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National Geographic Channel Goes off the Map at 2013 Upfronts




The National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo Wild are quickly building themselves into a network that encompasses everything that has to do with the people who live in the United States, and the environment in which they live. From polygamy to wild predators, the national geographic is not afraid to shine a light in places most people have never heard of, or to explore places people have never been. At its upfront presentation in May, the national geographic channel introduced four new and seven returning series. The brass at the National Geographic Channel was so impressed with two of its freshman shows; they granted them a second season before the first even debuted. If you have not checked out any of the shows/miniseries currently airing on Nat Geo I strongly urge you to give it a try.

NGC FRESHMAN LINEUP:

CROSSING THE ICE (PREMIERED JUNE 14TH)
follows two Australians as they attempt to become the first to journey from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back unassisted.

BATTLEGROUND AFGHANISTAN (PREMIERED JULY 1ST @ 9pm)
Battleground Afghanistan looks inside the latest chapter of the Afghan conflict as seen by American Marines on the front-lines of the war. As tens of thousands of troops withdraw from Afghanistan, Capt. Ben Middendorf and his men of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines — based at Camp Pendleton in San Diego — are staying behind to continue the fight. These Marines are taking the fight directly to the Taliban with a mission to locate, disrupt and destroy the enemy.

EYEWITNESS WAR (PREMIERED JULY 1ST @ 10 AND 10:30 PM)
Eyewitness War follows the men and women of the armed forces through the chaos of battle with real-life, first-person footage. We’ll see them ready to face whatever hell awaits around every corner — from screeching bullets to IEDs to rockets. See the dangerous missions and perils of war through the eyes of our brave American service members — as the fighting is happening. Unfiltered, raw and intense, you’ll hear their shouts and see their comrades’ every move, in first person.

INSIDE SECRET AMERICA (PREMIERES JULY 10TH @10pm)
a Nat Geo TV production, investigative journalists Mariana van Zeller and Darren Foster go inside the nation’s underground networks to the heart of America’s most controversial issues.

INSIDE THE AMERICAN MOB (PREMIERES JULY 28TH @ 9 PM)
In 1971, mob boss Joe Colombo is so brazen that he takes on the FBI itself, but other bosses don’t like the publicity. When Colombo is shot, it marks the beginning of a sea change in the mob as a new generation of gangsters and law enforcement officials go head to head in the streets of New York City.

THE CASTLE (PREMIERES AUGUST 2013)
American prepper Brent Bruns who builds a castle deep in the South Carolina woods that will serve as a bunker in case an electromagnetic burst results in a massive power outage.

BUILDING WILD
Wilderness zealots build incredible retreats in America’s last frontiers in NGC’s first do-it-yourself series. With help from Paul DiMeo (of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition), these families are each creating a personal paradise thanks to a dash of muscle, a hint of ingenuity and a side of extreme architectural engineering.

DIE TRYING
A white-knuckle free-climb on an unconquerable mountain peak. A heart-stopping kayak expedition, battling rapids with 40-foot waves. Experience amazing, terrifying, never-before-seen (or done) adventures that define the riskiest of everything National Geographic represents. It’s where men and women push the limits of adventure, endurance and possibility — all in the name of science.

SHOWDOWN OF THE UNBEATABLES
What happens when cutting-edge inventions go head to head in the ultimate battle of the titans? Will the most advanced all-terrain vehicle be able to successfully navigate through a 10-yard field of maximum-strength super glue? Can one of the world’s most powerful vacuums suck an electromagnet off of a metal plate? Will the world’s strongest bomb-proof door be able to withstand the “fire power” of the military’s most powerful cutting torch? Find out as we stage showdowns between unstoppable forces and immovable objects, using science to understand the brains behind the brawn.

THE LEGEND OF MICK DODGE
Experience the (literally) wild life of Mick Dodge, a quirky character whose unique brand of Zen comes from living by his own code — off the land and off the grid. For more than 30 years, Mick has been thriving deep in the Pacific Northwest cloud forest, sprinting with elk and grabbing salmon from rivers with his bare hands. Come with us and meet the legend who has become the Jedi master for aspiring survivalists everywhere. (


New Shows on Nat Geo Wild:

JOBS THAT BITE!
Letting in the WILD in everyday life is host Jeremy Brandt in the new series JOBS THAT BITE! Germophobes and scaredy-cats need not apply. These jobs are for the unsung heroes who take on the beastly challenge of working with all things that slither, grunt, growl and bite. Whether it’s tagging sharks, wrangling ostriches or farming eels, Brandt is rolling up his sleeves to get his wild on — and the fur’s gonna fly!

NEW CESAR MILLAN SERIES
Following the series LEADER OF THE PACK filmed entirely in Europe, Cesar returns home with a new series helping troubled dogs find a new home.

THE INCREDIBLE DR. POL
The lovable, house-call-making Dr. Pol is back in — and up to his elbows. WILD’s number-one series returns for a fourth season as everyone’s favorite veterinarian wields his superpowers to deliver oversized calves and diagnose lethargic llamas. Dr. Pol comes to the rescue for more unstoppable emergencies, taking no bull from anyone … except maybe from an actual bull.

RETURNING SERIES

DOOMSDAY PREPPERS (RENEWED SEASON 3)
Doomsday Preppers explores the lives of otherwise ordinary Americans who are preparing for the end of the world as we know it. Unique in their beliefs, motivations, and strategies, preppers will go to whatever lengths they can to make sure they are prepared for any of life’s uncertainties. And with our expert’s assessment, they will find out their chances of survival if their worst fears become a reality.


ULTIMATE SURVIVAL ALASKA (AIRS SUNDAYS @ 9PM)
They are some the toughest, most extreme survivalists that Alaska has to offer. Going head to head, eight men of a rare breed are about to take the ultimate test of survival in Arctic conditions that only National Geographic could inspire. Dropped in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness by bush plane, with only their raw, mountain-man ingenuity, they’ll navigate through treacherous glaciated river valleys, barren ridgelines, and high mountain peaks, battling hunger, hostile predators, and perilous weather conditions along the way. Like the original National Geographic explorers, for those who succeed there is no grand prize, just the well-fought pride of having conquered the grueling challenges that Mother Nature can throw at them. It's an epic competition series where the only prize is survival.


LIFE BELOW ZERO (PREMIERED MAY 19TH @ 9 PM)
Life Below Zero follows six people as they battle for the most basic necessities in the state with the lowest population density in the United States. Living at the ends of the world's loneliest roads and subsisting off the rugged Alaskan bush, they battle whiteout snow storms, man-eating carnivores, questionable frozen terrain, and limited resources through a long and bitter winter. Some of them are lone wolves; others have their families beside them. All must overcome despairing odds to brave the wild and survive through to the spring.

TABOO USA (PREMIERED TUESDAY JUNE 4TH @ 10pm)
We've taken you around the world exploring behaviors and lifestyles that are acceptable in some cultures but forbidden, illegal or reviled in others. But this season, we're looking in our own backyard. Taboo USA goes behind the closed doors and picket fences of America’s most normal looking homes to find a fringe few that can only be described as... taboo. And we're showcasing those willing to push the boundaries of taste, societal acceptance; those obsessive about their hobbies, their relationships, and their lifestyles.

DIGGERS (PREMIERES SUMMER 2013)
Hobbyist metal detectorists “King George” Wyant and his buddy Tim “The Ringmaster” Saylor travel the country looking for lost relics of history. Their enthusiasm is contagious, their humor quirky, and their vocabulary... one of a kind. “KG” and “Ringy” are kids at heart, driven not by money, but the thrill of not knowing what their next dig will unearth. They understand that every item has a story to tell, and Diggers brings history to life through graphics and historical context. They are invited by landowners, historians and archaeologists to go on a quest, and in their own way, a crusade, to unearth history that would have otherwise been forgotten.

FISH TANK KINGS
Returning for a new season, the Fish Tank Kings are back to rule the rough waters. Extreme aquarium building is definitely not a tankless job (zing!). Dive in to witness a new season of complex challenges from demanding clients as these underwater wizards aim to deliver perfection in their uniquely pressure-filled world.



SPECIALS

SECRET LIFE OF PREDATORS (PREMIERES SEPTEMBER 20TH & 27TH )
This four-part, incredible event will travel the globe with the best cameramen and women to find new and totally surprising stories of the animal kingdom’s hunters that few people know about. Host Boone Smith (Snow Leopard of Afghanistan, American Cougar, Hunt for the Shadow Cat) takes an intimate look at the both iconic and surprising predators of our earth and their savvy strikes, chases and kills. We’ll see 45 different animal species in 12 habitats and in 18 countries around the globe.


BREEZY’S RECAP

There is some interesting content on NGC for sure. I absolutely loved their show Polygamy USA, it went deep into a culture and community I was hoping some show would eventually explore. I think my next adventure into NGC will be inside the american mob, it looks intriguing and I love learning about worlds, people and cultures I have never seen up close. What about you... what do you love about NGC? Is there a new show you are looking forward to watching? An old series you just can't wait to see renewed?  What will you be watching? Let us know in the comments.

Comments

  1. When will The Legend of Mick Dodge be premiering on Nat Geo?

    ReplyDelete

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