Documentary Archives - Page 24 of 63

River Monsters Season 6 finds Jeremy Wade back in the Amazon

February 26, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

Animal Planet announced that River Monsters — the network’s best-performing series for five years — will return with a new season. River Monsters Season 6 begins April 6 at 9pm ET/PT. Whereas past seasons of River Monsters found host Jeremy Wade criss-crossing the globe in search of monstrous fish, in Season 6 the biologist/extreme angler will spend the entire season in South America — specifically, exploring the Amazon. “I’ve been fishing the world for decades, but it’s the Amazon that keeps calling me back,” Wade said, in a release. “Now, I’m returning to solve the mission of a lifetime to […]

NBC airs Nancy and Tonya documentary before Olympics closing ceremony

February 19, 2014 Ryan Berenz

NBC airs Nancy and Tonya documentary before Olympics closing ceremony: Nancy & Tonya, a look at the 1994 scandal involving Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding that rocked U.S. figure skating leading up to and at the Lillehammer Winter Olympics, airs on NBC Sunday, Feb. 23, at 7pm ET prior to NBC’s coverage of the Sochi Winter Olympics closing ceremony. Announcement in the press release from NBC: NANCY & TONYA DEBUTS SUNDAY, FEB. 23 AT 7 PM ET/6 PM CT ON NBC ON 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1994 WINTER OLYMPICS FIGURE SKATING COMPETITION Mary Carillo Examines Story That Riveted America In One-Hour […]

Honey badger probably don’t care that it’s the subject of a new PBS “Nature” episode

February 12, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

In one of the funniest and most popular (over 65 million views, at last check) viral YouTube videos of recent years, a guy named Randall did a mock nature documentary voiceover accompanying footage of Africa’s honey badger in action, constantly expressing sassy incredulity over just how fearless this little creature is as it proceeds to take on everything from bees to deadly snakes. “Honey badger don’t care” quickly became an enduring Internet meme arising from this video. A more scientific nature documentary outfit — PBS’ Nature series — will now explore the world of the honey badger in a new […]

NGC special looks at the real-life Monuments Men

February 4, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

In advance of George Clooney’s film The Monuments Men, hitting theaters this Friday, Feb. 7, National Geographic Channel is airing a one-hour special looking at the real-life escapades of the people actually involved in saving cultural treasures in Nazi-occupied Europe near the end of World War II. The program, called Hunting Hitler’s Stolen Treasures: The Monuments Men, is billed as a documentary companion to the feature film, and premieres Feb. 5 at 8pm ET/PT on NGC. “Art is the soul of a society; it represents the very best things that we have achieved, and to go after that art and […]

Subject of PBS’ “The Amish: Shunned” finds Amish reality shows “inaccurate” and “disappointing”

February 4, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

Tonight, PBS debuts its American Experience film “The Amish: Shunned,” a follow-up to its successful and fascinating 2012 installment “The Amish.” The two-hour “The Amish Shunned” focuses on the Amish practice of “shunning,” and the cost people who leave the Amish pay. The program follows seven former Amish, who reflect on their decisions to leave the community. Among those featured is Naomi Kramer, a former member of the Old Order Amish who has gone on to become a nurse and to set up the Amish Descendant Scholarship Fund for other former Amish. At a press conference for “The Amish: Shunned” […]

TCM’s 31 Days of Oscar 2014 begins with documentary about Academy Awards

February 1, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

Although the Oscars are going back to being held in March in 2014 (March 2), TCM will again be airing its annual “31 Days of Oscar” event throughout February and through March 3. Helping to start off this monthlong celebration is the Feb. 1 premiere of the new original documentary And the Oscar Goes To…, a look back at 85 years of the famous award. The documentary comes from filmmakers who have won Oscars themselves — Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman — and includes interviews with Oscar-nominated actors and actresses such as Annette Bening, Ellen Burstyn, George Clooney, Tom Hanks, […]

Black History Month 2014 TV programming

January 30, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

Here is some of the notable TV programming airing in recognition of Black History Month 2014. All times are Eastern; please check back for updates and additions. PBS Black Culture Connection (BCC) — Ongoing. Along with its on-air programming commemorating Black History Month 2014, PBS.org offers the BCC online extension, featuring black films, stories and discussion. It’s a digital partnership with the Because of Them, We Can campaign, which aims to educate and connect a new generation to heroes who paved the way. Black History Month on BIO.com — Ongoing. BIO.com has a number of videos on its site celebrating […]

PBS re-airing Pete Seeger “American Masters” film

January 30, 2014 Jeff Pfeiffer

PBS has announced that it will be re-airing a 2008 film from its acclaimed American Masters series called “Pete Seeger: The Power of Song,” for a special broadcast in memoriam of legendary singer, songwriter and activist Pete Seeger, who passed away Monday at the age of 94. The film will also stream online at pbs.org/americanmasters. Film synopsis from PBS: “Pete Seeger: The Power of Song” is the singer’s first authorized film biography, and it poetically documents Pete Seeger’s unique experience and contributions. The man, who introduced America to its own folk heritage, got a whole generation passionate about playing the […]

ESPN’s “The Price of Gold” revisits Tonya/Nancy scandal

January 14, 2014 Ryan Berenz

ESPN’s The Price of Gold revisits Tonya/Nancy scandal: ESPN presents a new 30 for 30 documentary The Price of Gold, looking back at the figure-skating scandal surrounding the 1994 Winter Olympics, when figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by an assailant later discovered to be the ex-husband of rival skater Tonya Harding. ESPN airs The Price of Gold Thursday, Jan. 16, at 9pm ET. Press release from ESPN below: ESPN Films’ Upcoming “The Price of Gold” Focuses on Tonya Harding, Nancy Kerrigan and the “Whack Heard Around the World” 20 Years Ago On January 6, 1994, just weeks before the […]

TCA: Sarah Palin talks new series Amazing America With Sarah Palin

January 10, 2014 Barb Oates

Sarah Palin kicked off day two of the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour discussing her new original series Amazing America With Sarah Palin coming to Sportsman Chanel in April. The series is an anthology of stories that explores some of the most original, interesting and – sometimes eccentric – people, places and pastimes connected to America’s outdoor lifestyle. Palin showed up in black pants and a black sweater, with three-plus-inch, star-spangled stilettos. She told critics that she’s going to “help bust this network out” with her new series. Palin will take viewers coast-to-coast into what Sportsman Channel calls “Red, […]