National Geographic Channel Archives - Page 9 of 13

In advance of “Chasing UFOs” series, NatGeo releases results of “Aliens Among Us” survey

June 28, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

More than 80 million Americans are certain that UFOs exist. A large majority think aliens might possess superpowers, including time-travel skills. And two-thirds of Americans think that Barack Obama is better suited to handle an alien invasion than Mitt Romney. These are some of the results that came out of NatGeo’s “Aliens Among Us” survey conducted last month, which asked questions about UFOs and the possibility that aliens exist and have visited Earth. The results were announced yesterday, a few days before the premiere of National Geographic Channel’s new series Chasing UFOs, which premieres on the network June 29 at […]

TV’s “Roma” empire expands with NGC’s “American Gypsies”

June 28, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

American subcultures have become a hot trend in the past year, with TV shows delving into the lives of the Amish, a group called the Hutterites and, perhaps most infamously — and entertainingly, in some instances — Gypsies (some of whom prefer to be called “Roma”). TLC has had hits with My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding and My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding (which were not short on gaudy fashions, emotional fireworks and dramatic fisticuffs — and that was just among the women). National Geographic Channel is now starting its own Roma series, American Gypsies, this month. RELATED STORY: GYPSIES […]

NGC re-airs Henry Hill “Locked Up Abroad” episode tonight

June 13, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

Henry Hill, the inspiration for Martin Scorsese’s classic 1990 movie Goodfellas (where he was played by Ray Liotta), and the nonfiction book from which the film was drawn, Nicholas Pileggi’s Wiseguys, passed away Tuesday at the age of 69. Last summer, National Geographic Channel debuted an episode of its popular Locked Up Abroad series devoted to Hill, called “The Real Goodfella,” which told the complete story of his rise and fall in the New York mob, including details of his life not featured in Scorsese’s film. NGC will be re-airing that episode tonight and next Wednesday. In the episode, Hill, […]

“Meet the Hutterites” tonight on National Geographic Channel

May 29, 2012 Ryan Berenz

The trend of reality shows exploring fringe cultures continues on National Geographic Channel with the debut of American Colony: Meet the Hutterites on Tuesday, May 29, at 10pm ET/PT. Like the Amish and Mennonites, the Hutterites are an Anabaptist sect that stemmed from the Radical Reformation in the 16th century. Over their history, the Hutterites have faced persecution and expulsion from their homelands, due in large part to their belief in absolute pacifism and refusal of military service. By the 19th century, the Hutterites had nearly vanished. But Hutterite colonies have flourished in North America, mostly in the Great Plains […]

Memorial Day 2012 programming

May 16, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

Here’s a look at the various specials and movies airing on and around this Memorial Day, which remember those who have served in the military, and particularly those who were lost. All times are Eastern. Programming subject to updates; check back for changes and additions. My Vietnam Your Iraq (encore) — PBS, May (check local listings). Vietnam War veterans who have children who served in Iraq tell their stories. The program showcases the pride and fear a family shares when one is deployed. The War (encore) — PBS, May (check local listings). Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s epic, seven-part 2007 […]

NGC to premiere special about James Cameron’s Mariana Trench dive

April 24, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

I almost had the thrill of my professional life to date a few months back when it looked like I was going to interview Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron about a Titanic special he had coming up on National Geographic Channel. I had to stay close to my phone, as I was told Cameron may call within a certain time frame during a given day, since his availability was limited due to the fact that he was “on the other side of the world.” No more than that cryptic info was given. Cameron never called, but given what we have since […]

“Doomsday Preppers” closes its first season as NGC’s highest-rated series ever

April 19, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

The Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence has called it a “guilty pleasure,” and apparently many others agree. National Geographic Channel’s Doomsday Preppers just ended its first season, and the numbers have it closing as the network’s highest-rated series ever. According to NGC, this past Tuesday’s season finale of Preppers had 861,000 people 2+ tuning in, with 541,000 in the P25-54 demo, and averaging P25-54 0.6 rating, which is on par with the show’s successful P25-54 0.6 for the full 11-episode season. Next week, NGC will air a bonus “Best Of” compilation episode (“Extreme Prep Edition”) focusing on individuals preparing for […]

James Cameron and Bob Ballard NGC specials explore the Titanic disaster

April 6, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

“For me, the mysteries [of Titanic] have never died.” So says filmmaker James Cameron during the opening of his new National Geographic Channel special about the legendary, doomed ship. Ever since the “unsinkable” RMS Titanic hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic during its maiden voyage and sank to the bottom of the sea 100 years ago this month — on April 14, 1912 — people have been fascinated with its tale, a mix of human tragedy, engineering marvel and hubris. Of the 2,223 people onboard, 1,517 lost their lives in the sinking. And while the ship had the ability […]

TV specials and movies commemorate 100th anniversary of Titanic disaster

March 23, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

April 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the fateful and infamous maiden voyage of Titanic, which hit an iceberg late in the evening of April 14, 1912, and eventually sank into the icy depths of the North Atlantic early the next morning. In the weeks leading up to the exact anniversary date, various TV networks will remember the tragedy with premiere and encore specials and movies. Many of the documentaries offer promises of “the final word” or “mystery solved” regarding exactly what happened to the great ship. Whether they actually will or not may be beside the point. It might […]

NGC airs first U.S. documentary detailing Costa Concordia disaster

February 7, 2012 Jeff Pfeiffer

National Geographic Channel (NGC) has announced that this Sunday it will be premiering the first U.S. documentary to detail, moment-by-moment, the disaster that took place on Jan. 13 aboard the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia when the vessel detoured off course, hit some rocks and began to sink. Italian Cruise Ship Disaster: The Untold Stories is told primarily through the eyes of those who experienced it. The documentary weaves together in-depth stories from passengers and staff on board as well as Coast Guard rescuers with stunning home video, some never before seen on U.S. television, and CGI to reconstruct the […]