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PBS ANNOUNCES LINE-UP OF SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMMING FOR EARTH DAY AND BEYOND
New Episodes of Acclaimed Series JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH, NATURE and NOVA Premiere
Arlington, VA – March 5, 2007 – PBS will celebrate Earth Day 2007 with new programs about the changing environment, the effects of global warming, vanishing landscapes and creatures from dolphins to dogs airing in late March and April. A new episode of JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH, the PBS series, hosted by Matt Damon, that explores the fragile relationship between people and their environment, and new episodes of NATURE and NOVA are highlights. From the young to the young at heart, PBS has science and nature programs for spring that celebrate the beauty and diversity of the natural world.
JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH “The State of the Ocean’s Animals” goes underwater to find out why many of our marine animals are in distress and what can be done about it. NATURE looks at sea monsters, dogs, elephants and sea turtles, while new episodes of NOVA examine the bizarre (cuttlefish), the beautiful (flowers) and the beneficial (the sun, which may offer hope for our energy future).
PBS KIDS helps children celebrate Earth Day with a full week of new IT’S A BIG BIG WORLD episodes from April 16-20, as well as “PBS KIDS Share the Earth Day,” a special two-hour programming event airing Friday, April 20 (check local listings). The PBS KIDS preschool destination features a recycling theme — Miss Lori and Hooper will help kids discover ways to protect the planet through recycling — while CURIOUS GEORGE, CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG, DRAGON TALES and IT’S A BIG BIG WORLD all help celebrate the environment with Earth Day-themed episodes. Kids and parents will also become savvier about simple ways to share the environment through exclusive Earth Day-themed music videos from the award-winning kids’ rock band Milkshake, and online activities at pbskids.org and pbskidsgo.org.
In addition to the themed preschool block, PBS KIDS GO! celebrates Earth Day with themed programming from ARTHUR, MAYA & MIGUEL, FETCH! WITH RUFF RUFFMAN and CYBERCHASE. Throughout the block, early elementary school kids will pick up fun ways to do their part to take care of the environment by recycling, cleaning up their neighborhoods and more.
The following is a list of programming airing late March and early April devoted to the changing environment, globalization and the natural world.
AMERICA’S LOST LANDSCAPE: THE TALLGRASS PRAIRIE (New; available in HD)
Sunday, April 1, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET; repeat Friday, April 6, 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET
This film, which interweaves cinematography of prairie remnants, an original score and archival images, highlights prairie preservation efforts and explores how the tallgrass prairie ecosystem may serve as a model for a sustainable agriculture of the future.
COWBOYS, INDIANS, & LAWYERS (New)
April 2007 (check local listings)
A giant Western water project pits a radical Native-American activist against his own tribal government and their politically connected lawyer. In an intimate portrait of pork barrel politics, the film explores Anglo and Indian relations and the American political system through a rural community battle over money, power and water.
THE HORSES OF PROUD SPIRIT (New)
April 2007 (check local listings)
In the past 15 years, Melanie and Jim Bowles have rescued more than 120 abused, abandoned and injured horses. The husband and wife operate the 50-acre Proud Spirit Sanctuary, home to 36 horses, mules and donkeys.
JOURNEY TO PLANET EARTH “The State of the Ocean’s Animals” (New)
Wednesday, March 28, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
Matt Damon hosts this episode, which takes a hard look at why nearly half the world’s marine animals may face extinction over the next 25 years. Case studies focus on how global warming, sea-level rise, over-fishing and habitat destruction are beginning to empty the world’s oceans. http://www.pbs.org/journeytoplanetearth
Sundays, continuing series, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
For 25 years, NATURE has been the benchmark of natural history programs on television, capturing the splendors of the natural world, from the African plains to the Antarctic ice. http://www.pbs.org/nature
“Unforgettable Elephants” (New)
Sunday, April 1, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
Wildlife cameraman and elephant expert Martyn Colbeck shares his spectacular footage and unique insights about some unforgettable elephants, including his conviction that they are just as intelligent as the higher primates.
“Voyage of the Lonely Turtle” (New)
Sunday, April 15, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
A female loggerhead turtle sets off to lay eggs in the place where she was born. Her voyage will take her from the east coast of Mexico to Japan. It is the longest journey undertaken by any animal on land or sea, and she will make it all alone — facing typhoons and sharks, whales and squids, and passing through several exotic kingdoms of the sea.
“Dogs That Changed the World” (New; available in HD)
Sundays, April 22-29, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
How did the 300 breeds of dog recognized today come to be so different? And how and why has the modern dog secured a place in history as one of the best loved animals on our planet? This two-part program features scientists who have discovered the answers to these questions by piecing together, for the first time ever, the complex puzzle of canine evolution and design.
Tuesdays, continuing series, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
PBS’ premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA programs demystify science and technology, and highlight the people involved in scientific pursuits. http://www.pbs.org/nova
“Kings of Camouflage” (New)
Tuesday, April 3, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
Cuttlefish are some of the strangest animals on the planet. These shape-shifting creatures can hypnotize their prey, impersonate the opposite sex and even kill with lightning fast speed. With beautiful underwater footage and in-depth expert interviews, NOVA gets up close and personal with these bizarre and amazing animals.
“First Flower” (New; available in HD)
Tuesday, April 17, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
Until recently, almost nothing was known about the origin of flowers; Charles Darwin called it “an abominable mystery.” In the search for answers, NOVA takes viewers on a spectacular journey of discovery to a remote mountain region of China, to explore our fascination with flowers and solve the puzzle of their beginnings.
“Saved by the Sun” (New; available in HD)
Tuesday, April 24, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
In the face of steeply rising oil prices and political turmoil in the Middle East, NOVA presents the latest thinking from solar enthusiasts and skeptics as it investigates cutting-edge research developments. The film introduces viewers to the scientists and businesspeople who are racing to make solar power practical — for lighting and heating, and for running power plants.
GEORGIA AQUARIUM: KEEPERS OF THE DEEP (Repeat)
Sunday, April 8 10:30-11:00 p.m. ET
This program goes behind the scenes to see how scientists, engineers and veterinarians created and manage the largest aquarium in the world — the Georgia Aquarium.
THE DEAD SEA: A NAKED PLANET SPECIAL “The Dead Sea” (Repeat)
Friday, April 13, 9:00-10:00 pm ET
This program focuses on the geology, archaeology and history of the Dead Sea region, a place of lost cities and fabled civilizations, destructive forces and human conflict.
NATURE “Encountering Sea Monsters” (Repeat; available in HD)
Sunday, April 8, 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET
Science fiction writers have come up with strange depictions of alien life, but nothing to rival creatures with a beak like a parrot, no bones, three hearts, blue blood, skin that can change colors and arms growing out of lips. Viewers follow a cameraman into the abyss and share his adventures with the planet’s most cryptic and clever monsters — squids and octopi. http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/seamonsters
PBS KIDS Earth Day-themed programming
Friday, April 20, 2007 (check local listings); http://pbskids.org
CURIOUS GEORGE “The All-Animal Recycled Band/The Times of Sand”
“The All-Animal Recycled Band” -- George recruits Charkie, Gnocchi, Hundley and Compass to play in a band inspired by the firefighters at Rescue Squad 86.
“The Times of Sand” -- George and The Man with the Yellow Hat have a sand castle building contest at the beach.
CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG “Doggie Garden/Captain Birdwell's Treasure”
It’s “Keep Birdwell Beautiful” month and the dogs decide to create a doggie flower garden of their own.
DRAGON TALES “Green Thumbs/Hand In Hand”
“Green Thumbs” -- Following a torrential storm, the gang discovers Lily, a baby flower, helplessly floating downstream after being uprooted by the rain. The gang plants her in a bucket of soil and promise to take her back to where she belongs.
“Hand In Hand” -- Enrique makes a wish on a magical wishing well for Max and Emmy to stop arguing and become closer. The two end up stuck together!
IT’S A BIG BIG WORLD “Sleepover/The Disappearing Waterhole” (New; available in HD)
“Sleepover” -- When Wartz hears that a storm is coming, he feels too nervous to go to a sleepover at Smooch and Winslow’s hut. Snook explains what causes lighting and thunder.
“The Disappearing Waterhole” -- Winslow and Bob discover that Ick is worried that all of the water in the waterhole will disappear. Snook calms Ick down and explains evaporation and the water cycle.
PBS KIDS GO! Earth Day-themed programming
Friday, April 20, 2007 (check local listings); http://pbskidsgo.org
CYBERCHASE “EcoHaven Ooze”
When Hacker discovers that the liquid ooze that feeds the animals of EcoHaven also gives him a super energy boost, he decides to drain the pond and take the ooze home.
ARTHUR “Buster’s Green Thumb/My Fair Tommy”
“Buster’s Green Thumb” -- Buster finds out that his collection of old food makes excellent compost — which makes for even better tomatoes!
“My Fair Tommy” -- Neither of the Tibble twins has ever won the coveted “Good Behavior of the Week” cupcake award. When Tommy sets his sights on getting the prize, can D.W. show him how it’s done, or will Timmy stand in his way?
MAYA & MIGUEL “Every Day Is Earth Day”
For a school Earth Day project, the kids decide to clean up an old lot and plant a community garden.
FETCH! WITH RUFF RUFFMAN “That Doesn’t Float My Boat”
Ruff has fallen asleep and left the water in the bathtub running. The flooded doghouse is filled with floating junk, giving him the perfect idea for today’s challenge: Khalil, Anna and Julia must design a boat out of materials they find at the dump.
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