National Geographic Channel Weekly Highlights, January 18 - 24, 2010

By April MacIntyre Jan 19, 2010, 17:05 GMT

Nouakchott, Mauritania, West Africa where little girls are fattened for marriage because wealth and beauty are measured by a woman\'s weight. They are forced to drink gallons of milk, butter and pounded millet.

National Geographic Channel has excellent programming coming your way, as they presented at the winter press tour for the TV critics and featured a live feed of Sir Richard Branson who answered questions and shared his collaborative four-part series which will chronicle the next two years the events leading up to the first commercial flight in space.

The new spin-off channel Nat Geo Wild will debut this spring, with two shows noted at the recent TCA's.

Casey Anderson will host and star in "Expedition Wild: Project Kodiak."  If you remember Casey, M&C  interviewed him about his Grizzly "best man" and pal Brutus, who has bonded with Anderson.

Casey Anderson at the winter 2010 TCA's - photo by April MacIntyre ©M&C

This spring on the new channel will also see Mireya Mayor host "Mystery Gorillas," the ex Dolphins cheerleader-turned-academic in the field of animal behavior and biology takes us into the jungle; the footage from this show was exhilarating.

"Virgin Galactic" will air this Spring, the network announced during its TCA Winter Tour presentation this past Friday.  Branson's series documents the historic development of the space vacation project that is a marriage of Branson's passion and money and the brains of aeronautical engineer Burt Rutan.

The show will follow the various tests and milestones the two spaceship project will undergo towards making space tourism possible.

The network has acquired worldwide television rights to Afghanistan war-tinged documentary "Restrepo," which will air in Fall 2010.  The documentary film was chosen to open this year's Sundance Film Festival, according to the network.  Produced by award-winning photo journalist Tim Hetherington and journalist/author Sebastian Junger, the film follows the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in one of the most dangerous U.S. postings in Afghanistan.

The network had fun introducing "Sizing Up Sperm," that takes a close look at what's going on in men's pants, debuting March 14 that follows the do-or-die path that 250 million sperm take to be the first to reach a single egg.

"Explorer" fans can look forward to "Explorer: 25 Years with Host Lisa Ling" on Sunday April 18 at 9 PM.  The show is nothing short of a miracle for the lovers of quality TV. It is the longest running documentary series in cable history is the vanguard of investigatory journalism and compelling reporting.

"Breakout" is an eight-part series that looks behind some of the most high-profile jailbreaks in recent history and the detective work that led to their capture.

For the animal lovers, this summer brings "And Man Created Dog" is a two-hour high definition film that takes viewers back 10,000 years to trace the evolutionary development of our four-legged bestie who has been shaped by our needs and personal tastes.

Political junkies get their fix with "Inside The State Department" a trip with Hilary Rodham Clinton, whose perspective will be interesting to hear in the first person.

Nat Geo has sent us their weekly wrap up of the documentaries and series for your schedule and recording plans; please find below some highlights from this week's NGC programs:

INSIDE: BIKER CHICKS: LEATHER AND LACE Wednesday, January 20 at 9PM ET/PT

Like any bride-to-be Jennifer Chaffin worries about the flowers, the dress, the cake. But Chaffin also has fears that other brides do not share: whether the Feds will bust the wedding or the guests will start a knife fight.

Chaffin is a hardcore biker and head of the Leather and Lace Motorcycle Club; and widow of a murdered Warlock.

Now she's marrying another outlaw biker, a member of the notorious Mongols. For the first time cameras enter an outlaw world where wives and girlfriends describe themselves as male 'property'; where men openly display their disregard and disrespect for them; and where weddings are blessed by an 80-strong motorcycle guard of honor.

Video “Biker Chicks Ride On” – After her husband’s murder, Jennifer hopes an all-women motorcycle club will set a peaceful example for the warring men’s clubs.

Video “Biker Chicks” –

Many women in the outlaw biker world are happy to play by men’s rules.

Video “Biker Bonding” –

A 22-year-old single mom and a 55-year-old outlaw biker from an unusual friendship.

TABOO: FAT Wednesday, January 20 at 10PM ET/PT

In much of the West thin is beautiful, and fat is taboo. But a new health epidemic is sweeping the planet: obesity. We follow the story of Alan, who at 650 pounds is imprisoned in his own bedroom.

In Mauritania mothers risk the health of their daughters by force-feeding them to fatten them for marriage.

In the U.S.A., Deidra, a 450 pound model is fat, proud and happy. And 24 "plus size" women push the ideals of beauty when they compete in the Miss Plus America Pageant.

Video “Force Feeding Children” 

In a country where food is scarce and famine a regular occurrence, fat is a symbol of beauty. In Mauritania, young girls are force-fed in a tradition called ‘gavage.’

Video “650-Pound Man” –

For 30 years, Alan Barges was eating himself to death. Now he hopes to live an active life again one day.

DOGTOWN: SANCTUARY Friday, January 22 at 10PM ET/PT

Shaggy, a mixed-breed feral dog, survived living in the wild near the Grand Canyon and may never have socialized with humans. After six years of extreme weather and hardship, Sherry Woodard helps Shaggy learn how to begin to trust and interact with humans.

Next, Dr. Mike and his wife turn to John Garcia for help with their dog Penny, a mischievous beagle mix whose uncontrollable behavior must be corrected before she causes more damage to their happy home.

Finally, Reggie’s family can no longer afford the veterinary care for this elkhound mix and surrender him to DogTown, where he is treated for a mysterious disease that is slowly destroying his nose and ears.

Video “Shaggy the Survivor” 

After surviving 6 years alone in the Grand Canyon, this wild and dreadlocked pup is heading to DogTown.

Video “Puppy Puzzles” 

Penny’s a little too clever for Mike and Elissa’s own good. So John’s got some tools to keep this rambunctious pup occupied.

American Paranormal - This SUNDAY January 24 at 8P et/pt

Preview "Bigfoot"

As humans, we're drawn to the supernatural. This Sunday, scientific theory and forensic technology will be used on two greatest unexplained mysteries our time. First, believers in Bigfoot claim he's half man, half primate and roams the Pacific Northwest. A team of experts investigates the phenomenon to reveal what's science, and what's science fiction.

Then, investigators search for paranormal activity at Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary, one of the most haunted places in America.