 was based on a blueprint from Andrew Higgins, a bootlegger who had used the speedboat design for rumrunning during Prohibition. And Arlington National Cemetery has four Tomb Of The Unknown Soldiers (WW1, WW2, Korea & Vietnam) but only 3 bodies: identification processes have become so good that all remains returned from Vietnam are eventually identified!
In 1963, ventriloquist Paul Winchell was awarded a patent for the first successful artificial heart. The plastic heart was first tested on a calf, which lived 94 days.
“The soul without imagination is what an observatory would be without a telescope”
Meet The History Channel's Featured Historians! Go to: Historychannel.com/historians
"I've come up with a set of rules that describe our reactions to technologies:
1. Anything that is in the world when you're born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.
2. Anything that's invented between when you're fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.
3. Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things." Douglas Adams (1952-2001, Hitchhhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)
Fun fact:
The fax number for GMAC Commercial Mortgage spells out as (215) EAT-DIRT
NOTE: Times listed are both EST/Pacific. Individual television ratings:
According to Ripley's Believe It Or Not, the 800-mile long Aruwimi River, which flows through the Aruwimi Forest in the Congo, was unwittingly named by famous explorer David Livingstone. He asked a native what the name of the river was. The native replied "Aruwimi," which means, "What is he saying?"
Watch Mail Call every week if you know what's good for you, 
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