NOTE: We are listing both EST/Pacific Time and individual television ratings. All rated [G] or [PG] unless noted. [NR] = Not Rated, news-related program.
June-July 2007
Friday, June 1, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Castles & Dungeons.
Some of the most imposing structures ever built, medieval castles
withstood both bloody assaults and the test of time. Designed like
machines with nearly every architectural detail devoted to defense,
castles represented the perfect fusion of form and function. Journey
back to that unruly era as we examine the complexity of their
construction and the multipurpose they served--homes to kings and
nobles, economic centers, courthouses, treasuries, prisons, and
torture chambers.
8-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Walt Disney World.
Journey underground and backstage at the technological marvel that is
Walt Disney World. Enter a make-believe world spanning some 27,000
acres, brought to life by cutting-edge technology. What was once
Florida swampland now boasts the world's largest theme park. The ride
technology ranges from space-age centrifuges to enhanced motion
vehicles powered by 3,000 PSI of hydraulic pressure. And hundreds of
audio animatronics brought to life through the power of pneumatics,
hydraulics, and electrical systems. Walt Disney World is made up of
four separate theme parks, each with its own innovations: the 107-acre
Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom.
The four parks are all part of a megaplex of a resort. Twice the size
of Manhattan, it was the final vision and crowning achievement of a
man who spent more than 40 years pushing the limits of technology to
create entertainment magic: Walt Disney.
10-12am -- Jonestown Paradise Lost -
Framed by recently released, U.S. Government information and eye
witness accounts, this special follows Congressman Leo Ryan's fatal
journey into "Jonestown", a community carved out of the jungles of
Guyana by the followers of messianic/charismatic pastor, Jim Jones.
Using extensive and fact backed dramatic re-enactments, as well as
archival footage, and heart-rending interviews, we go beyond "official
reality" and deep into the inner workings of this tragic cult and its
apocalyptic end.
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Saturday, June 2, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Pirate Tech.
Bold, cunning, and audacious, pirates are a breed of fighting men and
women who have terrorized the high seas since before recorded history.
At the height of their power in the 1700s they literally influenced
the fate of nations when they became embroiled in the rivalry between
England and Spain. This special will visit maritime museums and
shipwreck sites, utilize walk-and-talk demonstrations of fire arms,
swords, and navigation instruments to help spotlight the innovations
pirates brought to maritime technology. Includes a look at how many
pirates modified their ships to make them faster and more powerful.
8-10pm -- True Caribbean Pirates -
Blackbeard. Ann Bonny. Henry Jennings. Calico Jack. Henry Morgan.
Black Bart Roberts. During the mid to late 17th and early 18th
centuries, they were feared criminals. The Caribbean was their domain,
the parade of treasure and cargo to Europe their target. The origins
of Caribbean piracy began when Columbus made landfall in the Bahamas.
Two years later, the Pope granted Spain the exclusive right to the
Caribbean and most of the New World. The Spanish reaped an immense
fortune in gold and silver, but with a price. England, France, and
Holland all desired a portion of this wealth and each established
Caribbean bases and used privateers--private sailors fighting for
profit--to protect their interests and steal Spanish treasure. The
line between privateering and piracy became blurred. We'll examine
this Golden Age of Piracy and the true stories of the infamous
pirates, how they operated, and their successes and failures in this
dark and deadly profession.
10-11pm -- The States #7 - Illinois, Connecticut, Nevada, Mississippi, Wyoming
The Cahokia civilization thrived in the region known today as
Illinois, from 700 to 1400 AD, but when the culture mysteriously
disappeared, it left behind pyramids that rivaled those of ancient
Egypt. Changing with the times, Connecticut's shipbuilders shifted
from sails to steam to diesel power, culminating in the construction
of the first nuclear submarine. The 1859 discovery of the Comstock
Lode, world's largest silver deposit, prompted the Federal government
to offer statehood to Nevada, a region it had previously written off
as worthless desert. Work chants, gospel and traditional folk music
were combined in the Mississippi Delta to create an original American
art form--the Blues. The first frontiersmen to report the wonders of
Yellowstone, Wyoming, were thought to be either crazy or lying.
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Sunday, June 3, 2007
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7-8pm -- Star Wars Tech -
Take a look at the technology shown throughout the six Star Wars films
and examine their viability through the eyes of cold hard science.
Could a Death Star really be built? Can you build an army of clones?
What is 3-D imaging, and where the can you get a Light Saber? Travel
to a galaxy far, far away to answer all of these questions and more.
8-10pm -- Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed -
The story of Anakin Skywalker's descent into darkness and his son
Luke's quest to conquer evil has spellbound audiences for 30 years.
The reason for this is simple: the saga of Star Wars is universal and
firmly rooted in the mythology and the political history of the entire
planet. May 2007 will mark the 30th anniversary of George Lucas' space
fantasy that grossed billions worldwide. For the first time take a
profound look at the serious subtext behind Lucas' six film milestone.
The influence of ancient mythology from Greek legends to King Arthur
is visible; but also more recent historical influences, from the
political rise of Napoleon to the machinations of Adolf Hitler can be
seen.
10-11pm -- The Universe - Secrets of the Sun
It is a fireball in the sky, a bubbling, boiling, kinetic sphere of
white hot plasma, exploding and erupting. Its size is almost
unimaginable--one million Earths would fit within its boundaries. In
this violence is born almost all the energy that makes existence on
Earth possible, yet, its full mysteries are only now beginning to be
understood. From Sun spots to solar eclipses, solar flares to solar
storms, the birth of the sun to its potential death, discover the
science and history behind this celestial object that makes life on
Earth exist.
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Monday, June 4, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Copper Kings.
More than a century ago, two men controlled nearly all of U.S. copper
production, transforming Butte, Montana from a washed-up gold-mining
camp into a global powerhouse. William Clark, a ruthless banker known
for preying on the misfortune of miners, and Marcus Daly, a self-made
man with a knack for knowing where to dig, created huge empires and
lived like kings, while fighting a ferocious, personal, battle that
lasted nearly 25 years. We follow the rivalry between these giants of
American industry.
8-9pm -- Cities of the Underworld - Istanbul
It is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic and exotic cities in the
world. Once the capital city of three of the world's most powerful
empires--The Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman--Istanbul's strategic
location made it the perfect spot for empires to rise, fall...and rise
again. Today Istanbul's residents are walking on top of remnants of
these fallen civilizations...literally. Taxis drive over parts of
Constantine's Lost Great Palace; children play on cobblestone streets
concealing a massive Byzantine dungeon; a high school sits on a 3rd
century wall leading to the bowels of a 100,000 seat ancient Roman
Hippodrome; and basement's of old Ottoman homes lead to subterranean
tunnels and secret cisterns. Join host Eric Geller as he leaves the
buzz of the city streets behind and follows the pull of the past.
Teamed with leading archeologists and experts, Eric peels back the
layers of the past--to reveal a hidden history that hasn't seen the
light of day for ages.
9-10pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 08 - New York
The underworld of New York City is a living, breathing complex of
engineering, history and secrets that could only exist in America's
largest city. From a classified World War II site where death awaited
unfortunate trespassers to the original rivers and aqueducts that led
to this great city's ascent, New York City may just have more stories
below ground than it does above. Join host Eric Geller as he braves
this massive urban labyrinth where the past, present and future
collide.
10-11pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 02 - City of Caves
Discover an ancient secret that dates back to the dawn of time lurking
beneath the city of Budapest, Hungary. The caves beneath Budapest were
formed during the Ice Age and everyone from the cavemen to the
communists has moved their city into the depths of this parallel
world. Join host Eric Geller as he gains special access into this
sealed-up time capsule where he'll uncover a top secret World War II
hospital, find the source of the boiling healing water used by both
the Romans and the Turks, and see the layers of support added
throughout the centuries to keep today's world from falling into the
one buried below. Watch as the technological marvels that allowed
construction of one city upon another are revealed.
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Tuesday, June 5, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Bricks.
The history of civilization has been built on the back of brick, and
it's been said that "architecture itself began when two bricks were
put together well." From great Egyptian temples to the Roman
aqueducts, the Great Wall of China, and the dome of the Hagia Sophia,
brick is one of the oldest, yet least celebrated, building materials
manufactured by man. In this hard-packed episode, we explore brick's
past, highlighting defining moments, such as the Great London Fire of
1666, the zenith years of brick in the New York Hudson River Valley,
and brick as an essential building block in infrastructure and
industry. We'll feature advancements through the ages as well as
construction techniques, trends, and the future of brick construction.
Essentially, brick is still just burnt clay...it has been around for
thousands of years, but continues to serve as the backdrop of the
modern age.
8-9pm -- Star Wars Tech -
Take a look at the technology shown throughout the six Star Wars films
and examine their viability through the eyes of cold hard science.
Could a Death Star really be built? Can you build an army of clones?
What is 3-D imaging, and where the can you get a Light Saber? Travel
to a galaxy far, far away to answer all of these questions and more.
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 -- The Universe - Secrets of the Sun
It is a fireball in the sky, a bubbling, boiling, kinetic sphere of
white hot plasma, exploding and erupting. Its size is almost
unimaginable--one million Earths would fit within its boundaries. In
this violence is born almost all the energy that makes existence on
Earth possible, yet, its full mysteries are only now beginning to be
understood. From Sun spots to solar eclipses, solar flares to solar
storms, the birth of the sun to its potential death, discover the
science and history behind this celestial object that makes life on
Earth exist.
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Wednesday, June 6, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - D-Day Tech.
By the spring of 1942, Hitler had made a fortress of Europe, and the
Allies began to plan the biggest invasion in military history. The
history-altering success of the D-Day Invasion depended on innovative
engineering and technological advances. This is the story of those
scientific and mechanical breakthroughs--the overwhelming array of
landing craft, specialized weapons, and ingenious electronics--used to
breach Fortress Europe on June 6, 1944.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Torture Devices.
For more than 3,000 years, emperors and generals, dictators and
police, criminals, clerics, and even medical doctors have created and
used a vast array of torture devices--everything from the ancient
Greeks' Brazen Bull, which slowly barbecued the victim, to the
elaborate mechanical apparatuses of the Spanish Inquisition. A medical
doctor who specializes in victims of torture reveals how the human
body responds to their use--from the earliest excruciating
contrivances to the more modern.
9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - Death Devices.
The hangman, guillotine, gas chamber, firing squad, and electric chair
are just a few of the ways in which societies have rid themselves of
those who committed capital crimes. And throughout history, a select
few have developed the devices that have carried out the mandate of
the people. This is the dark story of those inventors and the macabre
history of execution mechanics--from the first "stone" of antiquity,
the dungeons of the Inquisition, and Nazi death camps to today's
sterile injection chambers--with a peek at the future of death
technology.
10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - High Tech Sex.
Join us for a walk on the wild side of the history of sexual
enhancement and contraception--from Cleopatra's box of buzzing bees to
17th-century condoms to Internet sex and 21st-century holographic
pornography! In an explicit exploration of the aphrodisiacs, drugs,
contraceptives, toys, and cyber-tech innovations that have ushered in
a brave new world of modern sexuality, we talk to sexologists and
historians for ribald romp behind the bedroom's closed doors.
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Thursday, June 7, 2007
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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 - Mackinac Bridge.
Until recently, the Mackinac Bridge was the longest suspension bridge
in the world. One of the top engineering marvels of the 20th century,
the bridge spans the 4-mile wide straits of Mackinac, where Lakes
Huron and Michigan come together. The Mighty Mac connects the pastoral
northern mainland of Michigan with the state's heavily forested Upper
Peninsula and stands as a testament to the dreams, determination, and
hard work of a small few who created a true masterpiece of modern
engineering.
9-10pm -- Decoding The Past - The Other Nostradamus.
He predicted WWII, the deaths of US Presidents, and the turmoil of the
1960s. He prophesied that Israel would become a state 15 years before
the event and foretold the Great Depression. Many of his visions
seemed to pass unfulfilled, but are now proven accurate. His name is
Edgar Cayce, and to many, he's known as the other Nostradamus.
Throughout the 1930s and '40s, Cayce was a well-known American figure,
reputed for his "healing abilities" as well as his prophecies. Cayce's
predictions are documented in the transcriptions of his readings,
which he gave until his death in 1945. Join us as we examine his life
and prophecies.
10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Metal.
They constitute the very essence of the modern world; the cadence of
our progress sounds in the measured ring of the blacksmith's hammer.
From soaring skyscrapers and sturdy bridges to jet planes and rockets,
metals play a key role. Our journey begins before the Bronze Age and
takes us into the shiny future when new metal structures--engineered
at a molecular level to be stronger, lighter, and cheaper--shape human
progress, as they have since man first thrust copper into a fire and
forged a tool.
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Friday, June 8, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Insulation.
It keeps us warm. It keeps us cool. It protects us and makes our world
more comfortable. As simple as a pane of glass, or as complex as the
fuselage of a space station, it's all around us, but is almost always
out of sight. We explore where insulation technology has been, where
it is today, and where it's going. We'll visit the manufacturing
facilities of two of the most recognizable insulating materials:
fiberglass and foam; and explore how insulation has evolved.
Historical highlights include how the ancient Romans and Greeks
insulated their homes, as well as the natives of tropical and arctic
climates. New technologies covered include insulated concrete forms
and gas-filled panels. Whether at home or in the office, on a space
station, or beneath the sea, insulation is essential for making our
world habitable. We'll show that how we use insulation, and how we
develop it, will be a major factor in how we conserve our supply of
energy in the coming years.
8-10pm -- Bible Battles -
In one of the most hostile lands on the planet, an ancient people
called the Israelites forged an army and carved out an empire. Their
ancient military exploits are described in one of history's most
famous religious texts--the Old Testament of the Bible. But by reading
between the religious lines, military historians unlock the soldiers'
secrets of the Bible by examining the weapons, strategies, and the
commanders, some of whom are not always thought of as warriors, like
Abraham, Moses, and Deborah. In this 2-hour special, we explore the
biblical world from a military perspective from the time of Abraham
until David's ascension to the throne. Blood often flows more freely
than holy water in the days of the Old Testament, and the military
secrets of the Bible have yet to be revealed...until now!
10-11pm -- Dogfights - 05 - Guadalcanal
August 1942... the Solomon Islands. Heroic, die-hard American pilots
of the tiny Cactus Air Force match skills and instincts against top
Japanese aces as they battle in the skies above Guadalcanal. Legendary
Marine Capt. John Smith and Medal of Honor recipients Jeff De Blanc
and Jim Swett pit their tough 4F4 Wildcats against the relentless
Japanese Zeros. At stake--the fate of the Pacific War.
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Saturday, June 9, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Bathroom Tech.
From tub to toilet to toothpaste, here's everything you ever wanted to
know about the most used and least discussed room in the house. From
the first home bathrooms in ancient India, Roman latrines, and bizarre
Victorian-era bath contraptions, to modern luxurious master bathroom
suites, we trace the history of bathing, showering, and oral hygiene.
And we reveal the messy truth about what was used before toilet
paper--brainchild of the Scott Brothers of Philadelphia--and why
astronauts wear diapers.
8-10pm -- Vampires Secrets -
Since Bram Stoker first published his novel Dracula in 1897, the
world's most popular vampire has made his appearance in 44 languages.
The vampire myth however, is much older than Count Dracula, popping up
from Athens to Beijing almost 1000 years before the Transylvanian
legend. Vampire legends have two things in common: drinking blood and
returning from the dead. Long before Jesus urged his followers to
drink his blood and eat his flesh, prehistoric man held similar
rituals. From the Bible and ancient Mesopotamian history to blood
drinking societies in New York, we reveal the amazing truth behind one
of the most terrifying legends in history.
10-11pm -- The States - 08 - Virginia, Ohio, Idaho, Alabama, North Dakota
Virginia was not only the home of the first permanent British colony;
it was the birthplace of eight presidents of the United States. "The
Gravity Grand Prix" has been an annual event in Akron, Ohio, since the
1930s and today draws 500 young entrants from around the nation. The
discovery of gold, then lead, copper, zinc and silver, has made Idaho
one of the richest mineral producing states in the nation. Poor hill
farmers in Winston County rarely owned slaves and when Alabama seceded
from the Union in 1861, Winston County tried to secede from Alabama.
Teddy Roosevelt, America's first conservation president, learned
valuable lessons about preserving nature while on his North Dakota
ranch.
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Sunday, June 10, 2007
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7-8pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 08 - New York
The underworld of New York City is a living, breathing complex of
engineering, history and secrets that could only exist in America's
largest city. From a classified World War II site where death awaited
unfortunate trespassers to the original rivers and aqueducts that led
to this great city's ascent, New York City may just have more stories
below ground than it does above. Join host Eric Geller as he braves
this massive urban labyrinth where the past, present and future
collide.
8-10pm -- Last Days on Earth -
Could the human race become suddenly extinct? We count down seven
ways in which the world as we know it could meet an abrupt and
untimely end, from a mammoth asteroid strike to the eruption of a
super volcano. What would happen as computers literally become
trillions of times smarter than we are--would they program our mass
murder? Scientists, experts, and witnesses describe these and other
vividly pictured disaster scenarios, from super bugs created in secret
labs to black holes that could suck earth into oblivion. Using
state-of-the-art computer-generated graphics and interviews with the
world's top scientists, we will leave viewers pondering humanity's
place in the universe and will reveal the most terrifying truth of
all--that our greatest enemy is ourselves.
10-11pm -- 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.
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Monday, June 11, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Oil Fire Fighting.
When a burning gusher shoots flames into the air, only a handful of
men know how to snuff out the monster. Fighting fire with fire, they
place explosives around the flames to blow it out, or douse it with
tons of water. The modern world depends on these risk takers, yet
their industry began less than 100 years ago. Join us for a scorching
hour as we review the rich history of this "breed apart", and look at
modern heat-resistant clothing, new technology, and regulations that
protect oil firefighters.
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.
9-10pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 03 - London's Lost Cities
For thousands of years London has been among the most powerful cities
in the world. However, below the busy streets and marketplaces another
city hides--a city of Roman baths, secret crypts, lost rivers and
indestructible bunkers that could hold up to 8,000 people. Join host
Eric Geller as he reveals the subterranean secrets found below
London's most famous landmarks and even finds Winston Churchill's
hidden war rooms.
10-11pm -- Digging for the Truth - The Real Sin City: Sodom & Gomorrah.
According to the Bible, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were
destroyed by God to punish them for their wicked ways. Was this just a
biblical parable, or is there evidence that such a thing actually
happened? Josh Bernstein travels to the Near East to follow the clues
laid out in the Bible. His search takes him to modern-day Jordan,
where, nestled near the Dead Sea, two sister cities reveal
archaeological evidence of a great destruction. What happened here and
when? Josh will climb Mount Sodom to inspect a strange "Pillar of
Salt"--just like the one the Bible claims Lot's wife became--and works
with a pyrotechnic expert to reconstruct a natural-gas explosion that
could have resulted in the destruction of Gomorrah. Could these be the
fabled cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and if so, can the tools of
modern-day archaeology reconstruct what happened in those fateful days
before these cities were laid to waste?
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Tuesday, June 12, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Deadliest Weapons.
In this fiery hour, we profile five of man's deadliest weapons,
focusing on the inventors, battles, and dark technology behind their
lethality. We begin with the deadliest bomb ever created, the Tsar
Bomba--a 50-megaton nuclear bomb with a yield thousands of times
greater than the one dropped on Hiroshima. During WWI, technological
advances in weaponry led to the deaths of over 8-million, and one of
the deadliest killers was the machine gun. In WWII, the use of
incendiary bombs killed hundreds of thousands of people. Another
deadly invention of WWII was the proximity fuse, or VT fuse, that
allowed artillery to detonate within a predetermined range of an enemy
target. Finally, we examine VX nerve gas, thought by many to be the
deadliest chemical agent ever created and suspected to have been used
by Saddam Hussein with devastating results. We'll visit Edgewood
Chemical BioCenter, which plays a large role in protection and
detection for our troops in Iraq.
8-9pm -- Earth's Black Hole -
Explore with us the wonders and mysteries of the Black Holes in our
universe. Is it possible that areas on earth might, in fact, show
black hole like tendencies? We take a hard scientific look at an area
known as the Bermuda Triangle to see if there are indeed any
similarities between the supposed forces in the triangle and the
destructive force of a black hole. From a research boat trip through
the triangle to interviews with scientists at the US Geological
Survey, Harvard University, and the UK's Cardiff University, we go far
beyond the event horizon to explore the dangers in this area and what
relation they might indeed have with its counterpoint in space.
9-10pm -- The Universe - End of the Earth: Deep Space Threats to Our Planet
Asteroids, comets, gamma ray bursts and the sun all combine to make
the Earth a dangerous place to live. NASA's top brass and other
scientists are arming themselves with the latest technology to
pre-empt an apocalyptic attack. Watch and investigate bizarre, and
terrifying apocalyptic scenarios and the ways that scientists are
racing against the clock to develop technology to defend our planet.
10-11pm -- 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, June 13, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Sub Zero.
Come in from the cold while we explore some of Earth's most frigid
places and examine how man copes with sub-zero climates. With the
advance of technology, our boundaries have expanded--from the North
and South Poles, to the depths beneath the Arctic and Antarctic sea
ice, to the Moon, Mars, and outward to Saturn. Enter these forbidding
territories, guided by a special breed of experts as we inspect the
new US South Pole Station, try on the latest Polartec fashions with
anti-microbial fibers, ride on the newest snowmobiles and Sno-Cats,
sail through glacial waters on ice-breaking ships, and fly on an
LC-130 transport plane. And we'll see what NASA has on the planning
board for deep-space exploration, including a beach-ball robot
explorer, and learn from scientists studying fish in the waters off
Antarctica to understand glycoproteins, which may keep frozen tissue
healthy longer for transplantation.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - St. Lawrence Seaway.
The St. Lawrence Seaway is a monumental stairway in water, lifting
massive ships hundreds of feet over thousands of miles. It's the
world's longest inland waterway, a system of rivers, lakes, canals,
dams, and locks that stretches 2,400 miles. And it's one of the
greatest engineering triumphs of the 20th century, pulled off against
the violence of raging water and extreme winter. An essential part of
the commercial infrastructure of the US and Canada, this complex
system provides direct access from the Atlantic to North America's
heartland, enabling ships packed with trade to stop at any one its 65
ports--from Montreal to Duluth. From the 16th century, when French
explorer Jacques Cartier searched for the legendary Northwest Passage,
to the modern Seaway, built in the 1950s, we highlight the incredible
engineering feats that went into creating the waterway.
9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - The Lumberyard.
At the center of the American Dream is the home--and at the center of
its creation or renovation is the lumberyard. We'll explore the
options lumberyards provide for builders and renovators--from natural
to engineered woods. We'll show how plywood and pressed woods are
made, trace exotic woods to jungle and desert, visit a special
lumberyard that deals in recycled and antique woods, and go on an
underwater expedition as divers locate ancient logs buried in the
Great Lakes and New Zealand. We'll see how 50,000-year-old ancient
Kauri wood is "mined" from a bog and is now all the rage among those
who live in mansions and travel on yachts. From the lowly 2-by-4 used
to build a tract home, to a reclaimed set of historic planks used to
make a million-dollar bar in a 5-star hotel, this eye-opening program
hits the nail right on the head.
10-11pm -- 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 elaborate living quarters
without idling their engines by plugging into their parking space with
truck stop electrification. See how 20,000-gallon underground diesel
storage tanks are installed. Take a look at the future of truck stops
and see how the industry is preparing for the imminent use of
biodiesel.
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Thursday, June 14, 2007
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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.
8-10pm -- Alaska: Big America -
Alaska--a land of extremes. Its size is staggering--nearly 600,000
square miles, or more than twice the size of Texas. Its vast
distances, extreme weather, imposing landscape--all helped shape its
history and the lives of those who come under its spell. Our 2-hour
special heads to far-flung corners of the 49th State to hear
compelling stories of life in the bush--from Russian expeditions in
the 1700s to building of the Alcan Highway to the WWII Battle for the
Aleutian Islands and 1959 statehood.
10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - The Alcan Highway.
Today, vacationers travel from British Columbia north through the
Yukon Pass on their way to Fairbanks, Alaska, thanks to one 2-lane
roadway, the 1,522-mile long Alaska Highway. A bit treacherous in
spots and best driven in the few summer months the region provides,
it's an unrivaled engineering feat that took 11,000 soldiers, nearly
4,000 of them black, only eight months to build! Travel back to 1942
as they bulldoze their way into history while connecting the Lower 48
to the Alaskan Territory.
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Friday, June 15, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Machine Guns.
A machine gun puts the power of 20 men into the hands of one. We
review the history of the machine gun from the first Gatlings in the
Civil War to today's high-speed automatic rifles.
8-10pm -- Hippies -
The Hippie movement was the most controversial and influential of
modern times. Free love, the peace movement, drugs, Eastern religions
and communes are explored. Meet the figures whose words and actions
inspired it and destroyed it. See how the vibrations from that era are
still resonating today in almost every aspect of American life, from
the clothes we wear, to the Personal Computer and the Internet.
Finally, historic footage, stills and period graphics are interwoven
with expert commentary and eyewitness testimony.
10-11pm -- Dogfights - 09 - Hell Over Hanoi
You're in the cockpit with some of the fiercest dog fighting ever seen
in Vietnam! These pilots fight in a supersonic world, and split second
decisions determine life or death. American F4 Phantom pilots Fred
Olmsted and Dan Cherry take on the famed MiG-21--the most feared
threat in the sky. Steve Ritchie, becomes a dog fighting legend as an
Air Force Ace. First-hand accounts, rare archival footage and original
shooting will supplement the remarkable computer graphics.
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Saturday, June 16, 2007
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7-8pm -- 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 elaborate living quarters
without idling their engines by plugging into their parking space with
truck stop electrification. See how 20,000-gallon underground diesel
storage tanks are installed. Take a look at the future of truck stops
and see how the industry is preparing for the imminent use of
biodiesel.
8-9pm -- Star Wars Tech -
Take a look at the technology shown throughout the six Star Wars films
and examine their viability through the eyes of cold hard science.
Could a Death Star really be built? Can you build an army of clones?
What is 3-D imaging, and where the can you get a Light Saber? Travel
to a galaxy far, far away to answer all of these questions and more.
9-10pm -- 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.
10-11pm -- The States - 09 - Michigan, Tennessee, Maine, Missouri, South Dakota
Michigan's logging industry helped build fortunes, but over-harvesting
also threatened the environment. Davy Crocket, the coonskin-capped
congressman from Tennessee, became more legend than reality thanks to
19th century political campaigns. Originally disdained as a food fit
only for servants, lobsters are now a delicacy fueling Maine's fishing
industries. Riverboat traffic and trailheads to Santa Fe and Oregon
made Missouri the "Gateway to the West." The discovery of gold in the
Black Hills in 1874 created a rush of prospectors who displaced
Indians from sacred land that they'd been promised for eternity.
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Sunday, June 17, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Icebreakers.
They are the toughest ships in the water, plowing headlong into one of
nature's hardest obstacles. Modern icebreakers can smash through
10-foot thick ice sheets without stopping, allowing scientists and
commercial shipping access to some of Earth's most inhospitable spots.
Join our blustery journey as we patrol the Great Lakes on the USCG
Cutter Mackinaw and traverse the infamous Northwest Passage on the
maiden voyage of the USCG Healy, the newest Polar Class Icebreaker in
the US Fleet.
8-10pm -- Titanic's Achilles Heel -
Did Titanic have a fatal design flaw? In August of 2005 John
Chatterton and Richie Kohler (of "Deep Sea Detectives") led an
expedition to Titanic, where they discovered two huge intact sections
of the ship's bottom, the red paint still on. Naval architect Roger
Long, along with a panel of experts concluded that Titanic broke apart
earlier in its sinking than has been believed, due to a previously
unknown design flaw. Chatterton and Kohler return to the wreck in 2006
searching for evidence to support this theory, but when their research
vessel is recalled by the Russian government they head to Greece to
dive Titanic's lost sister ship Britannic. Was Britannic quietly
modified to correct the problem?
10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 01 - Ready to Roll
Take a look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on
earth--ice road truckers. In the thick of winter truckers in giant
eighteen wheelers carry equipment and supplies to miners in the
Canadian tundra. In this episode, road construction crews begin the
process of creating the most unique passage in the world---a 350-mile
highway of ice. Truck drivers from all over North America make the
long journey to Yellowknife, Canada for their chance at some quick
cash. When the temperature is cold enough and the ice is thick enough,
the big rigs get ready to roll.
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Monday, June 18, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - 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.
8-9pm -- Hooked: Illegal Drugs and How They Got That Way - Opium,
Morphine, and Heroin.
An examination of the history of the poppy plant and three of its
deadliest derivatives. In ancient times, the poppy was considered
divine, but in the 19th and 20th centuries, its addicting and lethal
qualities caused unprecedented national outrage, social upheaval, and
even sparked two wars. Used by the upper classes as patent medicines,
heroin became the bane of society when the working class began to use
it. In 1914, Federal law banned heroin and opium, and restricted
morphine to medicinal use.
9-10pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 10 - Beneath Vesuvius
Discover the fascinating and unknown history that lies below major
cities around the world today. Explore these layers, which are often
hundreds of feet deep. Discover everything form dank dungeons to
underground shipwrecks that have been lost for centuries. Join host
Eric Geller as he reveals the technological marvels that allowed the
construction of one city upon another.
10-11pm -- Digging for the Truth - Stonehenge Secrets Revealed.
Stonehenge is one of the most famous and mysterious structures in the
world. Now, host Josh Bernstein investigates the origins of Stonehenge
and the prehistoric world that surrounded it. From the depths of a
5,000-year-old copper mine to an ancient quarry from which the stones
were carved, Josh deploys the latest archaeological evidence to reveal
who built this great monument. Then, using prehistoric technology as
his guide, he reveals how it was built, and why!
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Tuesday, June 19, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - 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.
8-9pm -- Siberian Apocalypse -
At 7:15AM on June 30, 1908, a giant fireball, as bright the Sun,
explodes in the Siberian sky with a force a thousand times greater
than the Hiroshima bomb. It decimates 1,000 square miles of
forest--over half the size of Rhode Island, and was the biggest cosmic
disaster in the history of civilization. What caused the apocalyptic
fire in the sky? Over a hundred theories surround what is called the
Tunguska event, varying from asteroids and comets to black holes and
alien spaceships. Most scientists agree the Tunguska event will happen
again, and next time, the human toll could be unimaginable. Now, NASA
and other organizations race against time to stop the next planet
killer before it ignites Armageddon.
9-10pm -- The Universe - Jupiter: The Giant Planet
Jupiter poses many questions about our solar system. It is a powerful
planet of gas whose flowing colors and spots are beautiful, but
contain violent storms and jet streams. A mini solar system of over
sixty moons rotate around Jupiter--a half billion miles from earth.
Could one of these moons contain life under its icy crust?
10-11pm -- Ancient Discoveries - 16 - Superships
In recent years there have been a number of extraordinary discoveries
of ships from the ancient world. But what do these finds say about the
societies which created them, and the techniques they used in their
construction? Travel back to ancient Egypt and learn about the "Khufu
Boat" which had not one metal nail in its construction, and uncover
huge sailing vessels, dating from 3000 B.C., in Abydos near the Nile.
Some of the most exciting discoveries that have been made include the
warship, and one carried as many as 7000 crewman.
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Wednesday, June 20, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Hangars.
Come in for a smooth landing as we explore the history of
hangars--stark, massive structures that house and protect flight
vehicles. We visit the first hangar, built on a German lake; Boeing's
Delta 4 rocket hangar; Hangar Number One in Lakehurst, New Jersey,
that housed all US airships built in the 1920s and '30s; and the Space
Shuttle's hangar--as big as four skyscrapers! Back in Germany,
Cargolifter's mammoth hangar, large enough to enclose the Superdome,
signals the rebirth of an industry.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Nature's Engineers.
Towering skyscrapers buzzing with life, intricate tunnels connecting
entire communities, mighty dams that tame the wildest rivers--this is
construction animal style! Take a walk on the wild side as we
investigate common creatures seemingly designed to alter their habitat
and remake the world. Our ability to learn and capacity for abstract
thought may separate us from beavers, honeybees, birds, termites, and
spiders, but these engineers of nature remind us that we're merely the
latest in a long line.
9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - The Butcher.
In a carnivorous world, a butcher is a necessary link in the food
chain, carving a carcass of unsavory flesh into mouthwatering cuts. We
trace the grisly trade's evolution--from yesteryear's
butcher-on-every-corner to today's industrial butcher working on a
"disassembly" line. We tour the infamous remains of the Chicago
Stockyards, where Upton Sinclair, Clarence Birdseye, and refrigeration
changed butchering forever; witness high-speed butchering; and travel
to a non-stop sausage factory. And if you're still squeamish, a USDA
inspector offers the lowdown on HACCP--the country's new system of
checks and balances on everything from quality grading to E. coli,
Salmonella, and Mad Cow Disease. Finally, we visit the last bastion of
old-school butchering--the rural custom butcher, who slaughters,
eviscerates, skins, and cuts to his customer's wishes.
10-11pm -- Modern Marvels - Fertilizer
Fertilizer--without it two thirds of the world would starve. It makes
our lawns grow greener and our crops grow taller. Take a tour of the
places where the essential nutrients that feed the soil are harnessed.
Dig deep in a phosphate mine, sniff around a sewage treatment plant
and get dirty in a trough teeming with seven million worms. Finally,
learn about a war that was fought over the control of bat poop!
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Thursday, June 21, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Airships.
First there were balloons and blimps. Then, visionaries enlarged,
reinforced, and motorized them and the airship was born. The biggest
aircraft ever flown, they remain one of the most romantic aerial
creations. In all, 161 rigid airships were built before spectacular
crashes, including the Hindenburg, put an end to the era.
8-9pm -- Mega Movers - Moving an Airport
The Denver International Airport is the largest airport in America.
Its famous white peaked fabric roof spans a million-and-a-half square
feet. Moving it would seem impossible--but not for this crew! Next the
TWA terminal at JFK International Airport has to be moved nearly a
quarter-mile. Walls of glass on this 800-ton building could topple
like a house of cards. Watch the crew use an array of new technology
and the most heavy-lift equipment ever amassed for a move.
9-10pm -- Roman Vice -
The flowering of the Roman Empire saw incomparable power and
civilization - and at the same time corruption, cruelty and depravity
on an unparalleled scale. Emperors from Augustus to Tiberius and Nero
built the biggest empire the world had ever seen, while presiding over
a way of life riddled with violence, deviancy and excess. This special
visits the archaeological sites of ancient Rome, talks to leading
historians world-wide and uses stylish reconstructions to describe and
explain how good and evil went side by side.
10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 01 - Ready to Roll
Take a look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on
earth--ice road truckers. In the thick of winter truckers in giant
eighteen wheelers carry equipment and supplies to miners in the
Canadian tundra. In this episode, road construction crews begin the
process of creating the most unique passage in the world---a 350-mile
highway of ice. Truck drivers from all over North America make the
long journey to Yellowknife, Canada for their chance at some quick
cash. When the temperature is cold enough and the ice is thick enough,
the big rigs get ready to roll.
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Friday, June 22, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Edwards Air Force Base.
Examine the colorful history of the premier flight test center, and
America's most important aviation facility for more than 60 years,
Edwards Air Force Base in California. Every single aircraft to enter
the Air Force's inventory has been put through its paces at Edwards,
along with many Navy and Army aircraft as well. With unprecedented
access to several forgotten and abandoned facilities on the base, we
are guided by Richard Hallion, former chief historian for the US Air
Force. Today, Edwards continues to push the envelope. Among the many
cutting-edge projects currently being tested is the Airborne Laser,
designed to focus a basketball-sized spot of intense heat that could
destroy a ballistic missile.
8-9pm -- Snipers - World's Deadliest Snipers.
Among the world's best, the British Royal Marines build on their noble
traditions and the lessons of history to hone the skills of snipers
and place them in a proud global lineage. The daring British
Commandos, perfecting their use of camouflage and stalking, cleared
the hedgerows at Normandy. The Russian Red Army snipers, known for
patience and stealth, helped to break the siege of Stalingrad. We also
look at a little-known force--the Red Army's deadly women snipers, who
fought alongside the men.
9-10pm -- Dogfights - 11 - Dogfights of the Middle East
The sound of jet combat reverberates above the tombs of the Pharaohs
as the small Israeli Air Force delivers a knock-out punch to the
Egyptians in the 1967 Six Day War. Fly in the Mirage III with the
IAF's first jet ace Giora Romm as he chases down two MiG-17s over the
Suez Canal at dusk. Be in the cockpit with 119 Squadron Commander and
ace Ran Ronen as he flies into hostile Jordan for a top secret
rendezvous--arranged by the Israeli Mossad, and later as he speeds
deep into enemy territory for a bombing mission that ends up as a
swirling dogfight directly over the Egyptian base. Witness the first
combat engagement of the McDonnell Douglas F-15, and how Major Moshe
Melnik draws first blood for the Eagle in the skies over Lebanon in
1979. Learn how the Israeli Air Force of today hones its capabilities
with cutting edge technology that makes it the most feared opposition
in the sky.
10-11pm -- Iran: The Next Iraq? -
Many experts believe that Iran's development of nuclear power along
with Iran's President Ahmadinejad flexing his country's muscles
throughout the region present a threat to American security. This
special traces Iran's history back 2,500 years to explore the Persian
Empire -- a proud civilization and one of the world's first
superpowers, the decline of that Empire in the 19th century, the
discovery of oil and the rise of Western influence in Iran in the 20th
century, and today's current evidence showing Iran to be a potentially
serious foe of the United States.
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Saturday, June 23, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - World's Strongest II
What does it take to rate as "the world's strongest"? Watch as
life-saving boron carbide body armor, strong enough to stop 9mm
machine gun bullets at point-blank range, is put to the test. Visit
the world of Monster Trucks and watch BigFoot in car-crushing action.
For a demonstration of lifting might, head dockside with a
super-strong mobile crane capable of hoisting a 600-ton mega-yacht and
toting it through a boat yard without a scratch. The Super-Shredder is
a metal recycling monster that can gobble up 6 junked cars a minute.
8-10pm -- Banned from The Bible II -
Take another look at ancient texts that were edited out of the Bible.
Are they the missing links to Christ's true teachings, or heretical
attempts to rewrite history? Explore the kabalistic stories of angels
and demons disavowed by orthodox leaders, and the apocalyptic visions
and the sexual imagery that were barred from the Old Testament. Why
was Peter's account of a Lord of The Rings-style battle of wits and
magic repressed by Rome? With discoveries being made all across the
world--in caves, ruined temples, ancient libraries and
monasteries--these tantalizing fragments continue to be found and
debated. Are they heresy or hidden truth?
10-11pm -- The States - 10 - Georgia, Colorado, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Maryland/DC
Stone Mountain, Georgia, a monument to three heroes of the
Confederacy, dwarfs Mt. Rushmore. The Denver Mint in Colorado, which
produces the most coins in the world, started out during Colorado's
gold and silver boom of the 1860s as a private bank. Wisconsin's Great
Lakes are littered with sunken ships, but the cold, fresh waters keep
aging vessels intact. One hundred, sixty acres of free land made
available by The Homestead Act of 1862 drew settlers to Nebraska's
plains. Maryland soil helped found the District of Columbia, but the
District's Federal status denies it any state's rights of its own.
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Sunday, June 24, 2007
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7-8pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 01 - Ready to Roll
Take a look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on
earth--ice road truckers. In the thick of winter truckers in giant
eighteen wheelers carry equipment and supplies to miners in the
Canadian tundra. In this episode, road construction crews begin the
process of creating the most unique passage in the world---a 350-mile
highway of ice. Truck drivers from all over North America make the
long journey to Yellowknife, Canada for their chance at some quick
cash. When the temperature is cold enough and the ice is thick enough,
the big rigs get ready to roll.
8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Ice
The solid form of life's precious elixir has played a key role in
fashioning our history and is making its mark as an unusual tool of
technology. We'll explore how Earth's ice originated and recount how
ice age glaciers sculpted North America. Our cameras take an inside
look at Colorado's National Ice Core Repository to see how ice drilled
from Antarctica and Greenland is an invaluable archive of past
climate, and at a Canadian research lab experts demonstrate the
dynamics and dangers of icebergs. We'll see how Greenland's massive
ice sheet may be sliding faster than ever toward the sea. Take a look
at how scientists are using Antarctica's ice as a gigantic lens to
probe the secrets of the universe and ride aboard everyone's favorite
ice resurfacing machine, the Zamboni.
9-10pm -- Gangland: Aryan Brotherhood -
The Aryan Brotherhood has the distinction of being the deadliest gang
in American history. They kill for hire or for free. They kill people
who steal their drugs or those that owe them money. Maintaining the
culture of terror that has solidified their power is their primary
goal. Drugs, gambling, liquor and inmate prostitution earns them
millions. From their beginnings in San Quentin Prison in 1964 to
current trials of sixteen members in Los Angeles, discover the
ultra-violent world that has largely gone unnoticed by the general
public for the last forty years.
10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 02 - Destination: Diamond Mine
Jay hauls a 17-ton water tank over 31 inches of ice all the way to the
De Beers Diamond mine. The rivalry heats up between Hugh and Rick as
they compete for the highest load count. And the season's first spin
out on "Charlie's Hill" causes a major traffic jam on the ice. Take a
look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on
earth--ice road truckers.
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Monday, June 25, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Lube Job.
From chariot wheels of ancient Egypt to hard disks in a computer to
the wheels on a Mars rover, machinery can't function without
lubricants. And in today's technology, there are a mind-boggling
number of friction points that must be lubed, and a staggering number
of lubricants-- petroleum motor oils that keep car engines from
burning up, synthetic greases that stay put in the zero gravity of
space, and solid coatings that prevent eggs from sticking to a pan.
We'll see how this marvel of chemistry works and how it's used.
Peering into the future, we'll behold a power generator that employs
air as a lubricant, trains using magnetic levitation, which eliminates
any need for lubrication, and bio-engineered vegetable oils that
promise to take humanity back to one of its very first lubricants.
From helping medieval windmills spin, to allowing robotic arms on
planetary rovers to move, lubricants are crucial to the advance of
technology and literally keep the wheels of progress turning.
8-9pm -- Hooked: Illegal Drugs and How They Got That Way - Marijuana.
In a series investigating the history of drug use, we begin our trip
tracing the rise of marijuana and synthetic amphetamines. Marijuana,
from the Indian hemp plant, has been used worldwide as a source of
rope, cloth, and paper; its medicinal qualities were first documented
4,000 years ago in China. But it's best known as the drug of choice of
the 1960s. During WWII, US troops were given an estimated 200 million
amphetamines to fight drowsiness and battle fatigue, and they're still
used to fight depression.
9-10pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 09 - Freemason Underground
Discover the fascinating and unknown history that lies below major
cities around the world today. Explore these layers, which are often
hundreds of feet deep. Discover everything form dank dungeons to
underground shipwrecks that have been lost for centuries. Join host
Eric Geller as he reveals the technological marvels that allowed the
construction of one city upon another.
10-11pm -- Journey to the Center of the World -
Far from civilization, hidden within the darkest jungles of Guatemala,
an elite team of professional cavers and scientists penetrates one of
the deepest, most mysterious caves in the world--Naj Tunich. This cave
is considered sacred by the Maya and was once a shrine to their
ancestors. A thousand years ago, the ancient Maya made incredible
advances in mathematics, medicine, and astronomy. But deep inside Naj
Tunich, the expedition team discovers a disturbing, more menacing side
to the Maya: human skeletons, razor-sharp obsidian needles and
ritualistic and sexual paintings. What does this mean? What were the
ancient Maya doing so deep within the bowels of the earth? To find the
answers, the team travels deeper into Naj Tunich than any modern human
has ever gone.
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Tuesday, June 26, 2007
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7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Distilleries.
From water and grain...to mash...still...vat...barrel and bottle--the
distilling of alcoholic spirits is a big business and near-sacred
religion. Its acolytes eye the color, swirl the glass, inhale the
bouquet, sip, and then ponder their ambrosia. What's your pleasure?
Bourbon, Scotch, Rum, Gin, Vodka, or Tequila? We trace the history of
distilling from the one-man/one-still tradition to the Voldstead Act
of 1920 that devastated American distilleries to the mega-sales and
high-volume distillery of today.
8-9pm -- Engineering an Empire - China.
For over 4000 years, the world's greatest empires have come and
gone--only China has survived the test of time. Century after century,
China's regal emperors mobilized immense peasant armies to accomplish
engineering feats unparalleled in human history. Among the
groundbreaking innovations were the world's longest canal and a naval
fleet mightier than all those of Europe combined. However, none can
compare to the colossal 4,000-mile wall that stands as the most
ambitious construction project ever built. From such heights came
spectacular death spirals, as dynasty after dynasty, consumed by
vanity and greed was stripped of power by the people it had ruled.
Peter Weller hosts.
9-10pm -- The Universe - The Moon
The moon has comforted man for thousands of years. It's been
everything from a god to a compass, and the only cosmic body human
beings have ever visited. NASA is planning to build a permanent
outpost there. Discover how the moon came to be--if you don't already
know, you will be astounded.
10-11pm -- Ancient Discoveries - 11 - Siege of Troy
For 3000 years the Siege of Troy has remained steeped in mystery.
Journey with us to the site in Turkey believed to be the location of
the real Troy, as we analyze one of the world's greatest historical
battlegrounds for new clues. This program takes us behind the Troy
celebrated by Hollywood to uncover fascinating evidence in regard to
Achilles' duel against Hector, the sailing of the vast Mycenaean fleet
and the wooden ship of Troy. Watch as we apply modern technology,
archaeology and engineering to uncover the real story behind the
legend of Troy.
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Wednesday, June 27, 2007
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Noon & 6pm -- Man, Moment, Machine: Apollo 13: Triumph on the Dark Side.7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Distilleries 2. It's an art. It's a science. It's a marriage of vapor and water. From the elite to the illegal, the banned, to the celebrated, the distillation of spirits is a 50 billion dollar a year business. We will visit brandy, liqueur, moonshine, and absinthe distilleries to see how this magic is done. A trip to the Christian Brothers Distillery in northern California will reveal the secrets of how brandy is made and in the Deep South we observe a working moonshine still. Then it's off to France, where we visit the Courvoisier Cognac distillery and at the Jade Absinthe Distillery we see how this controversial drink is made. Includes expert commentary and historical perspective given by Bon Appetit's Anthony Dias Blue. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Nuts Pintsized as a pea or big as a bowling ball, nutritional, durable, and versatile, nuts have been a staple of the human diet since time began, and archaeological evidence places them among our earliest foods. For that, the ancients worshiped them. And because they were relatively non-perishable, nuts sustained the imperial armies of Rome and China, the royal navies of England and Spain, and the native tribes that roamed the American wilderness. Today, we think of nuts as mere snacks, but in a poignant segment, we feature how a peanut product is used by organizations like UNICEF to reverse malnutrition in starving children in less than four weeks. And a powder ground from walnut shells cleans everything from ship hulls to the Space Shuttle. From ancient traditions of tree-picking and hand-gathering to today's powerful machine shakers, sophisticated irrigation techniques, and the latest bio-science, we'll provide a spread of history that's just as smooth as your peanut butter! 9-10pm -- Modern Marvels - More Snackfood Tech. They crunch; they ooze; they crackle; they pop--mmmmm, yeah! Soft drinks, donuts, meat snacks, popcorn, and gum. What's your weakness? From the handmade treats of the earliest civilizations to hi-tech mass production, these snacks are borne of man's need to feed his cravings. Join us for an hour-long tasty treat as we examine the history of snackfoods and check out how they are made today. 10-11pm -- 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. ____________________________________________________ Thursday, June 28, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 8-9pm -- Gangland: Aryan Brotherhood - The Aryan Brotherhood has the distinction of being the deadliest gang in American history. They kill for hire or for free. They kill people who steal their drugs or those that owe them money. Maintaining the culture of terror that has solidified their power is their primary goal. Drugs, gambling, liquor and inmate prostitution earns them millions. From their beginnings in San Quentin Prison in 1964 to current trials of sixteen members in Los Angeles, discover the ultra-violent world that has largely gone unnoticed by the general public for the last forty years. 9-10pm -- Boneyard - Railroads They are the largest moving objects on land--and one of the most powerful machines ever constructed...Trains. With over 100 cars joined together, and stretching over a mile in length, they can move tons of materials at speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour. They ride on almost 100,000 miles of steel rails that literally crisscross the nation. To service this vast system, an equally huge complex of railroad boneyards has emerged. Imaginative entrepreneurs have found new and innovative uses for every single component of the railroads--from tracks and ties--to the trains themselves. Though most of these great iron horses will ultimately be ripped and torn apart for scrapping, some will be grandly restored to live on in other roles. 10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 02 - Destination: Diamond Mine Jay hauls a 17-ton water tank over 31 inches of ice all the way to the De Beers Diamond mine. The rivalry heats up between Hugh and Rick as they compete for the highest load count. And the season's first spin out on "Charlie's Hill" causes a major traffic jam on the ice. Take a look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on earth--ice road truckers. ____________________________________________________ Friday, June 29, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - B-2 Bomber. In any battle, the key to victory is the ability to strike the enemy without them knowing what hit them. Within the US arsenal one such weapon can go into harm's way, deliver 40,000 pounds of either conventional or nuclear bombs, and slip away unobserved--the B-2 Stealth Bomber. With its origins in single-wing experimentation in Germany in the 1930s, the B-2 was developed under a cloak of secrecy. But when that cloak was lifted, the world was awed by what stood before them. Able to fly over 6,000 miles without refueling, it can reach whatever target the US military wants to attack and deliver its awesome array of laser-guided weapons with pinpoint accuracy. Using state-of-the-art technology, including over 130 onboard computers, and shrouded by a mantle of stealth, it's undetectable by any radar. 8-9pm -- Mega Movers - Ships on Land The mighty Queen Mary -- 1,018 feet long and weighing more than 77,500 tons. Since 1967, this dinosaur of ocean liners, and former WWII troop transport ship, sits parked in dry dock. What if in the future it needed to be moved inland -- could it be? Taking a page from history -- when in 1453 an Ottoman sultan moved his fleet of 100 warships overland -- the Queen Mary would be the largest ship ever hauled across land, pushing the limits of machines and Mega Movers' ingenuity. In Charleston, SC a 140-foot long, 150-ton replica of a famous 1879 schooner has to be hauled from dry-dock one mile through narrow city streets to the harbor where it'll be launched. Tough under any conditions -- terrifying in the face of approaching violent storms. 9-10pm -- Dogfights - 08 - Death of the Japanese Navy In one of the most amazing yet lopsided naval battles in history, a mighty Japanese fleet led by the Yamato, the biggest battleship in the world, versus Taffy 3, a small U.S. task unit of tin can destroyers and baby flat-tops. The U.S. fleet is made up of ships too weak to fight and too slow to run. David battles Goliath in a fight for survival, with the lives of thousands of American soldiers in the balance. We will recreate this famous battle using state of the art computer graphics. Viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. 10-11pm -- Death Road - Travel high into the Andes to a road that has more deaths per mile than any other byway in the world. This steep and bumpy road plunges almost 2.5 miles in the four hours it takes to drive it, and those who choose to make the journey will endure an often extremely narrow path that hugs the mountain as it snakes through dramatic, verdant scenery. Twisting between waterfalls and rocky overhangs, the road is unprotected, making near death an almost constant travel companion. A fatal accident every two weeks is not uncommon, and by 1995, the road was commonly referred to as world's most dangerous road. Marsh Mokhtari is our guide, as we explore the people and places along this treacherous path. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, June 30, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 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. 8-10pm -- Kennedys: The Curse of Power - Traces the Kennedy clan's calamities that occurred on the rise to power--from immigration from Ireland up to John Kennedy Jr.'s tragic death in 1999. The first hour sees the loss of Joe Jr. in WWII and the assassinations of JFK and RFK. Hour two witnesses Ted's downfall and role as surrogate father to a fatherless generation. 10-12am -- The Kennedy Assassination: Beyond Conspiracy - No other murder in history has produced as much speculation as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Forty years after he was fatally shot, more than 70 percent of polled Americans believe there was a conspiracy and that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone. In this 2-hour special, ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings takes a fresh look at the assassination, the evidence, the various and many theories, and an exact computer simulation of the famous Abraham Zapruder film that offers surprising results. ____________________________________________________ Sunday, July 1, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 02 - Destination: Diamond Mine Jay hauls a 17-ton water tank over 31 inches of ice all the way to the De Beers Diamond mine. The rivalry heats up between Hugh and Rick as they compete for the highest load count. And the season's first spin out on "Charlie's Hill" causes a major traffic jam on the ice. Take a look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on earth--ice road truckers. 8-10pm -- Alaska: Dangerous Territory - For generations, Alaska has exerted a powerful pull as the place to head for a job like no other; work that promises the adventure of a lifetime, the chance to strike it rich, and the very real prospect of never making it back alive. Plying their trades on America's last frontier, soldiers, Coast Guard crewmen, bush pilots, and truckers all work for the same boss from hell: a dangerous territory full of the most inhospitable weather and extreme terrain on earth. Even today, Alaska boasts four of the country's top 10 most dangerous jobs. We'll feature dramatic stories of four killer jobs from the last 150 years of Alaskan history and experience what it takes to survive and thrive in this intense and harsh climate by riding along with today's workers and hearing from old-timers who forged the way. And we'll weave in the traditions, technology, and tools that can mean the difference between life and death in Alaska's killer jobs. 10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 03 - Dash for the Cash An arctic storm forces a road closure. Alex hauls a 44,000 pound diamond ore crusher across 350-miles of ice to the BHP mine. And brutal -40 degree temperatures start to take their toll on the truckers. Take a look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on earth--ice road truckers. ____________________________________________________ Monday, July 2, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Coal Mines. Coal--the fuel responsible for more than half the electricity used daily. We unearth the amazing technological advances that have led to today's extremely efficient methods--from ancient techniques to the simplistic bell-pit method, from drift mining, surface mining, and strip mining to modern longwall mining, when a massive machine extracts an entire wall of coal in seconds. We go underground with miners in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, and also address environmental concerns. 8-10pm -- Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed - The story of Anakin Skywalker's descent into darkness and his son Luke's quest to conquer evil has spellbound audiences for 30 years. The reason for this is simple: the saga of Star Wars is universal and firmly rooted in the mythology and the political history of the entire planet. May 2007 will mark the 30th anniversary of George Lucas' space fantasy that grossed billions worldwide. For the first time take a profound look at the serious subtext behind Lucas' six film milestone. The influence of ancient mythology from Greek legends to King Arthur is visible; but also more recent historical influences, from the political rise of Napoleon to the machinations of Adolf Hitler can be seen. 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. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, July 3, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Brewing. It's one of the world's oldest and most beloved beverages--revered by Pharaohs and brewed by America's Founding Fathers. Today, brewing the bitter elixir is a multi-billion-dollar global industry. Join us for an invigorating look at brewing's history from prehistoric times to today's cutting-edge craft breweries, focusing on its gradually evolving technologies and breakthroughs. We'll find the earliest known traces of brewing, which sprang up independently in such far-flung places as ancient Sumeria, China, and Finland; examine the surprising importance that beer held in the daily and ceremonial life of ancient Egypt; and at Delaware's Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, an adventurous anthropologist and a cutting-edge brewer show us the beer they've concocted based on 2,700-year-old DNA found in drinking vessels from the funerary of the legendary King Midas. 8-9pm -- The Universe - The End of the Earth: Deep Space Threats to Our Planet Asteroids, comets, gamma ray bursts and the sun all combine to make the Earth a dangerous place to live. NASA's top brass and other scientists are arming themselves with the latest technology to pre-empt an apocalyptic attack. Watch and investigate bizarre, and terrifying apocalyptic scenarios and the ways that scientists are racing against the clock to develop technology to defend our planet. 9-10pm -- The Universe - Jupiter: The Giant Planet Jupiter poses many questions about our solar system. It is a powerful planet of gas whose flowing colors and spots are beautiful, but contain violent storms and jet streams. A mini solar system of over sixty moons rotate around Jupiter--a half billion miles from earth. Could one of these moons contain life under its icy crust? 10-11pm -- The Universe - The Moon The moon has comforted man for thousands of years. It's been everything from a god to a compass, and the only cosmic body human beings have ever visited. NASA is planning to build a permanent outpost there. Discover how the moon came to be--if you don't already know, you will be astounded. ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, July 4, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- The Revolution - 10 - The End Game. In this hour, Washington faces two mutinies in the Continental Army. Congress is broke and the army desperately needs more help from the French. In England, the opposition to the war grows as Henry Clinton and Lord Cornwallis argue over the British strategy in the South. The French are tired of supporting the war, but Franklin continues to beg for aid. The French finally send their fleet to America, under the command of Admiral DeGrasse. Cornwallis moves his army to Yorktown, Virginia, and the Allied forces close in for the last major battle of the war. Experience the drama that surrounded the founding of the United States in this 13-part series that covers the years between the Boston Tea Party in 1773 to the ratification of the Constitution in 1787. 8-9pm -- The Revolution - 11 - Becoming a Nation. The news of the American victory at Yorktown spreads like wildfire around the globe. Patriots celebrate and loyalists begin evacuating, as Washington awaits the next British move. Parliament's growing anti-war faction forces the king to sue for peace and agree to American independence. John Adams joins Benjamin Franklin in France to negotiate the treaty of 1783. But the new nation is broke and confused, as Washington resigns his commission and Congress disbands the standing Continental Army. The 13 American states convene a Constitutional Convention to hammer out a new form of government, and urge a reluctant Washington to become the United State's first president. 9-10pm -- The Revolution - 12 - Road to the Presidency. After leading the rebellious British colonies in America to a most unlikely victory in the War for Independence, George Washington is called into service again. But this time to lead the newly born nation he helped create as its first president. Setting out on an 8-day trip from his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia to his inauguration in New York City, Washington's journey has him not only looking forward to the future but back on the events of the American Revolution. 10-11pm -- The Revolution - 13 - A President and His Revolution. George Washington completes his 8-day trip from his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia to New York City where he is inaugurated as the first president of the newly created United States of America. The former Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army now becomes simply "Mr. President". ____________________________________________________ Thursday, July 5, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - BBQ Tech. An old-fashioned style of cooking, barbecue has evolved into a modern food craze and spawned a multi-billion dollar industry. We digest famous barbecue cook-offs and visit long-established barbecue restaurants like Arthur Bryant's in Kansas City, where the huge grills and taste thrills of true barbecue are more popular than ever. At home, three out of four US households own a grill. After WWII's end, the phenomenon of backyard barbecuing swept the nation, thanks to inexpensive and mass-produced grills, including the kettle-shaped Weber. Our tour of Weber's modern factories shows how they keep pace with demand by manufacturing more choices than ever, including portable mini-grills. We also examine the variety of fuels available for the savory selection of spicy sauces and rubs. Join us as we devour the mouthwatering flavors of BBQ in this episode. 8-9pm -- Decoding The Past - Doomsday 2012: The End of Days There are prophecies and oracles from around the world that all seem to point to December 21, 2012 as doomsday. The ancient Mayan Calendar, the medieval predictions of Merlin, the Book of Revelation and the Chinese oracle of the I Ching all point to this specific date as the end of civilization. A new technology called "The Web-Bot Project" makes massive scans of the internet as a means of forecasting the future... and has turned up the same dreaded date: 2012. Skeptics point to a long history of "Failed Doomsdays", but many oracles of doom throughout history have a disturbingly accurate track record. As the year 2012 ticks ever closer we'll speculate if there are any reasons to believe these doomsayers. 9-10pm -- Boneyard - Automotive The boneyard becomes the last stop for millions of autos every year due to old age, obsolescence or lack of parts. Most of these old road warriors are shredded into scrap and recycled, but some are treasured as priceless engineering marvels. Discover the unusual after-life of these retired vehicles and take the fascinating ride to and back from the boneyard. 10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 03 - Dash for the Cash An arctic storm forces a road closure. Alex hauls a 44,000 pound diamond ore crusher across 350-miles of ice to the BHP mine. And brutal -40 degree temperatures start to take their toll on the truckers. Take a look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on earth--ice road truckers. ____________________________________________________ Friday, July 6, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Candy. It pulls, stretches, bubbles, hardens, crunches, and melts! We eat about 7-billion tons of it yearly. We're talking about Candy--loved by kids and savored by adults. Candy-making evolved from a handmade operation to high-tech mass production. Nowhere is that more apparent than at Hershey's. On a tour of their newest production facility, we learn how they process the cocoa bean. At See's Candy, we see how they make their famous boxed chocolates--on a slightly smaller scale than Hershey's. We get a sweet history lesson at Schimpff's Confectionery, where they still use small kettles, natural flavors, and hand-operated equipment. Then, we visit Jelly Belly, purveyors of the original gourmet jellybean. Saltwater-taffy pullers hypnotize us on our sweet-tooth tour; we gaze at extruders making miles of licorice rope; and watch as nostalgia candy bars Abba-Zaba and Big Hunk get packaged. And in this sugary hour, we digest the latest sensations--gourmet chocolates and scorpion on a stick! 8-9pm -- Hooked: Illegal Drugs and How They Got That Way - LSD, Ecstasy and the Raves. How did the psychedelic drugs LSD and Ecstasy journey from a scientific discovery to a popular recreation to banned drugs? Mental health professionals once believed that LSD could treat schizophrenia or alcoholism. Meanwhile, Ecstasy, the "penicillin for the soul", was used in marriage counseling. Now, continuing the cycle of the hallucinogen, some of the latest derivatives in this category of drugs, the "rave" drugs such as GHB and Ketamine, are about to be banned. 9-10pm -- Dogfights - 07 - The Zero Killer It's 1943 and the skies over the Pacific are filled with the infamous Japanese Zero fighter. They are decimating all American aircraft; no allied plane can match Japan's deadliest fighter plane. The American Navy rushes to deploy a new fighter to take on the unstoppable Zero...the F6F Hellcat. The Zero has met its match. Now, you're in the cockpit with legendary dogfighters Robert Duncan, Hamilton McWhorter and Alex Vraciu, whose epic dogfights blazed a new chapter in the annals of aerial warfare. We recreate famous battles using state of the art computer graphics. Viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. Rare archival footage, first-hand accounts and original shooting will supplement the remarkable computer graphics. 10-11pm -- 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. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, July 7, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 6:50-8pm -- Band of Brothers - Crossroads. Capt. Winters (Damian Lewis) leads a contingent of Easy Company men on a risky mission over a Dutch dike that results in a "turkey shoot" of fleeing Germans, and is promoted to Battalion Executive Officer, leaving Easy Company in the hands of Lt. "Moose" Heyliger (Stephen McCole). After moving back off the line to France, Lt. Nixon (Ron Livingston) insists that Winters take a break and see Paris. But when Winters returns, news comes in of a massive German counterattack in the Ardennes Forest. 8-12am -- Reel To Real - Braveheart Movie. Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning epic tale of William Wallace, the legendary Scottish warrior who led his ragtag but courageous forces against England's evil King Edward in the 13th century. Gibson delivers a stirring, unforgettable performance as Wallace, and the battle scenes are bloody but breathtaking. Also stars Sophie Marceau and Patrick McGoohan. (1995) ____________________________________________________ Sunday, July 8, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 01 - Ready to Roll Take a look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on earth--ice road truckers. In the thick of winter truckers in giant eighteen wheelers carry equipment and supplies to miners in the Canadian tundra. In this episode, road construction crews begin the process of creating the most unique passage in the world---a 350-mile highway of ice. Truck drivers from all over North America make the long journey to Yellowknife, Canada for their chance at some quick cash. When the temperature is cold enough and the ice is thick enough, the big rigs get ready to roll. 8-9pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 02 - Destination: Diamond Mine Jay hauls a 17-ton water tank over 31 inches of ice all the way to the De Beers Diamond mine. The rivalry heats up between Hugh and Rick as they compete for the highest load count. And the season's first spin out on "Charlie's Hill" causes a major traffic jam on the ice. Take a look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on earth--ice road truckers. 9-10pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 03 - Dash for the Cash An arctic storm forces a road closure. Alex hauls a 44,000 pound diamond ore crusher across 350-miles of ice to the BHP mine. And brutal -40 degree temperatures start to take their toll on the truckers. Take a look at the men who undertake one of the most dangerous jobs on earth--ice road truckers. 10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 04 - The Big Chill It's the 18th day of the ice road season and truckers have delivered more than 3000 loads to the diamond mines. The temperatures are dropping, the loads are getting heavier and the ice is just three feet thick. A 50-ton fuel tanker flips over at the beginning of the ice road. Jay Westgard, a 25-year old ice road veteran, hauls three giant water purifiers to the De Beers Diamond mine. It's a challenging 30-ton load that tests and stresses the ice for the entire journey. Rookie Drew Sherwood finds himself back in Lee Parkinson's garage after a rough trip tore his battery box from the underbelly of his truck. Another rookie TJ Tilcox battles subzero temperatures in a truck that's weatherproofed with duct tape. ____________________________________________________ Monday, July 9, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - George Washington Bridge. When opened on October 25, 1931, the George Washington Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Today, standing as a main traffic artery between Manhattan and New Jersey, the bridge referred to by locals as the "GW" is the busiest in the world, carrying nearly 320,000 cars each day. We'll examine the construction methods employed that made the bridge an anomaly, coming in both under budget and ahead of schedule, and see why the GW is distinguished in a city of great bridges. 8-9pm -- Hooked: Illegal Drugs and How They Got That Way - Cocaine. Derived from South America's coca leaf, cocaine was touted as a cure-all in the late 19th century and was the secret ingredient in many medicines and elixirs such as Coca-Cola. But cocaine's allure quickly diminished as racism entered the picture--the concept of the "cocaine-crazed Negro" even led police to strengthen the caliber of their guns from .32 to .38. We'll see how, though it was outlawed in 1914, its popularity soared in the 1980s and '90s and gave birth to a deadlier form--crack. 9-10pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 11 - Dracula's Underground Rich in legends and folklore visit the city of Bucharest, Romania and learn about its most famous citizen, Vlad the Impaler, more commonly known as Dracula. Travel underground to separate the myth from reality as secret prisons, caves and dungeons are revealed. Only through the bleak subterranean stretches can one come face-to-face with the Impaler and the truth about this infamous Romanian ruler. Join host Don Wildman as he braves eerie tombs and clandestine tunnels to discover the "Son of the Devil." 10-11pm -- Bloodlines: The Dracula Family Tree - When a team of Dracula hunters, notably members of a family linked to the real-life Prince Vlad Dracul, tries to unearth the truth about the tyrant, they are haunted by mystifying events, misfortune, and tragedy 500 years after the 15th-century prince died. ____________________________________________________ Tuesday, July 10, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Modern Marvels: Statue of Liberty It started as an idea at a French dinner party and became the symbol of the free world. The story of France's gift to the U.S. reveals a 20-year struggle to design and build the world's largest monument--using paper-thin copper sheets. This program is part of a special night of 3 hour commercial-free programming 7-10PM ET/PT. 8-9pm -- Rogue Waves - Join us for the amazing story of one of nature's most terrifying forces. With striking visuals from ships in storm-tossed seas, the special presents dramatic tales of rogue wave disasters throughout history, and explores the astonishing scientific discoveries surrounding this deadly phenomenon. Aided by mind-blowing CGI footage from the motion picture Poseidon by Wolfgang Petersen, director of The Perfect Storm, we reveal the awesome power of this ocean menace as it really is--a monster rising from the deep! 9-10pm -- The Universe - Spaceship Earth Take a high performance ride through the formation of the third planet from the Sun, Earth. A survivor of one of the most violent "neighborhoods" in the universe, learn how earth was created and discover what creatures hold clues to how life began. What evil forces threaten the demise of Earth? Complex and controversial, this is the scientific detective story of all time. Cutting-edge graphics are used along with the stories of scientists and explorers who dare to venture into the uncharted territory of the cosmos. 10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 04 - The Big Chill It's the 18th day of the ice road season and truckers have delivered more than 3000 loads to the diamond mines. The temperatures are dropping, the loads are getting heavier and the ice is just three feet thick. A 50-ton fuel tanker flips over at the beginning of the ice road. Jay Westgard, a 25-year old ice road veteran, hauls three giant water purifiers to the De Beers Diamond mine. It's a challenging 30-ton load that tests and stresses the ice for the entire journey. Rookie Drew Sherwood finds himself back in Lee Parkinson's garage after a rough trip tore his battery box from the underbelly of his truck. Another rookie TJ Tilcox battles subzero temperatures in a truck that's weatherproofed with duct tape. ____________________________________________________ Wednesday, July 11, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - The Chrysler Building. The 1,046-foot Chrysler Building in New York City, erected between 1928 and 1930, was the world's tallest edifice--until the Empire State Building eclipsed it in 1931! Since then, this Art Deco masterpiece has become one of the most beloved skyscrapers on the city skyline. Financed by auto tycoon Walter P. Chrysler and designed by architect William Van Alen, the private office building was constructed by more than 2,000 men. Find out why it was the first--and last--skyscraper Van Alen designed. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - Freight Trains. They are the life blood of the American Economy, transporting 1.8 billion tons of freight each year, carrying everything from crops, to consumer electronics, cars to chemicals, not to mention coal and just about any other item that you can think of. This program will take you to what is considered the greatest freight transportation system in the world, the Union Pacific's Bailey yard--a pit stop for much of the nation's freight on its journey across the continent. We'll also explore the history of freight transportation from its humble beginnings as tramways in mines to complex system of rails that stretches to every corner of the nation. 9-11pm -- Modern Marvels - 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 automobiles; 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. ____________________________________________________ Thursday, July 12, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Empire State Building. The amazing story of how the New York City skyscraper was constructed during the depths of the Depression. Requiring 10-million bricks and 60,000 tons of steel beams, and using a revolutionary technique to hold the steel girders in place--hot rivets--the landmark building was completed four months ahead of schedule. 8-9pm -- Modern Marvels - It Came from Outer Space Discover how essential space travel technologies have journeyed back to Earth with surprising and indispensable commercial applications. For example, paint that can withstand the heat of reentry now protects our steel-framed high-rises from collapsing in a fire. Batteries that can take a sports car from zero to 60 in four seconds also keep our satellites in orbit. The oxygen tank used by firefighters to save countless lives is just like the one used by our astronauts during the Apollo missions. These and many ordinary objects are traced back to their NASA roots, where they originally had the right stuff. 9-10pm -- Boneyard - Aircraft Marvels of the modern age, today's aircraft are awe inspiring. However, once their flying days are over, the boneyard beckons. Dismantling large aircraft is complex and challenging. Some planes will be destroyed while others are restored to their former glory. No matter which fate awaits, the process always takes place in the boneyard. 10-11pm -- Ancient Discoveries - Chinese Warfare Many of the modern military innovations we take for granted all stem from ancient China. It was the Chinese who invented gunpowder, and in the tenth century the Chinese created a substance that allegedly powered flame throwers and ancient rockets. From automated crossbows to siege machines able to fire over 3,000 yards, we uncover the secrets of China's most awe-inspiring weaponry. Amongst many fascinating stories, we uncover insights into the legendary rotating crossbow and the Cloud Bridge Siege Engine that was used to transport hundreds of troops to the battlefield. We will recreate some of China's legendary battlefield creations to see how the designs would have fared in combat. ____________________________________________________ Friday, July 13, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 6-8pm -- The World Trade Center - 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. 8-9pm -- Gangland: Aryan Brotherhood - The Aryan Brotherhood has the distinction of being the deadliest gang in American history. They kill for hire or for free. They kill people who steal their drugs or those that owe them money. Maintaining the culture of terror that has solidified their power is their primary goal. Drugs, gambling, liquor and inmate prostitution earns them millions. From their beginnings in San Quentin Prison in 1964 to current trials of sixteen members in Los Angeles, discover the ultra-violent world that has largely gone unnoticed by the general public for the last forty years. 9-11pm -- Dogfights - Kamikaze Famous battles are recreated using state-of-the-art computer graphics. With up to 25 percent of the program consisting of animation, viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. First-hand accounts will drive the story. Rare archival footage and original shooting supplement the remarkable computer graphics. ____________________________________________________ Saturday, July 14, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Modern Marvels - Fertilizer Fertilizer--without it two thirds of the world would starve. It makes our lawns grow greener and our crops grow taller. Take a tour of the places where the essential nutrients that feed the soil are harnessed. Dig deep in a phosphate mine, sniff around a sewage treatment plant and get dirty in a trough teeming with seven million worms. Finally, learn about a war that was fought over the control of bat poop! 8-9pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 01 - Hitler's Underground Lair Berlin, Germany was the battlefield of the 20th century, and today, sealed up and forgotten beneath its streets are the remnants of a dark past. Walk anywhere in the city and you could be walking directly on top of one of the over 1000 Nazi bunkers engineered into Berlin's sandy soil, lost remnants of Hitler's ill-fated Germania or even beer brewing plants that inspired the Nazis' journey into the underground. Join host Eric Geller as he travels through the dark and damp recesses of Berlin's secretive soil. 9-10pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 10 - Beneath Vesuvius Naples, Italy narrowly escaped meeting the same fate as its neighboring city, Pompeii in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius wiped out everything around it. The wind saved Naples that day, but life in the shadow of this massive volcano is unlike any other--and so is its underground. For centuries, Neapolitans have carved out their underground, creating a parallel world where their secrets are safe. Entire neighborhoods line the underworld, time capsules of ancient life--with banks, bakeries and homes preserved below. From repelling into an ancient Greek cavern to uncovering Nero's famous stage underneath a modern apartment, host Don Wildman steps back almost 2000 years to discover the world hidden beneath this volcano. 10-11pm -- Cities of the Underworld - 11 - Dracula's Underground Rich in legends and folklore visit the city of Bucharest, Romania and learn about its most famous citizen, Vlad the Impaler, more commonly known as Dracula. Travel underground to separate the myth from reality as secret prisons, caves and dungeons are revealed. Only through the bleak subterranean stretches can one come face-to-face with the Impaler and the truth about this infamous Romanian ruler. Join host Don Wildman as he braves eerie tombs and clandestine tunnels to discover the "Son of the Devil." ____________________________________________________ Sunday, July 15, 2007 ____________________________________________________ 7-8pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 04 - The Big Chill It's the 18th day of the ice road season and truckers have delivered more than 3000 loads to the diamond mines. The temperatures are dropping, the loads are getting heavier and the ice is just three feet thick. A 50-ton fuel tanker flips over at the beginning of the ice road. Jay Westgard, a 25-year old ice road veteran, hauls three giant water purifiers to the De Beers Diamond mine. It's a challenging 30-ton load that tests and stresses the ice for the entire journey. Rookie Drew Sherwood finds himself back in Lee Parkinson's garage after a rough trip tore his battery box from the underbelly of his truck. Another rookie TJ Tilcox battles subzero temperatures in a truck that's weatherproofed with duct tape. 8-10pm -- Dogfights - Kamikaze Famous battles are recreated using state-of-the-art computer graphics. With up to 25 percent of the program consisting of animation, viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy. First-hand accounts will drive the story. Rare archival footage and original shooting supplement the remarkable computer graphics. 10-11pm -- Ice Road Truckers - 05 - Midseason Mayhem It's half way through the grueling ice road season. Six hundred truckers have ferried more than 4,000 loads to the northern mines. They still have 6,000 left to go, but everyday roadblocks threaten their progress. Going a few miles over the speed limit is one thing on a regular road, but on ice it's a different story. Blowouts are appearing in the ice as a result of reckless speeding. Other trucks come to a standstill when a fuel tanker overturns on the Ingraham Trail. The wreck not only blocks traffic, but it's a potential environmental disaster. Rescue crews race to prevent a diesel spill from contaminating the Yellowknife River, the only water supply for this entire outpost. Sorry, no listings ever received for 2nd half of monthThe History Channel's real-life Pirates Of The Caribbean website including a Mail Call videoclip on the pirate's favorite weapons
from episodes of "24" to Star Trek, whether they're available on video/DVD or not!
Saturday, June 02 9 am Wild West Tech: Gang Tech (TVPG V | cc) Saturday, June 09 9 am Wild West Tech: Gold Rush Tech (TVPG | cc) Tuesday, June 19 11pm & 3am Wild West Tech: Execution Tech. Saturday, June 23 9 am Wild West Tech: Shootout Tech. Saturday July 07 Wild West Tech : Execution Tech. Saturday July 14 Wild West Tech : Massacres II. Saturday July 21 Wild West Tech : Biggest Machines in the West. Sunday, July 22 Wild West Tech: Massacre Tech.Mail Call (rated TVPG-L, cc) in 2007, all 60-minute unless noted:
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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Watch Mail Call every week if you know what's good for you, scumbag,
hosted by R. Lee Ermey of Full Metal Jacket
(movie available on video and DVD)
Previous History Channel primetime listings:
May
April
March
February
January 2007
December 2006
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* Congressman Gary Condit (D), who reportedly told police he'd had an affair with Levy, is no longer considered to be a suspect in the case. Condit lost his bid for re-election in the Democratic Primary of 2002.
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