Documentary Archives - Page 34 of 63

NFL Characters Unite on USA Network Friday

February 8, 2013 Ryan Berenz

“NFL Characters Unite” on USA Network Friday, Feb. 8, includes NFL stars Larry Fitzgerald, Jameel McClain, Troy Polamalu and Justin Tuck discussing how they overcame prejudice, bullying and discrimination. The second annual NFL Characters Unite documentary airs on USA Network Friday, Feb. 8, at 7pm ET as part of the network’s Characters Unite Month to stand up to intolerance, bigotry, bullying, discrimination and hatred. The NFL has partnered with Characters Unite for this documentary special, featuring stories from players Larry Fitzgerald, Jameel McClain, Troy Polamalu and Justin Tuck. From the Characters Unite press release: On Friday, February 8 at 7/6c, […]

Travel Channel special chronicles making of 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue

February 7, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

The 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue will be released on Tuesday, Feb. 12, and a few days later, on Sunday, Feb. 17, Travel Channel will premiere a one-hour special that takes a look at the production of this year’s installment of the famed issue. The special, titled Sports Illustrated: The Making of Swimsuit ’13 — 7 Continents, 17 Wonders, airs at 8pm ET/PT on Feb. 17, and visits the exotic locales featured in the 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, giving behind-the-scenes insight into what makes these photo shoots so difficult. The production of the 2013 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue brought […]

New CBS special details how 2012 Grammys went on following untimely death of Whitney Houston

February 5, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Even if you aren’t necessarily a music fan, you undoubtedly remember where you were when you heard the news last year that legendary pop icon Whitney Houston had suddenly passed away. The death was shocking enough to the world in general, and to the music community in particular, but it presented a particular concern for the producers, hosts and musical artists of the 2012 Grammys, which were going to be held less than 24 hours later. How do you quickly revamp the production to effectively, and tastefully, honor an artist who had contributed so much and touched so many, while […]

“Mea Maxima Culpa” documentary a shattering look at church’s silence over priest sex abuse

February 4, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Sexual abuse of a child is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable. When that act is committed in the supposedly “safe” environment of a school or a church, and by an authority to whom the safety of the child has been entrusted, it becomes an even greater betrayal of the trust that should exist between adults and children. Further, when acts are committed upon children who are not only vulnerable to exploitation because of their age but also because they have a physical impairment, then those acts become truly enraging and saddening. Such acts are the subject of Oscar […]

First footage of live giant squid in its natural habitat airs on Discovery Channel

January 27, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Until now, we’ve had to imagine what a giant squid looked like swimming in its natural habitat, and that imagining has resulted in everything from ancient woodcuts of Krakens to CGI “Sharktopi” in Syfy original movies. We have seen giant squid carcasses washed ashore, but because the mysterious creatures live in such deep waters, their lives have been shrouded in secrecy, odd considering that they are such large creatures, and photographing one live in its natural habitat has been considered by many to be the Holy Grail of natural history filmmaking. But the many efforts to do so have failed. […]

Noted actors explore The Bard in “Shakespeare Uncovered” on PBS

January 25, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

“We have such a disadvantage with Shakespeare,” says actor and one host of the new PBS series Shakespeare Uncovered Jeremy Irons, “because everybody teaches it badly at school, and so you leave school — like the French leave school, and they never want to hear about Proust again. The Americans and the English, if they are lucky, they get taught a bit of Shakespeare. They probably see a bad production, and they think, ‘Right. Fine. School is over. Shakespeare, thank you very much. That’s the end of you for my life.’ And so we — I mean, as an actor, […]

Black History Month 2013 TV schedule

January 23, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Updated Feb. 7, 2013, 2:15pm CT Here are some of the notable new and returning TV specials, documentaries and movies airing in celebration of Black History Month 2013. All times are Eastern. Programming is subject to change; check back regularly for additions and updates. UNCF An Evening of Stars — Jan. 27 at 10pm on BET. Anthony Anderson hosts the 34th annual UNCF An Evening of Stars Educating Our Future. The variety show focuses public attention on America’s need for more African-American college graduates and UNCF’s work getting students to and through college. Features performances and appearances by Usher, Steve […]

Glee Season 4: Harry Shum Jr. hopes there’s more to explore for Mike Chang

January 23, 2013 Lori Acken

Devoted Glee fans know Harry Shum Jr. as the show’s go-to dancing machine, Mike Chang. When the show’s fourth season returns with new episodes on Jan. 24, Shum hopes we’ll also get to know more about his character’s post-McKinley life in Chicago. Or possibly Lima. “There’s still room to explore Mike and Tina and why they broke up,” Shum says. “They haven’t really talked about that. And also we haven’t really seen what Mike Chang has been doing. They’ve explored a lot of the other characters — like Puckerman going to L.A. They’ve explored the New York life, and Santana, […]

Week of special PBS programming to focus on Newtown tragedy

January 14, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

Updated Feb. 18, 2013, 11:24am CT At the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter Press Tour today, PBS announced that in response to the tragic shootings in Newtown, Conn., last month, it will be airing a week of special programming under the banner “After Newtown” that will “continue the public conversation on gun laws, mental illness and school security.” The “After Newtown” programming will air on PBS stations Feb. 18-22 (check local listings) and will range from original documentaries to installments of established PBS programs. In explaining this PBS coverage, network president and CEO Paula Kerger said, “PBS is not the […]

“Pioneers of Television” returns for Season 3 on PBS

January 14, 2013 Jeff Pfeiffer

PBS’ Pioneers of Television is back for its third season this month (now narrated by one of today’s busiest personalities in that business, Ryan Seacrest), with four new episodes devoted to some of the most memorable moments and people in popular TV genres. This season will memorably feature a reunion of the cast of the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds for the season finale episode about the miniseries genre. Episodes kick off with “Funny Ladies,” which begins with the first standup comediennes to appear on television, including Joan Rivers and Phyllis Diller (whose final interview was for this episode). It […]