12/01/2002
8:00 The World Trade Center: Rise and Fall of an American Icon. On
September 11, 2001, terrorists did the unthinkable when they flew two fuel-
loaded jetliners into the World Trade Center. The Twin Towers' physical
height and symbolic stature made them the perfect target. They were
remarkable achievements in architecture, construction, and technology. In
this 2-hour profile, we look at how the WTC was constructed and talk to
representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, New York's Office of
Emergency Management, FEMA, and DNA experts about the aftermath. CC
[TV PG]
10:00 Lessons from the Gulf War Leaders. As the U.S. prepares once
again to battle Iraq, Sir David Frost offers insights and warnings from leaders
of the last conflict with Saddam Hussein. Former President George Bush,
General Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell, Margaret Thatcher, and John
Major provide lessons and guidance in interviews conducted before and
immediately after the war, when memories and emotions were fresh. For
historical perspective, we include interviews from a few years later, when
leaders spoke with the benefit of hindsight. CC [TV PG]
11:00 Mail Call. Flak Vest/Medieval Crossbow/WWI Pilots. R. Lee Ermey,
the sergeant in "Full Metal Jacket", applies his gruff sense of humor
in this
half-hour series that answers viewers' mail about the armed forces. Shot on
location, Ermey reads the questions on air and then sends them out to
military experts in the field for answers and brief demonstrations. In this
episode, we find out: If a bullet can penetrate body armor? How accurate
was a medieval crossbow? How did WWI pilots shoot through their
propellers? CC [TV PG]
11:30 Basic Training. Nearing the end of Basic Training, the recruits set
out for Victory Forge--a full-scale, 3-day exercise, including light maneuvers,
battlefield conditi
ons, and live fire. They start out with a grueling 10 kilometer,
or more than 6-mile road march, and make camp in the field before the
exercises kick into high gear. CC [TV G]
12/02/2002
8:00 Mail Call. Civil War Cannoneers/Night Vision/Clearing a Minefield. R.
Lee Ermey, who portrayed the sergeant in "Full Metal Jacket", applies
his
gruff sense of humor in this half-hour series that answers viewers' mail about
what the armed forces were, and really are, like! Shot on location, Ermey
reads the questions on air and then sends them out to military experts in the
field for answers and brief demonstrations. Find out how Civil War
cannoneers aimed their artillery pieces; exactly how night vision technology
works; and how to clear a minefield. CC [TV PG]
8:30 Basic Training. The recruits demonstrate their ability to work as a
team in two full battle simulations. First, Ben reveals his leadership abilities
as Squad Leader, advancing his fellow soldiers across the battlefield. Then,
the entire 3rd Platoon advances on enemy terrain utilizing their
communication and weapons skills on a live-fire range. The culmination of
Victory Forge is a dramatic fire-lit ceremony--for the recruits, an emotional
rite of passage. CC [TV G]
9:00 More Bond Gadgets. He's everyone's favorite spy, the man with a
woman in every port and a gadget in every pocket! No villain is too strong,
no
situation too tough for His Majesty's Secret Agent, thanks to his wits,
cunning, and the best toys on the silver screen. History Channel cameras
travel from the Arizona desert to the British countryside to find the best
Bond
gadgets--including amazing footage from inside the cockpit of the world's
smallest jet and rare home movies taken on the underwater set of
"Thunderball". CC [TV G]
10:00 Motorcycles. Set the sedan's safety brake and hop on your "hog"
for
a 2-hour high-speed history of the motorcycle--from the 1868 "steam
velocipede" to the early 20th century, when they were a low-cost alternative
to aut
omobiles; from Harley-Davidsons preferred by Hell's Angels and police
to motocross riders who take bikes into the air and onto the dirt. We also
look
to the motorcycle's future, featuring Jay Leno's jet-propelled Y2K sportbike
and Erik Buell's bike-without-a-gas-tank creation. CC [TV G]
11:00 M*A*S*H: Comedy under Fire. Despite Robert Altman's award-
winning film and the highly-rated 11-year TV series, few people are aware
that a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital existed during the Korean War, and was
the basis of Richard Hooker's novel. We contrast the real life-and-death
stories of field surgeons against their serio-comic counterparts. Highlights
include classic clips and interviews with Altman, Donald Sutherland, writer
Larry Gelbart, and surgeons and nurses from Korean War MASH units. Burt
Reynolds narrates. CC [TV PG-L]
12/03/2002
8:00 Secret Passages. America's Stonehenge. In New Hampshire, a long
stone passageway leads from ancient rock monoliths into an underground
chamber with a mysterious "speaking tube" and a slab known as the
"sacrificial table". The origins and builders of these mysterious
rock
structures remain in dispute. Join us as we get to the bottom of this
mysterious chamber that is the topic of heated debate among all who see it.
CC [TV G]
9:00 Motorcycles. Fast and powerful, they come in a hundred shapes and
a thousand colors. To some, motorcycles symbolize freedom; to others, they
simply stand for trouble! We race back in time and see how, for over a
hundred years, motorcycles have tantalized riders with a promise of
unparalleled speed and endless adventure! CC [TV G]
11:00 Hell's Angels. Are they romantic figures of rebellion, or traveling,
rowdy misfits? Jump on you "hog" and ride along as we reveal the
history of
this motorcycle club with a punch! From inception by a former pilot from the
"Hell's Angels" squadron, to the true incident on which "The
Wild One" is
based, to today, it's a ride you won't want to miss. CC [TV PG]
12/04/2002
8:00 The Abominable Snowman. Hidden high in the cover of the
Himalayas, a shy, eight-foot tall, hairy half-human lurks. Is Yeti an eastern
cousin of our own Bigfoot? Can these creatures truly live, prowling
civilization's perimeters? Experts sift through an avalanche of folklore,
eyewitness testimony, and even video footage, in search of the Abominable
Snowman. CC [TV G]
9:00 Limos. Limousines have been stretched to greater and greater
lengths--as has the notion of what can be done inside them! You can have a
rolling disco in a stretched SUV, go for a rumble off-road in a monster truck
limousine, or take a direct hit in an armored limo and still make your meeting.
So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride of your life as we review the history
of
chauffeured limousines--from weddings, proms, and funerals to the ultimate
adult playpen and the President's "Cadillac One". CC [TV G]
10:00 Convertibles. Topless, unobstructed--the convertible completely
transforms the driving experience and unlike any other car, sets the driver
free. During this face-paced hour, experts highlight the history of the world's
most dynamic car design and the essential quality that makes it so unique.
>From the very first convertible design in 1915 to modern-day marvels of
retractable hardtops, we peer under the hoods to see why the convertible
remains the car that everybody wants, but only a few are bold enough to
own. CC [TV G]
11:00 From the Files of Interpol: The World's Most Wanted. Killers on
the Run. A body fished out of the water off the south Devon coast in England
has only one means of identification--a gold Rolex watch. At first, there's
no
suspicion of foul play, but soon police are on the trail of a fugitive millionaire
con man, on the run from Canada with his daughter--and on Interpol's list.
Next, Interpol works closely with Israeli Police in trying to track down a
scientist who murdered his common-law wife and her mother, then
kidnapped his 12-year-old son and fled to Switzerland. CC
[TV PG]
12/05/2002
8:00 Ancient Aliens. Since the dawn of time, stargazers have looked to
the sky wondering if earth has had heavenly visitors. Scientists investigate
ancient ruins, artifacts, and texts from around the world exploring the
possibility of previous extraterrestrial visits and the plausibility of future
stopovers! CC [TV G]
9:00 More Gadgets. A salute to the tools and toys that have stood the test
of time--from the Zippo lighter to the Palm Pilot, the 21st century's first
great
gadget. As we focus on the technology behind familiar gadgets, we see the
subtle ways they have changed our lives. Other items include the flashlight,
transistor radio, safety razor, and the metronome. We also go behind the
scenes at Herbst-Lazar-Bell, a cutting-edge industrial design firm, and
Gadget Universe, a fledgling retailer trying to topple the Sharper Image. CC
[TV G]
10:00 Digi-Tech. DVD, CD, PDA, HDTV, PVR--they are the ultimate in
"gotta have it" gadgets and gizmos and "to die for" technology
that populate
a digital world of acronyms. We trace digital technology back to the early
1940s and the first high-speed electronic computer used to calculate cannon
trajectory charts for new artillery in WWII, and look at the rapidly approaching
future in places such as MIT's Media Lab, where tomorrow's technologies are
being developed today. CC [TV G]
11:00 From the Files of Interpol: The World's Most Wanted. White
Collar, Dirty Crime. The Far East was the setting for the King Kong Case--an
investigation involving a highly deceptive $100 counterfeit bill. Before King
Kong was arrested, his group had printed and distributed close to $4-million
in counterfeit $100 bills and $1-million in counterfeit Travelers Checks and
Malaysian money. Then, we look at advance-fee fraud, a worldwide crime
that is causing great alarm. It's being specifically targeted by Interpol's
West
Africa Organized Crime Desk in London and the Secret Service. CC [TV PG]
12/06/2002
8:00 Crimefight
ers: TWIH. From Al Capone to the investigation of the
1993 World Trade Center bombing, "This Week in History" uncovers
the role
of history's crimefighters and criminal investigators. Renowned forensic artist
Karen Taylor shows us how sketches and 3-D models are used to apprehend
the perpetrators of crime, and to identify victims. CC [TV G]
9:00 Private Jets. From today's ultra chic, state-of-the-art private jets
to
Lockheed's 1957 Jetstar, this 2-hour special investigates the history, the
luxury, and technology of America's corporate jets. We meet a few of the
men and women who pioneered them--Bill Lear, Clyde Cessna and his
nephews, Walter and Olive Beech. Actor Michael Dorn explains what it takes
to buy a previously-owned jet. And, we see the latest in kit jets and look
into
the new must-have of the super rich--jets the size of commercial airliners.
CC
[TV G]
11:00 From the Files of Interpol: The World's Most Wanted. War on
Drugs. Ecstasy is a synthetic hybrid of the hallucinogen mescaline and the
stimulant amphetamine. Sales are staggering and it's spreading faster than
wildfire. According to Interpol and U.S. Customs, the Ecstasy trade is
controlled by Israeli Organized Crime, and on June 14, 2000, 25 individuals
were arrested from the trafficking organization including the accused leader.
Interpol is also at the center of an operation that has unraveled a major
worldwide heroin smuggling organization centered in Nigeria. CC [TV PG]
12/07/2002
8:00 Sink the Bismarck! This 2-hour documentary joins the world's
greatest sea chase as the British pursue the pride of the German navy, the
battleship Bismarck. Features interviews with Ted Briggs, survivor of the
Hood, which was sunk by the Bismarck, the Bismarck's senior surviving
officer, and the only U.S. military man to participate in the WWII chase. CC
[TV PG]
10:00 A History of Britain. Empire of Good Intentions. Britain faced the
challenges and consequences of running the biggest empire the world had
ever s
een. Duty dictated that the Empire's job was to give its subjects what
they needed for eventual self-government. While the ideals of Empire may
have been noble, the reality in countries like India and Ireland was blood,
grief, and broken promises. And time was running out. Germany was no
longer prepared to be a bit player on the world stage. A crisis loomed, but
when? And where? CC [TV G]
11:00 The Ship. Days 4-11. Captain Cook met his greatest challenge when
his ship crashed in the uncharted waters of the Barrier Reef, and he and his
crew narrowly escaped death. They found land and spent months repairing
the ship and exploring, while still trapped inside the Reef. A landing party
of
modern sailors follows in Cook's footsteps, meeting with Aboriginal elders
for
their historical point of view. Back on board, tensions mount and ranks divide
between those who went ashore and those who stayed aboard. CC [TV G]
12/08/2002
8:00 Tora, Tora, Tora: The Real Story of Pearl Harbor. December 7,
1941, was an historical turning point--the world was forever changed after
the
fateful Japanese attack against the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. It
resulted from a combination of interrelated and complicated factors--and at
any point, the dangerous operation could have been called off before its
commander radioed back the code words "Tora, Tora, Tora" (Tiger,
Tiger,
Tiger), which meant complete surprise had been achieved. Here is the real
story of the "Day of Infamy". CC [TV G]
10:00 Inside the Mind of a Suicide Bomber. A chilling examination of the
psychology of the suicide bomber, from kamikaze pilots in WWII to recent
bombings in Israel. As experts note, suicide terrorism is not a personal
phenomenon, but a group one. We talk to an Israeli Army senior intelligence
analyst, an attorney who defends suicide bombers, a failed kamikaze pilot,
two failed suicide bombers from the Middle East, a military commander of
Hamas, and bomb-makers. We also hear from a doctor who treats bombing
v
ictims and several survivors. CC [TV PG]
11:00 Mail Call. Civil War Cannoneers/Night Vision/Clearing a Minefield. R.
Lee Ermey, who portrayed the sergeant in "Full Metal Jacket", applies
his
gruff sense of humor in this half-hour series that answers viewers' mail about
what the armed forces were, and really are, like! Shot on location, Ermey
reads the questions on air and then sends them out to military experts in the
field for answers and brief demonstrations. Find out how Civil War
cannoneers aimed their artillery pieces; exactly how night vision technology
works; and how to clear a minefield. CC [TV PG]
11:30 Basic Training. The recruits demonstrate their ability to work as a
team in two full battle simulations. First, Ben reveals his leadership abilities
as Squad Leader, advancing his fellow soldiers across the battlefield. Then,
the entire 3rd Platoon advances on enemy terrain utilizing their
communication and weapons skills on a live-fire range. The culmination of
Victory Forge is a dramatic fire-lit ceremony--for the recruits, an emotional
rite of passage. CC [TV G]
12/09/2002
8:00 Mail Call. Landing Craft, Air Cushion Hovercraft (LCAC)/U.S. Cavalry
Saddles/Gas Masks. R. Lee Ermey, who portrayed the sergeant in "Full
Metal Jacket", applies his gruff sense of humor in this half-hour series
that
answers viewers' mail about what the armed forces were, and really are, like!
Shot on location, Ermey reads the questions on air and then sends them out
to military experts in the field for answers and brief demonstrations. Ermey
learns how to operate the Landing Craft, Air Cushion Hovercraft; what kind
of
saddles the cavalry used in the Old West; and how gas masks work. CC [TV
PG]
8:30 Basic Training. It's the day the recruits have all been working
towards since their arrival at Fort Jackson--graduation from Basic Training.
They perform Drill and Ceremony before their families and friends, and then
are reunited for the first time in months. For those that made it thr
ough, their
Army experience has become the core of their very souls. CC [TV G]
9:00 Rumrunners, Moonshiners and Bootleggers. Heroes who fight tax
collectors and moral crusaders, or just common criminals? Like it or not,
America was built by rumrunners, moonshiners, and bootleggers--even
founding father John Hancock was a smuggler. In the 1920s, Prohibition
turned fishermen into rumrunners and two-bit gangsters into millionaires, and
moonshine haulers in their souped-up cars helped create NASCAR. Rare
archival footage and photos help weave the compelling tale of our nation's
love-hate relationship with illegal alcohol. [TV PG]
11:00 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: Outlaws Out of Time.
Historians and descendants of Butch Cassidy (Robert Leroy Parker) and the
Sundance Kid (Harry Alonzo Longabaugh) compare the real outlaws with the
charming film incarnations as portrayed by Paul Newman and Robert
Redford in the 1969 film. Screenwriter William Goldman based his work on
historic fact, but used dramatic devices to enrich the film. The film generated
further exploration of their lives, uncovering new facts. Interviewees include
Goldman, Newman, and Redford. Burt Reynolds narrates. CC [TV PG]
12/10/2002
8:00 MIAs: Dead or Alive? The United States spends more time and
money than any other nation in trying to find its missing warriors...searching
for any clue that could remove one name from the ranks of those still
missing. We chronicle 4 "Missing in Action" cases, from Vietnam to
the Gulf
War, revealing not only the herculean efforts to account for MIAs, but the
unending pain suffered by their families. CC [TV PG]
9:00 Vendettas. Johnson County Cattle War. In the late 19th century, the
wide-open plains of the American West proved a gold mine for cattle
ranchers--that is, until the Homestead Act encouraged settlers to move in
and claim plots of land as their own. Soon, settlers were not only claiming
land, but cowboys were also claiming unbranded cattle, according to ric
h
cattle barons. Thus began a fierce feud that escalated into full-blown war
involving dirty politicians and the federal militia before it ended in a bloody
3-
day siege. CC [TV PG]
10:00 Concept Cars. They were pure fantasy on wheels, machines
designed to make the heart race and the mind ask...what if? Explore the
world of 1950s concept cars--automotive art built to attract public attention,
test wild engineering ideas, and give motorists a fleeting glimpse down the
highway of tomorrow. Fasten your safety belt as we road test "rocket cars"
like the aircraft-inspired 1951 Buick LeSabre, Cadillac Cyclone, Firebird I,
and the original Corvette Stingray, and view Harley Earl's visionary designs.
CC [TV G]
11:00 From the Files of Interpol: The World's Most Wanted. Enemy #1.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, the Russian Mafia assumed new power,
becoming Interpol's Enemy Number One as they extended operations to the
U.S. and Europe. From his base in New York's Brighton Beach area,
Vyacheslav Ivankov became the Russian Mafia's U.S. mastermind and
remained immune from prosecution until two bankers turned state's
evidence. We also look at their trafficking of women from the old Soviet
borders into the illegal sex trade in the West. CC [TV PG]
12/11/2002
8:00 Jesse James: Fact and Fiction. In Missouri, there is a grave marked
Jesse James, but do the remains of the famed frontier outlaw really lie there?
And how did he truly die? Was he shot in the back by a fellow outlaw, or did
he fake his death to get the law off his back? In 1995, Professor James E.
Starrs of George Washington University exhumed the remains from a
tombstone marked Jesse James and performed DNA testing. This program
examines the scientific evidence and the controversy. CC [TV G]
9:00 Vendettas. Sutton vs. Taylor. In 1866, Texans were miserable. After
losing the Civil War, they were at the mercy of Yankee overlords. The Taylor
clan, a prominent ranching family, didn't take kindly to the "new law".
But Billy
Sutton, head of a vigilante group called the Regulators, and Jack Helm, head
of the State Police, swore to rid Texas of the Taylors and other outlaws.
Emotions still run deep as descendants recall tales of the blazing barrels
of
Billy Sutton, Jim Taylor, and Jack Helm in the bloody feud that lasted until
1873. CC [TV PG]
10:00 The Railroads That Tamed the West. The year was 1869 and
America had just completed the greatest building achievement in its history--
the Transcontinental Railroad. A thin ribbon of steel and wood now
connected East and West. But the fledgling country now faced an even
greater challenge--how to harness the awesome potential of the railroad to
tame the still wide-open and wild West. CC [TV G]
11:00 Captives. As white settlers pushed west, resulting wars with Native
Americans took more victims than the dead. In an overview of the captive-
taking phenomenon among American tribes, we explain the cultural role the
practice played; and, in a look at four captivity narratives, see the ordeals
captives faced and the ways they responded. CC [TV G]
12/12/2002
8:00 Judas: Traitor or Friend? He was one of the 12 apostles, one of the
elect. Yet for 30 silver coins, Judas Iscariot turned on his teacher and closest
friend. Historians, psychologists, theologians, and religious scholars
investigate Judas's childhood, relationship with Jesus, and monumental
decision that would characterize him for all time. Did Judas believe his
betrayal would force Jesus to display his divine power and thereby prove he
was the Messiah? Or was he acting on directives given by Jesus to fulfill a
prophecy? CC [TV PG]
9:00 Vendettas. Clay County War. Welcome to Clay County, Kentucky,
home to the deadliest feud east of the Mississippi. What started as rivalry
between two powerful families escalated into a blood bath that spilled into
various towns as folks took sides. The lawlessness that plagued the county
for over 100 years and claimed as many as 150 people finally caused its
collapse as people fled for their lives. Today, Clay County is peaceful, but
graveyards scar the hillsides--grim reminders of a past never forgotten, nor
perhaps forgiven! CC [TV PG]
10:00 Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel. Named one of the seven
engineering wonders of the modern age, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and
Tunnel connects Virginia proper with its easternmost land mass. Stretching
17 miles across the historic Chesapeake Bay, the structure represents a
man-made boundary between the Bay and the Atlantic. The structure
includes two two-lane highways supported mostly by trestles, four man-made
and one natural island, two truss bridges, and two revolutionary sunken tube
tunnels. CC [TV G]
11:00 Murder on the Run: Bonnie & Clyde/Charles Starkweather. A
chilling look at the real-life crime sprees of lovers Bonnie and Clyde, who
were gunned down in 1934, and the outlaw Charlie Starkweather, who drew
his 14-year-old girlfriend into his bizarre and bloody fantasy world in the
1950s. CC [TV PG]
12/13/2002
8:00 Pure Evil: TWIH. "This Week in History" focuses on the concept
of
"Pure Evil"--people, crimes, and actions that are an abomination
to history.
Stories include an examination of Adolf Hitler's final hours and the
investigations of two modern serial killers. Host Josh Binswanger tours an
exhibit of medieval torture devices, revealing which ones are sadly still in
use
in the world today. CC [TV G]
9:00 Vendettas. The Hatfields & McCoys: An American Feud. From the
rugged hills of Appalachia arose America's most famous family feud, which
purportedly began in 1878 with the theft of a hog and escalated with the
blossoming of a star-crossed romance in 1880 and finally ended in 1889 with
a legal hanging. We separate fact from fiction about this feud that claimed
12
lives and involved an extradition battle between Kentucky and West Virginia
that was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Historians and descendants from
both families, now friendly, weigh in. CC [TV G]
10:00
Saloons. From a ladle and tin cup in an 1850s mining camp and
Civil War tent saloons to Prohibition-era speakeasies, we investigate the
history of the American saloon, and go behind-the-scenes at Billy Bob's, a
three-acre Texan saloon, and a Los Angeles sports bar with a computerized
liquor-dispensing system. We see what it took to create the elaborate carved
bars, the purpose of the brass foot-rail, the impact of refrigerated railroad
cars on beer supply, and the transformational power of the bottle cap. CC
[TV G]
11:00 Cattle Ranches. From the 19th century's legendary cattle drives to
the million-acre ranch kingdoms that sprang to life with the end of the Open
Range to 21st-century techniques that include artificial insemination, embryo
transplants, and genetic engineering, we review the history of cattle ranching.
We'll ride herd with modern cowboys as they twirl ropes and brand calves,
and look to the cattle ranch of the future, where cloning will produce the
ideal
meat-producing steer with a consistently juicy, low-fat carcass. CC [TV G]
12/14/2002
8:00 Sportsowners: Who's the Boss? Behind players, coaches, and
managers stand the real bosses--owners! In a 90-minute history of
ownership across all sports and its changing role, we revisit the struggles
of
pioneers like Connie Mack and George Halas; learn about Bill Veeck's antics
and controversy surrounding Al Davis and George Steinbrenner; and meet
the Packers, the NFL's only community-owned team. Sportswriters,
historians, and owners step up to the plate in an engaging look at some of
American sports' more colorful figures. CC [TV G]
9:30 Big Deals: The Good, the Bad & the Ugly. Yankees Stalk Sox for
Babe Ruth (January 1920). January 1920. Headlines announce baseball's
most notorious deal--Babe Ruth Sold to the Yankees for $100,000. The story
behind the trade shows Ruth at the start of his career, already breaking
records on the field, but causing trouble off of it. Does Boston still live
under
the "Curse of t
he Bambino"? The grandson of Red Sox owner Harry Frazee
tells us why he made the controversial decision, and Ruth's daughter, Julia
Ruth Stevens, tells the beloved slugger's side of the story. (Half-hour
version) CC [TV G]
10:00 A History of Britain. The Two Winstons. Simon Schama deals with
fundamental questions about how we cope with our past and if history is
relevant to life in a new century. Schama focuses on the lives of two
contrasting figures who wrote and made history--Winston Churchill and
George Orwell. Both were bound up in most of the 20th century's key events-
-World Wars One and Two, the Depression, the rise of socialism, the end of
Empire. And both hated totalitarianism, used language to mobilize, and saw
the dangers in erasing history. CC [TV G]
11:00 The Ship. Days 11-16. In a dramatic sea rescue, a crewmember
stricken with a mysterious illness is swept off to a hospital. Following Cook's
path along Australia's eastern coast, the modern crew lands on a remote
island for some relaxation and authentic Aborigine festivities, and learns
the
negative impact Cook's journey had on the native people. Before reaching
open sea, the crew sails to Possession Island to the birthplace of modern
Australia and contemplates the ramifications of Cook's imperialism. CC [TV
G]
12/15/2002
8:00 Blackbird Stealth! Designed in the late 1950s by aeronautical genius
Kelly Johnson at the mysterious Skunkworks, the SR-71 Blackbird was the
world's first stealthy aircraft, designed to over-fly enemy territory with
impunity while photographing 100,000 square miles in an hour. While serving
6 presidents, it saw action on hot and cold war fronts alike. Interviews with
crews and commanders combined with unbelievable footage puts viewers in
the cockpit of this amazing spy plane, flying at speeds of 2,000 miles an
hour. CC [TV G]
9:00 The Aircraft Carrier. The dramatic story of how the Essex-class
aircraft carriers rose like a phoenix after the Pacific Fleet's destruction
at
Pearl
Harbor. Weighing in at over 27,000 tons, and over 800 feet in length,
they were known as floating cities--and the spearhead of every naval battle
in
the Pacific Theater of War. Despite their huge size, each carrier was
terrifyingly vulnerable, holding tens of thousands of gallons of fuel. Though
the target of kamikaze assaults, no carrier was sunk by the Japanese. CC
[TV G]
10:00 Mail Call. Grenade Launchers/.30 Caliber Machine Gun/Flyer
21/Shrapnel/D-Day Paratrooper Gear/Jet Pack. Shot on location, R. Lee
Ermey reads viewers' questions about the armed forces on air and then
sends them out to military experts in the field for answers and brief
demonstrations. In this episode, we learn how grenade launchers work; how
a .30 caliber machine gun compares to a .50 cal; watch Ermey behind the
wheel of a Flyer 21--part dune buggy and part heavily-armed Jeep; and
discover the origin of the word shrapnel, what gear was unique to D-Day
paratroopers, and if the military ever used jet packs. CC [TV PG]
10:30 Conquest. Tournament. One of the quintessential images of
medieval life, the tournament lasted well into Tudor times. Actor and fight
master Peter Woodward investigates the purpose of these extraordinary and
colorful events and how its many forms--the foot tourney, joust on horseback,
the melee--developed from the ancient trial of combat. Our team experiments
with weapons and armor designed for tournament, examines the rules of
combat and the notion of chivalry, and joins a medieval tournament team for
a joust on horseback! CC [TV PG]
11:00 Mail Call. Landing Craft, Air Cushion Hovercraft (LCAC)/U.S. Cavalry
Saddles/Gas Masks. R. Lee Ermey, who portrayed the sergeant in "Full
Metal Jacket", applies his gruff sense of humor in this half-hour series
that
answers viewers' mail about what the armed forces were, and really are, like!
Shot on location, Ermey reads the questions on air and then sends them out
to military experts in the field for answers and brief demonstrations. Ermey
le
arns how to operate the Landing Craft, Air Cushion Hovercraft; what kind of
saddles the cavalry used in the Old West; and how gas masks work. CC [TV
PG]
11:30 Basic Training. It's the day the recruits have all been working
towards since their arrival at Fort Jackson--graduation from Basic Training.
They perform Drill and Ceremony before their families and friends, and then
are reunited for the first time in months. For those that made it through,
their
Army experience has become the core of their very souls. CC [TV G]
12/16/2002
8:00 Mail Call. Mortar/WWII GI's Personal Items/Native-American Arrows.
R. Lee Ermey, who portrayed the sergeant in "Full Metal Jacket",
applies his
gruff sense of humor in this half-hour series that answers viewers' mail about
what the armed forces were, and really are, like! Shot on location, Ermey
reads the questions on air and then sends them out to military experts in the
field for answers and brief demonstrations. Emery learns how to aim an
81mm mortar; what personal items GIs carried in WWII; and how Native
Americans made arrows. CC [TV PG]
8:30 Conquest. Weird Weapons of the Middle Ages. Actor and fight master
Peter Woodward searches museums and private collections for weird and
unlikely weapons, then introduces them to our combat team to find out how
they were used. We try out a Francisca, the throwing axe that gave the
Franks their name; see how armored knights used a ball and chain; and
learn the uses of the gruesome awl-pike, bizarre military fork, and the
Guisarme, an extremely popular polearm. We also test strange axes like the
Lochaber, Doloire, and Waggoner's Axe. CC [TV PG]
9:00 Masada. Perched on a plateau overlooking the Dead Sea, Masada is
a lonely mountain fortress with a complex meaning and importance to Jewish
history. There in 73 A.D., according to ancient historian Josephus, a band
of
Jewish rebels defied the Roman Army. When besieged, they chose mass
suicide over surrender. But the incident is subject to wide de
bate. In a 2-hour
History International Special, host Peter Woodward explores the ruins and
the latest archaeological polemics on what really happened. CC [TV PG]
11:00 Gangs of New York. Find out what's history and what's Hollywood
as our experts examine Martin Scorsese's "Gangs of New York". Set
against
the backdrop of the infamous Five Points, an area of Manhattan formerly
described as the world's worst slum, the film focuses on the powerful Irish
and Italian gangs. Scorsese takes host Josh Binswanger on a tour of what
was once Five Points, where outlaws, crooked cops, and corrupt politicians
flourished in the 1800s. Includes interviews with Leonardo DiCaprio and
Cameron Diaz. CC [TV G]
12/17/2002
8:00 The Christmas Truce. WWI began in August 1914, and by December
all thoughts of quick victory had faded. Fighting was most fierce in a thin
strip
of land called the Western Front. A system of trenches separated Allies from
Germans, with the area in between known as No Man's Land. On Christmas
Eve, an astonishing event began--up and down the Western Front, Allied and
German soldiers met peacefully in No Man's Land. Actor Ioan Gruffud
narrates a 2-hour look at the fabled Christmas truce, filled with eyewitness
accounts. CC [TV G]
9:00 Biblical Disasters #1. As the terrorist attacks of September 11 attest,
our world is more vulnerable than ever to disasters of biblical proportions.
History's lens usually focuses on the monumental, but its perspective
becomes drained of meaning if it loses sight of the human dimension of
catastrophe. From this point of view, we examine God's testing of Noah's
faith and what he endured to obey. Was his conscience tortured when the
waters rose and he turned a deaf ear on those who must have begged him to
board the Ark? CC [TV G]
10:00 Runways. What do you think about when you gaze out the window
as your plane takes off? Probably not about the least heralded part of our
infrastructure--airport runways. But runways play a vital role as
the backbone
of aviation. They're where rubber meets road and land gives way to sky. Did
you know that airports like JFK train falcons to keep little birds from
becoming a hazard to the big, shiny birds? Join us for an engrossing look at
the brawny concrete and asphalt runways that make aviation possible. CC
[TV G]
11:00 Organized Crime: A World History. Colombia. Is the war on drugs
in Colombia winnable? One of South America's most beautiful countries, it's
also one of the most dangerous. Since the 1970s, Colombian drug cartels
have shipped thousands of tons of cocaine to the U.S. We investigate two of
the most successful--the Medellin and Cali Cartels--and the smaller
organizations that arose in their demise, whose cocaine and heroin crops
and trafficking airstrips are protected by leftist guerrilla groups for a share
of
the profit. CC [TV PG]
12/18/2002
8:00 Fatima Secrets Unveiled. In 1917, the Virgin Mary supposedly
appeared six times to three children near Fatima, Portugal, and revealed
three prophecies--two of which were made public. She bore a message of
peace and prayer--but warned of a horrifying hell. The second part
prophesized the end of WWI, the outbreak of WWII, and the rise and fall of
Soviet Communism. In 1978, the third secret was revealed to the Pope, who
just recently related the prediction--that an assassin would try to kill the
Pope
in St. Peter's Square! CC [TV G]
9:00 Biblical Disasters #2. Well-known is the fiery destruction of Sodom
and Gomorrah. As God ravages the cities, Lot and his daughters engineer
their escape, but his wife is killed. How did Lot cope with his heartbreaking
loss? Was he shaken by the violent death of so many people? What about
Pharaoh's point of view when Egypt is beset by an onslaught of plagues? Did
our biblical ancestors react to cataclysms as we do? Did their lack of
understanding about the scientific causes of disasters deepen their sense of
terror? CC [TV G]
10:00 War Planes of World War II. Flight was bo
rn in America at the turn
of the 20th century. But WWII saw more planes built in a single year--
300,000--than had been built in the previous 40. Footage of restored aircraft,
historic film ranging from factory floors to dogfights, and interviews with
pilots
and designers recapture the aviation industry's finest hour. CC [TV G]
11:00 Secret Plunder: GI Looters. When U.S. troops overran Germany,
they found a maze of tunnels filled with tons of gold bars, foreign currency,
and priceless works of art. Much of this treasure disappeared. We'll see how
some officers and GIs confiscated "souvenirs" worth hundreds of millions
of
dollars, and the subsequent investigation that led to their arrests. CC [TV
G]
12/19/2002
8:00 The Shroud of Turin. The Shroud of Turin has long mystified the
world, pitting the faithful against science. Is the ghostly image impressed
on
a burial cloth truly Jesus? A 1988 radiocarbon test dated it to between 1260
and 1390 A.D. But recent studies question the test's validity, and scientists
are still unable to explain how the image got there. CC [TV G]
9:00 Biblical Disasters #3. The world of the Bible was one beset by terror,
when disasters of truly biblical proportions ravaged humanity. It was a time
of
global flooding that only Noah and his family survived, of the fiery destruction
of the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and of the 10 plagues that
forced an Egyptian pharaoh to free his Hebrew slaves. But are these biblical
accounts fact or fiction? (Note, formerly known as "Biblical Disasters,
Pt. 1".)
CC [TV G]
10:00 Jet Engines. Strap on a parachute and soar through the saga of jet
propulsion, which radically transformed our world since inception in WWII--
from the Nazi's first jet-powered aircraft to the U.S. F-22 jet fighter, from
the
Concorde to tomorrow's scram-jet, a hypersonic transport plane that
switches to rocket power outside earth's atmosphere! CC [TV G]
11:00 Five Points Gangs. From the late 1800s to the mid-20th century, a
stream of immigrants crowded into New York's downtown slums. Though
today, the area once known as the Five Points houses a federal court, this
cradle of crime gave birth to the American gang and nurtured Capone,
Luciano, and Lansky. CC [TV G]
12/20/2002
8:00 Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas. Fascinating
story of how the bawdy Roman Saturnalia, a week-long festival of food and
drink that culminated on December 25, became the centerpiece of the
Christian year, and why the holiday is known as much for shopping as the
birth of Christ. Interviews with experts, harried bargain hunters, and excited
children round out the program. CC [TV G]
9:00 Biblical Disasters #4. The Bible recounts innumerable acts by a
vengeful God who used floods, plagues, earthquakes, killer epidemics, and
famine as modes of punishment. We'll examine new and controversial
archaeological evidence as we seek to discover how ancient disasters may
provide valuable insight for a modern world besieged by similar catastrophes.
(Note, formerly known as "Biblical Disasters, Pt. 2".) CC [TV G]
10:00 Private Planes. The plane's on the runway and revving up for our
flight of power and whimsy. The panorama reveals some amazing machines-
-from vintage aircraft to homemade winged wonders to posh private jets. It's
a tale that merges technological progress and the fantasies of an unique type
of person, who refuses to be grounded by earth's surly bonds. CC [TV G]
11:00 The Civil War Draft Riots. As men died on battlefields, the
homefront simmered with anger and newspapers fanned the flames. Then, a
new conscription law led to civil discontent. The year, 1863; the President,
Lincoln. Blood flowed in New York City streets when riots erupted into the
single most violent outbreak of urban unrest in American history. CC [TV G]
12/21/2002
8:00 Serpico. Movie. Al Pacino plays an idealistic New York City cop who
blows the whistle on police corruption, endangering his career and even his
life. Base
d on Peter Maas's book about real-life cop Frank Serpico. With
John Randolph and Jack Kehoe. Directed by Sidney Lumet. (1973) CC [TV
PG]
11:00 The Ship. Days 16-19. As the Endeavour reaches the open sea, the
crew navigates using Cook's original methods, which were the most
advanced of his time, but a far cry from modern technology. All is well, until
news of the September 11th attacks reaches the crew. Once the group,
particularly the Americans, is assured that their loved ones are safe, they
decide to complete the voyage. For the first time, the group functions as a
real crew, ready to face the challenges of the temperamental sea. CC [TV G]
12/22/2002
8:00 True Story of the Bridge on the River Kwai. The film "The Bridge
on
the River Kwai" dramatized the WWII story of the Thailand-Burma Railway,
yet it was largely fictional. Over 65,000 Allied POWs battled torture,
starvation, and disease to hack the 255-mile railway out of harsh jungle for
the Japanese. Finishing in only 14 months, many never returned from "The
Railway of Death". CC [TV G]
10:00 Mail Call. Civil War Rifles/1st Missile Sub/Navy Divers' Gear/Field
Strip/Bowie Knife/Hedgechopper. R. Lee Ermey compares Civil War rifles
from both sides; learns about the first missile fired from the deck of a sub;
compares the Navy's Mark 21 deep sea suit, used for depths as far as 300
feet below surface, to "crush-proof" suits used in extreme missions
that can
go almost 2,000 feet down; performs a field strip, breaking down a weapon;
finds out why the Bowie knife is so special; and explains the evolution of
a
hedgechopper, used on tanks during D-Day. CC [TV PG]
10:30 Conquest. Demolition Derby. Actor and fight master Peter
Woodward trains for the Orange County Fair's Demolition Derby, where he
contends with the craziest drivers in California, all competing to have the
last
car running--and to take home $2,000 in prize money! For over 50 years,
county fairs all over the country have been entertaining spectators with the
se
pulverizing pile-ups, and we'll discover what it takes to put on these junkyard
wars. CC [TV PG]
11:00 Christmas at War. Every battleground from Valley Forge to Desert
Storm has stories of how warriors have handled the incongruous mix of
Christmas and killing. We bring together heartwarming and heartbreaking
moments experienced by soldiers during the season of peace and during a
time of war. CC [TV G]
12/23/2002
8:00 Mail Call. Grenade Launchers/.30 Caliber Machine Gun/Flyer
21/Shrapnel/D-Day Paratrooper Gear/Jet Pack. Shot on location, R. Lee
Ermey reads viewers' questions about the armed forces on air and then
sends them out to military experts in the field for answers and brief
demonstrations. In this episode, we learn how grenade launchers work; how
a .30 caliber machine gun compares to a .50 cal; watch Ermey behind the
wheel of a Flyer 21--part dune buggy and part heavily-armed Jeep; and
discover the origin of the word shrapnel, what gear was unique to D-Day
paratroopers, and if the military ever used jet packs. CC [TV PG]
8:30 Conquest. Tournament. One of the quintessential images of medieval
life, the tournament lasted well into Tudor times. Actor and fight master Peter
Woodward investigates the purpose of these extraordinary and colorful
events and how its many forms--the foot tourney, joust on horseback, the
melee--developed from the ancient trial of combat. Our team experiments
with weapons and armor designed for tournament, examines the rules of
combat and the notion of chivalry, and joins a medieval tournament team for
a joust on horseback! CC [TV PG]
9:00 In Search of Christmas. Is there actual evidence of the birth of
Jesus? Was he born in Bethlehem or Nazareth, in December or April? Were
the wise men three kings or Babylonian astrologers? What compelled Joseph
to believe Mary's implausible tale of a divine impregnation? We'll journey
back 2,000 years in a quest for the answer to these and other conundrums.
We retrace Mary's arduous odyssey acro
ss ancient Israel as a host of
scholars attempt to uncover the historical truth of an event as mysterious
as
it is momentous. CC [TV G]
11:00 The Holy Grail. At the Last Supper, Jesus drank from a chalice,
passed it to his Disciples, and it then vanished in history's mists. Some
evidence suggests a follower collected Christ's blood in the Holy Grail and
fled to England. Follow the first communion cup's elusive trail through those
who sought it--from King Arthur to Indiana Jones. CC [TV G]
12/24/2002
8:00 Titanic: 90 Years Below. In its day, the Titanic was a technological
wonder. People were so enthralled with the largest moving man-made object
in the world that they truly believed it unsinkable. Until it slipped out of
sight
on April 15, 1912. In a 90-minute special filled with spectacular footage of
both recent and archival expeditions, we explore the history of the ship and
the technology that finally found it and enabled exploration and salvaging
dives. CC [TV G]
9:30 The Search for Atlantis. Ted Danson takes viewers on a spectacular
2-hour search for one of the greatest civilizations the world has ever known--
the fabled Lost City of Atlantis. The epic journey spans the globe from the
volcanoes of the Azores to the uncharted jungles of South America and even
to the archives of Nazi Germany. This program also brings the glittering Lost
City to life once again, with painstakingly recreated islands, harbors, palaces,
and temples. CC [TV PG]
11:30 In Search of... Loch Ness Monster. A hunt for the tricky and
somewhat lovable leviathan that has eluded all expeditions to prove that it
truly exists. Leonard Nimoy hosts this classic TV series that probes
supernatural mysteries. CC [TV G]
12/25/2002
8:00 Who Wrote the Bible? What are the origins of the Bible? Who
actually wrote it? We'll explore possible answers with visits to Egypt, the
Galilee, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, and the caves of Qumran, where
the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in this 3-hour
special presentation. CC
[TV G]
11:00 Prophecies. From the ancient Greek's ominous Oracle at Delphi to
the Renaissance's revered Nostradamus, civilizations have sought their
future through the mouths of prophets. Decide if the uncanny and often
accurate predictions from the past are really foretelling our future, or if
it is all
hocus-pocus. CC [TV G]
12/26/2002
8:00 Save Our History. Save Our Sounds. The Emmy Award-winning
series chronicles the Smithsonian Institution's Center for Folklife and Cultural
Heritage and the Library of Congress's American Folklife Center's fight to
preserve audio recordings of our cultural history. Native-American chants,
oral histories from slaves, music from legendary artists of the past, speeches
of presidents and other historical figures--all are rapidly decaying. We hear
from audio archivists and engineers, and musicians Mickey Hart, B.B. King,
and David Crosby. CC [TV G]
9:00 The World Trade Center: Rise and Fall of an American Icon. On
September 11, 2001, terrorists did the unthinkable when they flew two fuel-
loaded jetliners into the World Trade Center. The Twin Towers' physical
height and symbolic stature made them the perfect target. They were
remarkable achievements in architecture, construction, and technology. In
this 2-hour profile, we look at how the WTC was constructed and talk to
representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers, New York's Office of
Emergency Management, FEMA, and DNA experts about the aftermath. CC
[TV PG]
11:00 Relics from the Rubble. In this special, we examine the precious
artifacts that have been salvaged from the remains of the World Trade
Center. It is an intimate account of how a group of dedicated New Yorkers
meticulously searched through the rubble and saved relics that will help
define this day for future generations. CC [TV G]
12/27/2002
8:00 War on Terror: A Year in Review. An in-depth look at the war on
terror both at home and abroad. From the battles in Afghanistan to do
mestic
threat alerts, we find out what has really happened in the past year of
fighting. Features interviews with veteran newsmen, Washington postal
worker Leroy Richmond, who contracted inhalation anthrax, members of U.S.
Special Forces and the 10th Mountain Division, and a report on the latest on
airline security. CC [TV PG]
9:00 Kings & Queens. In a salute to Bio Channel, we preview 4 episodes
of its series "Kings & Queens", a lavish docudrama that presents
a concise
history of the British monarchy told through real locations and sumptuous
period drama. Over the past 10 centuries, certain monarchs stand out--
whether they were loved, hated, powerful, weak, courageous, foolhardy,
sensible, arrogant, or ill-advised--each with a vivid personality that left
an
indelible mark. Covered are: William the Conqueror, Henry II, Edward I, and
Henry V. CC [TV PG]
11:00 The Mind of the Inventor: TWIH. They are the men and women
who create something out of nothing--the idea-people we call inventors. "This
Week in History" uncovers the world's thinkers and tinkers, both famous
and
forgotten. Host Josh Binswanger goes to the home of a modern inventor,
Ronco's Ron Popeil, to dissect the mind of an inventor, and uncover his most
famous products--and a few that weren't so successful. CC [TV G]
12/28/2002
8:00 The Boys from Brazil. Movie. An inexperienced Nazi hunter (Steve
Guttenberg) stumbles onto a top-secret Nazi meeting in Paraguay in the late
1970s. Led by the infamous Dr. Josef Mengele (Gregory Peck), who
experimented on twins in concentration camps, the group is planning to
create the Fourth Reich. Initially dismissed by aging Nazi hunter Ezra
Lieberman (Laurence Olivier), when a series of mysterious murders begins,
he decides to investigate and uncovers a sinister plot. Based on Ira Levin's
novel. (1978) CC [TV PG]
11:00 The Ship. Days 20-34. Heading into the final stretch of the journey,
the winds are calm, the sea still, the ship stagnant, and the crew bored. Even
a h
efty 18th-century rich and sweet dessert doesn't lift their spirits.
Eventually, the navigators are thrilled to finally spot land and make a stop,
as
Cook did, on the exotic island of Savu, where they indulge in island festivities
and savor its delicacies. CC [TV G]
12/29/2002
8:00 Ice Road Truckers. During the harsh winter of Canada's Northwest
Territory, remote villages and work camps are cut off from the world. To keep
them supplied, a tenacious group of long-haul truckers drive their rigs over
hundreds of miles on ice roads cut across the surface of frozen lakes.
Sometimes the ice cannot support the heavy rig, and driver and cargo plunge
through the ice and sink to the bottom. Hitch a risky ride along with the Ice
Road Truckers as they drive headlong into bone-chilling danger. CC [TV PG]
9:00 The Autobahn. Imagine a super-highway designed for
speed...thousands of miles of roadway unhindered by limits of any kind.
Buckle up for safety as we take you for the ride of your life when we explore
the fascinating history and current reality of the world's fastest freeway.
The
number-one works project of Third Reich, the Autobahn was known as Adolf
Hitler's Road until Germany's defeat in WWII. Reconstructed and extended to
more than four times its original size, it became a symbol of the New
Germany. CC [TV G]
10:00 Mail Call. AVLB/Fulton Recovery System/Pilot Survival
Kit/Trireme/Battleship Guns/Grape Shot. R. Lee Ermey applies his gruff
sense of humor while answering viewers' mail about the armed forces. This
week we find out about the Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge, used by
combat engineers; the Fulton Recovery System, which allows fixed-wing
aircraft to rescue downed pilots; a pilot's survival kit; the ancient Greek
warship, the Trireme; how to aim, load, and fire battleship guns; and how
"grape shot", used in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, got its name.
CC [TV
PG]
10:30 Conquest. Bow & Arrow. One of man's earliest effective hunting
weapons, we learn why the b
ow and arrow became so dominant in history.
Our combat team is sent to the woods to make their own as we study the
craft of the bowyer and fletcher. We learn about Egyptian bows and try to fire
accurately from an Egyptian chariot, and experiment with North American
Indian bows--composite bows of horn and wood. And re-enactors, using
rubber-tipped arrows, recreate what it was actually like to be subjected to
a
"cloud of arrows". CC [TV PG]
11:00 The Ship. Days 35-43. Analogous to Cook's crew, the modern sailors
long for the pleasures of home. The captain announces a change in plans.
As a result of anti-American riots in Jakarta, their final destination will
instead
be Bali. The shipmates complete menial tasks and compete in games to
keep occupied. Approaching Bali, the crew celebrates with an enormous
feast and fond farewells to mark the end of their adventure into history. After
6 weeks, the Endeavour docks in Indonesia on October 6, 2001. CC [TV G]
12/30/2002
8:00 Mail Call. Civil War Rifles/1st Missile Sub/Navy Divers' Gear/Field
Strip/Bowie Knife/Hedgechopper. R. Lee Ermey compares Civil War rifles
from both sides; learns about the first missile fired from the deck of a sub;
compares the Navy's Mark 21 deep sea suit, used for depths as far as 300
feet below surface, to "crush-proof" suits used in extreme missions
that can
go almost 2,000 feet down; performs a field strip, breaking down a weapon;
finds out why the Bowie knife is so special; and explains the evolution of
a
hedgechopper, used on tanks during D-Day. CC [TV PG]
8:30 Conquest. Demolition Derby. Actor and fight master Peter Woodward
trains for the Orange County Fair's Demolition Derby, where he contends
with the craziest drivers in California, all competing to have the last car
running--and to take home $2,000 in prize money! For over 50 years, county
fairs all over the country have been entertaining spectators with these
pulverizing pile-ups, and we'll discover what it takes to put on these junkyard
wars
. CC [TV PG]
9:00 The Emperor Who Saved Rome. The Emperor Vespasian was a
crucially important figure in the Roman Empire's early history. We follow his
life from childhood through to death in 79 AD, and we investigate the state
of
the empire in the 1st century AD and examine its many aspects by following
the career of a country man from the Sabine Hills who ultimately saved
Rome from disaster. Our 90-minute journey criss-crosses the empire, taking
viewers to the shores of North Africa, the invasion of Britain, and suppression
of revolt in Judea CC [TV PG]
10:30 The Real Spartacus. Long before Stanley Kubrick's film starring Kirk
Douglas, Spartacus had unwittingly become a mythological icon of resistance
against oppression worldwide. We'll look at the real Spartacus, focusing on
his struggle against Roman forces, his time as a gladiator, and his role in
the
infamous slave revolt against Rome in 73 B.C., which convulsed the great
empire for two years before the uprising was put down and 6,000 slave
rebels were crucified along 150 miles of the Appian Way. CC [TV PG]
11:30 The Making of "Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor". A
behind-the-scenes look at the making of the A&E Network Studios Original
Movie, which stars acclaimed actor Aidan Quinn as Benedict Arnold and
Emmy Award-winner Kelsey Grammer as George Washington. Directed by
Mikael Salomon ("Band of Brothers") and shot in Dublin, Ireland,
the film
traces the events that lead to the betrayal of the Continental Army by one
of
its most decorated soldiers, and follows Benedict Arnold's life in England
after the Revolution. [TV PG]
12/31/2002
8:00 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
reliable birth control. We also look at revealing Egyptian and Greek practices-
-from the origins of dildos to the use of crocodile dung as a contraceptive
. CC
[TV 14]
9:00 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. CC [TV 14]
10:00 The History of Sex. The Middle Ages. This episode in our steamy
history of sex traces the evolution of 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. Scholars offer humorous carnal
tales of lusty knights, bawdy widows, naughty priests, and chaste maidens.
CC [TV 14]
11:00 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?
November 2002 ListingsFind out more about any topic any time, including this day in history (your choice of decade), with our Best Search in History: www.historychannel.com