"Animals Of The NFL" (National Geographic Channel, 4-5 pm E/P) This natural science documentary/sports show profiles the animals which are the icons of professional U.S. football teams. The show consists of seventeen mini-documentaries, each dedicated to a single team and their icon filmed in the wild: the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders (!), Carolina Panthers, St Louis Rams, Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks.
Sunday, January 26
"Beating The Odds" (CNN, 8-9 pm E/P) For this news special, reporter Connie Chung has chosen highlights from her recent weeklong documentary series on women who have overcome terrible problems. These 'comeback stories' include Heather Whitestone who was the first deaf Miss America and has been an
ambassador for the deaf community since her reign as Miss America. Six months
ago, she decided to try to regain her hearing with a cochlear implant, a move
that some considered controversial. She discusses her hearing improvements
since the surgery, as well as whether she still believes it was the wisest decision. You'll also see Carnie Wilson, who made the decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery in 1999 when she weighed 300 pounds and had tried everything to lose weight. Today, she is a lighter 145 pounds. And Jerri Nielsen, a medical doctor who battled breast cancer while trapped with primitive medical equipment and medicine at the Amudsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica. These and other Beating The Odds stories are available at
http://www.cnn.com/transcripts.
Monday, January 27
VCR SPECIAL! -- "JASON XIV: From Shore To Sea" (National Geographic Channel 2-3 pm ET, 11am-noon PT) This is the initial episode of an eleven hour 'reality' documentary about 28 students, eight teachers and Dr. Robert Ballard (discoverer of the Titanic wreck) exploring California's Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary. The episodes run weekdays from today to February 3, concluding February 3-7. At this California ecosystem, the students learn about pinnipeds such as the Elephant Seal and the California Sea Lion, and the giant, yet fragile, kelp forests. Tell your science teacher to tape these episodes and log on to the accompanying website http://www.jasonproject.org.
"Transcontinental Railroad" (PBS, 9-11pm E/P) This is a documentary about one of the greatest engineering feats of all time -- and a flat-out swindle. It
made fortunes, created scandals, devoured lives. In the end, it united a nation. On May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah, a boisterous crowd gathered to witness the realization of a dream first pursued by a farsighted and determined engineer decades earlier, followed by years of grueling work by Chinese, Irish and African-American laborers. There's an excellent website for teachers at http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/lesson_plans/lesson01.htm.
Tuesday, January 28
"Wild Discovery: Wolverine" (Discovery Channel, 6-7 pm E/P) This is a
documentary about an animal included on the 1996 list of threatened and endangered species. The wolverine is considered to be one of the ten most savage animals in the world. (They're really scary, and one wonders if they're worth saving. Let me know what you think.)
Wednesday, January 29
"ZOOM" (PBS, 3:30-4 pm E/P -- local times vary) In this weekly action-adventure series for the post-Sesame Street set, science is put to use solving problems. And sometimes making problems. In this episode, regular cast members Kenny and Kaleigh make a big bucket of Zlime from cornstarch and water -- is it a solid or a liquid? Buzz makes delicious cinnamon snails on CafeZOOM. In the ZOOMguest segment, a girl dreams of being a meteorologist and makes a homemade barometer. The show has a supercool new website attached, called "Kitchen Chemistry", about experiments you can do at home. (Normally, I warn against trying certain things at home -- but these are OK if you're careful.) Even if you don't watch the show, look at http://pbskids.org/zoom.
"Julliard" (PBS, 9-11 pm E/P) This documentary in the "American Masters" series was made during a full year of filming at a fabulous, hard-to-get-into New York conservatory which has set an international standard for education in music and drama. Five stories of present students are interwoven with past glories and struggles of alumnae and faculty such as Itzhak Perlman, Wynton Marsalis, Leontyne Price, Kevin Spacey and Robin Williams. This is truly "survivor'' stuff -- but with the best kind of people.
Thursday, January 30
"UFO's -- What You Didn't Know: When UFO's Arrive" (History Channel, 10-11 pm E/P) This documentary is at a late hour and covers a topic you might want to get your parents involved in. I mean, this is a chance to get them to let you
stay up late on a school night. Topic: just in case a UFO lands, the US government actually has a plan of action!! Also, a look at international files reveal that other governments, agencies and religious groups around the world have plans to deal with verifiable extraterrestrial contact. What would the Pope say!??
