August programming schedule for NGC:
Premieres
“Is it Real?: Ghost Ships” Tuesday, August 14 at 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Tales of Ghost Ships cursed have haunted us for centuries. Legends, such as phantom ships manned by the souls of the damned or the crew of Mary Celeste that mysteriously vanished into thin air, have all intrigued us. Could these legends be real? Or can they be explained by modern science? Now, join Is It Real? as NGC takes us on a voyage through nautical legend and challenges some of the most mysterious maritime tales.
“Explorer: Science of Dogs” Wednesday, August 15 at 8:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
The dog is one of mankind’s prolific creatures. With 400 breeds and counting, the dog is more varied in size and behavior than any other species on the planet. Explorer: Science of Dogs looks at man’s evolutionary manipulation of dogs’ appearance, talents and temperament — and the accelerating efforts to create breeds to suit our needs (more than 80 percent of today’s breeds did not exist 150 years ago). From desirable traits like supersensitive hearing and smell to the unintended consequences of genetic diseases, learn how nature and man have partnered to deliberately create new and specialized versions of man’s best friend.
“Taboo: Signs of Identity" Wednesday, August 15 at 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Marks of identity are not always about the artwork. In southern Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, young unmarried women of the Hamar tribe are voluntarily beaten in conjunction with a male relative’s rite of passage into manhood. In Canada, members of an extreme subculture scar their bodies with scorching-hot metal. For some “branders,” it is a test of endurance and courage, while for others it’s a painful but unique form of art. Then, the Japanese equivalent of the mafia is identified with their criminal lifestyle by a spectacular full-body tattoo, known as horimono.
“Clash of the Caimans” Saturday, August 18 at 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
During Amazon’s dry season, hundreds of black caiman gather in the dark waters of a remote and hidden lake. Now, NGC investigates how these giant crocodilians that can stretch up to 16 feet long and weigh as much as half a ton, trek to this only remaining source of water and clash for food.
“Prehistoric Predators: Wolf” Sunday, August 19 at 9:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
It was the greatest wolf ever to walk the earth. The Dire Wolf, a fierce and powerful alpha predator in the savage ice age world was larger and more powerful than any modern-day wolf. For 100,000 years, Dire Wolf packs methodically orchestrated kill after kill. But suddenly, in an instant of geological time, they vanished. Now, in Prehistoric Predators, NGC examines why the powerful Dire Wolf perished while its smaller, weaker cousin — the Gray Wolf — survived.
“Prehistoric Predators: Sabertooth” Sunday, August 19 at 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
The African lion is one of the most deadly predators alive today. Measuring up to 9 feet long and weighing in at 400 lbs, it richly deserves its name: “King of the Beasts.” Yet as intimidating as it is, the lion pales in comparison to its prehistoric relative: the Sabertooth, which was 25 percent bigger than the biggest male lion and could weigh up to 750 lbs. The Sabertooth dominated the primal landscape of the Americas for nearly 2 million years… until suddenly and mysteriously it became extinct. Now, Prehistoric Predators explores the world of the Sabertooth, including how it lived, how it killed, and how it died.
Additional primetime highlights include :
MONDAY, AUGUST 13
“Lockdown: Gang War” 8:00 PM ET/PT
NGC takes you inside one of the United States’ most violent and dangerous maximum-security prisons — Salinas Valley State Prison in Soledad, Calif. With nearly 200 gang-related attacks each year, overcrowded conditions have increased tensions for both officers and inmates. See firsthand how fights, stabbings and murders are organized by gang leaders and how outnumbered officers can easily be at the mercy of a gang war. “We have control of everything that happens in the prison,” says a former gang member who currently is serving life for murder. Lockdown: Gang War also explores how officers deploy precautionary tactics ranging from unannounced middle-of-the-night raids to searching each inmate by hand for weapons in the outdoor yard.
“Lockdown: Women Behind Bars” 9:00 PM ET/PT
With 3,900 violent female offenders, Valley State Prison for Women in Chowchilla, Calif., is one of the largest and most dangerous women’s prisons in the nation. Last year, the prison recorded its first inmate murder, demonstrating that women can be every bit as violent as men. With female inmates becoming one of the fastest growing segments of California’s prison population, officers are searching for ways to stop the drug trade and reduce violence. Violent incidents are in turn on the rise with officials taking proactive precautions while at the same time inmates are becoming more creative by crafting homemade weapons. In Lockdown: Women Behind Bars, pregnant inmates, murderers and drug addicts give firsthand accounts of their experiences behind bars.
“Lockdown: Total Control” 10:00 PM ET/PT
Go inside one of the newest high-tech maximum-security prisons in the United States — Alexander Correctional Institution in Taylorsville, N.C. In this prison, which has earned the nickname “hell” from inmates, see how officers use sophisticated technology — and unconventional methods — to keep a “choke hold” on its violent prisoners. In Lockdown: Total Control, NGC uncovers the secrets behind this penitentiary and learn how officials uncover a drug ring that threatens to undermine prison security, prevent rapes, stabbings and riots by using a range of disciplinary actions.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 14
“Is it Real?: Atlantis” 8:00 PM ET/PT
Ever since Plato first described the existence of an island paradise populated by an advanced civilization, the myth of Atlantis has captured the human imagination. Join Is It Real? on a quest that traverses the globe in search of the ever-elusive lost civilization of Atlantis. Visit Egypt with an "investigative mythologist" for an unconventional look at the pyramids; journey to the Yucatan peninsula with an anthropologist to decode the secrets of ancient Mayan architecture; and sail to the Greek island of Santorini with a geologist to investigate an active volcano that may have destroyed the fabled city of Atlantis around 1640 B.C.
“Is it Real?: Bermuda Triangle” 9:00 PM ET/PT
Many theories have tried to explain why numerous ships and planes have vanished without a trace in the region known as the Bermuda Triangle. Now, some believers think they may have found a missing piece to this mysterious puzzle. With a team of scientists, the National Geographic Channel embarks on an intriguing investigation as Is It Real? examines the evidence and separates facts from fiction in the Bermuda Triangle.
“Is it Real?: Ghost Ships” 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Description located above in Premieres section.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15
“Explorer: Science of Dogs” 8:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Description located above in Premieres section.
“A Man Among Wolves” 9:00 PM ET/PT
National Geographic Channel presents the unique story of maverick researcher named Shaun Ellis who raises abandoned wolf cubs and teaches them, by example, how to survive in the wild. Shaun has given up everything to take a daring and unorthodox approach to understanding wolves’ every move — living and behaving like them, howling, licking and snarling like them, even eating carcass meat like them. This one-hour special documents this man’s incredible journey to better grasp the complex nature of wolf society by immersing himself in their world as their accepted leader. It is a curious study that provides Shaun with one-of-a-kind insight into this feared predator.
“Taboo: Signs of Identity" 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Description located above in Premieres section.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 16
“Engineering the Impossible: The Colosseum” 8:00 PM ET/PT
In its prime, The Colosseum was a venue for gladiators to fight to the death, but today, the arena lives on as one of the grandest and most spectacular megastructures in the world. Constructed in the absence of electricity, power tools or earth-moving equipment, it reveals an architectural process that rivals today’s modern methods. Two thousand years ago, its creators pioneered the use of building materials that are still with us today — including concrete, bricks, drainage systems and production lines — to build a structure that could hold more than 50,000 people and allow them all to exit in just 30 minutes (a feat not easily replicated today, as any sports fan will testify).
“Engineering Egypt” 9:00 PM ET/PT (2 Hours)
Ancient Egypt was powerful and mysterious — lasting for more than two thousand years and leaving behind the symbols of its greatness written on the desert in stone. More than a feat of engineering brilliance, it is a story of primitive technology, sweat and toil of thousands and a powerful supernatural belief that man can survive death. In Engineering Egypt, this two-hour special takes us into the hearts and minds of two of the greatest pharaohs as they stop at nothing to build their way toward immortality and show us the story behind audacious projects in Egypt, such as one of Seven Wonders of the World: the Great Pyramid of Giza.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 17
“Dog Whisperer: Skyler, Cassie & Tori" 8:00 PM ET/PT
First, Cesar Millan meets an adopted miniature schnauzer named Tori compulsively spins in circles. After about a year, Tori’s owners tried to solve the problem by giving her some playmates, two more miniature schnauzers Cassie and Skyler. However, whenever Tori started her whirling routine they corner and attack her. With the attacks escalating and now drawing blood, can Cesar set this spinning schnauzer straight? Then, Cesar travels to NYC to meet four French bulldogs — Boris, Bella, Tallulah, and Groucho — who have begun their own French Revolution against their owner. Can Cesar stop their protests before they storm the Bastille? Finally, county police outside Atlanta, Ga., found Howie, a Lab/chow/shepherd mix, with a leash tied so tightly around his neck that it had grown into his skin and it had to be surgically removed. For two years now, Howie has resided at the local Animal Hospital and is now finally ready for the “real world” but he is aggressive towards new faces. Can Cesar rescue this rescued dog? For more information, visit www.ngcdogwhisperer.com .
“Dog Whisperer: Fondue, Chip, Hope, & JoyJoy, and Elmer” 9:00 PM ET/PT
First, meet a hard-working couple whose French bulldog’s bad behavior has caused them to miss business trips and ultimately lose out on work. Fondue recently failed a doggy day care entrance exam and now the couple has no one to watch him while they are away. Can Fondue become a straight “A" student with Cesar Millan’s help? Next, meet Shelby and her three Jack Russell terriers; Chip, Hope and JoyJoy. Each dog helped her get over a break-up, but now the three together are fighting each other for her attention. Can Cesar Millan trump their trio of terror? And finally meet Elmer, a beagle that howls every time another dog approaches. Can Cesar bring Elmer's howling to a screeching halt? For more information, visit www.ngcdogwhisperer.com .
“Is it Real?: Bigfoot " 10:00 PM ET/PT
Is there really a giant primate running around the world’s wilderness areas? Or is Bigfoot just a figment of our imagination? In 1967, a piece of film footage purported to capture an image of Bigfoot, a legendarily elusive giant primate. NGC examines the controversial film and interviews Bigfoot believers, who claim to have encountered the shadowy beast, so that you can determine: Is It Real?
SATURDAY, AUGUST 18
“America's Deadly Dozen” 8:00 PM ET/PT
America is home to an array of wild creatures that have roamed the continent for millennia. Among this myriad of species is an elite group called America’s Deadly Dozen — an assembly of animals, insects and arachnids that are beautiful but very dangerous. Now, the National Geographic Channel takes us inside their inner sanctums to examine the magnificent adaptations that have allowed them to survive and thrive.
“Australia's Deadly Dozen” 9:00 PM ET/PT
Australia, a continent unto itself, is home to scores of creatures found nowhere else in the world. Among them is Australia’s Deadly Dozen. They are equipped with an arsenal of highly evolved predatory skills. Now, join the National Geographic Channel and witness their magnificence by journeying from the Great Barrier Reef to the Outback to see in stunning detail why they are considered some of deadliest creatures in the world.
“Clash of the Caimans” 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Description located above in Premieres section.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 19
“Battle of the Bears” 8:00 PM ET/PT
In the heart of Yellowstone National Park, there is a vicious struggle between two of the world’s most powerful creatures — black bears and grizzly bears. When a black bear was found slain by a grizzly bear in 1990 it was the first documented case in 60 years of research. Over the next 15 years, three more slaughtered black bears were discovered and researchers struggled to determine the factors behind these deaths. Now, the National Geographic Channel, with a team of scientists, investigates this Battle of the Bears.
“Prehistoric Predators: Wolf” 9:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Description located above in Premieres section.
“Prehistoric Predators: Sabertooth” 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Description located above in Premieres section.
Premieres: “Hunter and Hunted: Jungle Breakout” Monday, August 20, at 9:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
In the mountains of West Africa’s Sierra Leone, three tourists are attacked by one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom — a chimp. While they are sightseeing in the safety of their car, a chimp charges, breaks a window and bites off three fingers of one man. In Hunter and Hunted, NGC investigates why this animal, usually fearful of humans, attacked so aggressively.
“Hunter and Hunted: Bear Man's Land” Monday, August 20, at 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Vitaly Nikolaenko, a self-taught bear naturalist and amateur photographer, spent most of his life tracking some of the world’s biggest brown bears — until he was viciously killed by one. After his nearly 30 years of experience working in close proximity with bears, what made this one suddenly turn on him? Could it have been a shortage of food, or did Vitaly’s own actions spark the attack? With a team of experts, forensic evidence and Vitaly’s original footage, NGC sheds light on what actually happened in Hunter and Hunted: Bear Man’s Land.
“Locked Up Abroad: Venezuela” Wednesday, August 22, at 9:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Find out how a chance encounter with a Russian drug lord left two young men serving 10 years in a Venezuelan prison. Lured by promises of money and beaches, the men had agreed to smuggle drugs. But once in Venezuela, they realized they had made a terrible error in judgment, and not long after they found themselves Locked Up Abroad. NGC relives their terrifying story from the chance encounter that started it all to their prison survival to their desperate escape from the country.
“Taboo: Proving Ground" Wednesday, August 22, at 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
In some cultures, men prove their manhood by enduring pain. Get a pass into an American fight club, where some successful, educated males engage in physical combat to test their manhood, using anything to attack — wooden knives, soda cans, sticks, even soap-on-a-rope. On the remote Indonesian island of Sumba, hundreds of men take part in a time-honored event known as the Pasola. Facing off in two teams on horseback, they charge toward each other hurling spears, all trying to land a blow or knock down a rider. In northern Benin, young men of the Fulani tribe must whip an opponent twice during a large public demonstration, and then survive two savage blows themselves. This ritual test of endurance is won when a young man does not flinch, but laughs in his opponent's face.
Special Encore Presentation…
“Inside 9/11” (Updated Version) Sunday, August 26, 7:00 – 11:00 PM ET (4 Hours with Limited Commercial Interruption)
We will never forget September 11, 2001 — a day of unimaginable tragedy, forever altering history and our place in the world. Now, the National Geographic Channel presents an updated version of its Emmy-nominated Inside 9/11. New details that have come to light have been incorporated into the special, including the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui; information about the existence of Able Danger, the highly classified military intelligence team charged with tracking al Qaeda; video of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon and audio from Flight 93; the dissolving of the CIA’s bin Laden unit; the killing of al Qaeda’s leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi; and recent tapes from bin Laden.
Additional primetime highlights include:
MONDAY, AUGUST 20 “Hunter and Hunted: Horns of Death” 8:00 PM ET/PT
Throughout Africa, cape buffalos are known to be fierce enough to attack lions, but recently they seem to be turning their deadly aggression toward people. What is causing an animal that has earned the nickname “Black Death” to become violent toward us? In Horns of Death, the National Geographic Channel investigates these disturbing outbreaks, probes the details of this animal behavior and provides firsthand eyewitness accounts.
“Hunter and Hunted: Jungle Breakout” 9:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Description located above in Premieres section.
“Hunter and Hunted: Bear Man's Land” 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Description located above in Premieres section.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 21 “National Geographic's Most Astounding Moments” 8:00 PM ET/PT
Get ready for some of the most astounding moments ever captured on film — from surviving disaster on land, air and sea to filming a volcano’s bubbling lake at exactly the right moment — in National’s Geographic’s Most Astounding Moments. These moments will shock, amaze and astound you, from animals that were saved in the nick of time, to rites and rituals that push endurance to the extreme, to sinking boats and deadly storms. Watch the power of nature’s fury — from inside a deadly tornado. Come face-to-face with the crushing jaws of a saltwater crocodile. And witness nature’s most extreme weather and those who brave it as part of their job.
“Critical Situation: Hell on High Water” 9:00 PM ET/PT
One of the most rigorous sailing competitions in the world, the 54th Sydney to Hobart yacht race turned into one of the worst sporting disasters in history. Almost 100 vessels faced brutal 90-mph winds and towering 60-foot waves. Critical Situation: Hell on High Water revisits the tragedy and analyzes the ferocious storm that left six sailors dead. Yachtsmen and search-and-rescue teams share their near-fateful tales of battling the severe storm conditions, and a news helicopter captures one amazing rescue.
“Critical Situation: Operation Certain Death” 10:00 PM ET/PT
In the jungles of war-torn Sierra Leone reside thousands of powerful armed rebels known as the “West Side Boys.” On August 25, 2000, members of the Royal Irish Rangers are ambushed. Fearing a quick execution, the British government launches a risky and grueling rescue air mission. Now, in Critical Situation: Operation Certain Death, NGC takes viewers through the mayhem and the counterattack of this operation with firsthand accounts from both sides of the hostage situation, including rebel leader Foday Kallay and ex-hostage Musa Bangura.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22 "Explorer: Drowning New Orleans” 8:00 PM ET/PT
Explorer deconstructs the science behind the water that drowned New Orleans and follows the water from Hurricane Katrina’s first strike to the total deluge. The program includes eyewitness accounts and never-before-seen video, including exclusive footage of the 17th Street Canal levee breach shot at approximately 11:11 a.m. on Monday, August 29, by Captain Paul Hellmers of the New Orleans Fire Department. This footage is the earliest known visual documentation by a government responder of the levee breach that allowed Lake Pontchartrain to flow unimpeded into the Big Easy. Hellmers was a member of the first team to officially report the catastrophic breach that set in motion the response that has since been subject to scrutiny and controversy. Two still frames and an eyewitness transcript from the Hellmers footage are included in the Hurricane Katrina report issued by the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
“Locked Up Abroad: Venezuela” 9:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Description located above in Premieres section.
“Taboo: Proving Ground" 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)
Description located above in Premieres section.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23 “Crash Science: Runaway Vehicles” 8:00 PM ET/PT
NGC explores the technological advancements that make our roadways safe. Ride along with highway police to learn some of the specialized techniques used to apprehend a fleeing vehicle. See for yourself, the amazing stopping power of runaway truck ramps and examine the science and safety measures hidden in the cement medians you see everyday. At any given moment an automobile can and will go out of control. Now, find out how modern science is making our roadways safer.
“Explorer: Doomsday Volcano” 9:00 PM ET/PT
In 1980, a massive eruption blew off the upper 1,000 feet of Mount St. Helens, leveling thousands of acres and killing 57 people. Yet this eruption is minuscule compared to the eruption of Santorini, in the Aegean Sea, some 3,600 years ago. One of the largest, yet most mysterious, natural calamities in human history, the eruption of Santorini may have wiped out an entire civilization. Much of the evidence of its destruction has been lost at sea … until now. In Explorer, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Robert Ballard and an international team of volcanologists, armed with a state-of-the-art remote operated vehicle (ROV) fitted with HD cameras, dive into the belly of the Santorini’s submerged caldera. Can they finally measure the magnitude of a disaster believed to have rocked the planet? Will they discover what triggered the cataclysmic eruption?
“Naked Science: Prehistoric Americans” 10:00 PM ET/PT
Who really were the first Americans? In Prehistoric Americans, National Geographic Channel sheds new light on the discoveries that challenge the earliest chapters of our history, long before Columbus ever landed. No longer is it universally accepted that the first Americans were hunters who came over the Bering land bridge around 13,500 years ago. High-tech forensic science shows why some scientists believe that early pioneers, with a sophisticated understanding of engineering, arrived thousands of years earlier than we previously believed.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 “Dog Whisperer: Pups on Parole, Eton & Dolly" 8:00 PM ET/PT
In September 2004, the Nevada Department of Corrections and Heaven Can Wait Sanctuary of Las Vegas entered into a partnership and founded the program “Pups on Parole.” Inmates are taught how to train the dogs to help make them ready to be adopted. Cesar Millan travels to Las Vegas to work with inmates and finds his mantra of exercise, discipline and affection helps both the dogs and the inmates. Then, ex-CFL player Jeffrey Tafralis and his wife Susan adopted an ex-show dog named Eton. However, they also had to adopt Eton’s companion named Dolly, who bosses him around. A trainer helped Eton become more of an “alpha dog,” but now Eton and Dolly are locked in a constant battle. Susan and Jeffrey worry that the larger Eton may actually hurt Dolly. How will Cesar be able to put an end to this malicious melee?
Dog Whisperer: Vicki & Taz, Punkin and Maddy” 9:00 PM ET/PT
Maria and Steve have tried everything from obedience classes to spray bottles, but nothing seems to help their min pin siblings named Vicky and Taz. Vicky has bitten four people, Taz is becoming more aggressive, and their vet says if something else happens, he would have to recommend that the dogs be put down. Maria and Steve turn to Cesar Millan as their last hope. Next, Cesar meets Amanda Yates, whose pit bull mix, Punkin, plays with rocks. The behavior was cute at first, but now Punkin acts as if the rocks are valuable and will attack other dogs if he suspects they are coming after his rock. Amanda calls on Cesar to help Punkin let go of his “rocky” past. Then, meet Molly Schiot, who rescued a white terrier mix named Maddy from life below an L.A. underpass. After an initial period of shyness, Maddy turned out to be the sweetest dog ever. But somewhere in her past, Maddy developed an intense fear of men. This fear has now put a huge crimp on Molly’s social life. How will Cesar be able to turn this terrified terrier into an equal-opportunity sweetie?
“Is It Real?: Chupacabra" 10:00 PM ET/PT
They say it is a bloodthirsty hybrid from hell — part reptile, part kangaroo and part vampire bat — designed to drain its victims entirely of blood. Is it an alien invasion, a secret genetic experiment gone wrong or a creation of the human psyche? National Geographic Channel examines the evidence with believers and skeptics alike as science and the supernatural collide in search for answers to the ultimate question: Is It Real?
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25 “Thunderbeast” 8:00 PM ET/PT
Thunderbeast is a stunning insider’s view of one of our country’s most impressive wild creatures — the American buffalo. Working over a period of eight years, Emmy award-winning wildlife filmmaker Bob Landis documented the real dramas of bison in Yellowstone National Park. From epic battles with grizzly bears and wolves, treacherous winters to late summer mating seasons, Thunderbeast captures the awesome survival skills of this American icon.
“Prehistoric Predators: Wolf” 9:00 PM ET/PT
It was the greatest wolf ever to walk the earth. The dire wolf, a fierce and powerful alpha predator in the savage ice age world, was larger and more powerful than any modern-day wolf. For 100,000 years, dire wolf packs methodically orchestrated kill after kill. But suddenly, in an instant of geological time, they vanished. Now, in Prehistoric Predators, NGC examines why the powerful dire wolf perished while its smaller, weaker cousin — the gray wolf — survived.
“Prehistoric Predators: Sabertooth” 10:00 PM ET/PT
The African lion is one of the most deadly predators alive today. Measuring up to 9 feet long and weighing in at 400 lbs, it richly deserves its name: “King of the Beasts.” Yet as intimidating as it is, the lion pales in comparison to its prehistoric relative: the Sabertooth, which was 25 percent bigger than the biggest male lion and could weigh up to 750 lbs. The Sabertooth dominated the primal landscape of the Americas for nearly 2 million years … until suddenly and mysteriously it became extinct. Now, Prehistoric Predators explores the world of the Sabertooth, including how it lived, how it killed and how it died.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26 “Inside 9/11” (Updated Version) 7:00 PM ET (4 Hours with Limited Commercial Interruption)
Description located above in Special Encore Presentation section.
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