Media Menu: May 2010

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Media Menu, May 29, 2010

Saturday, May 29, 2010,
7-8 p.m. E/P

Planet Green Channel

Science

Economics

Middle and High School

"
Planet Mechanics: Water War "

In
this episode of one of Planet Green’s environmental science series,
eco-engineers Dick Strawbridge and Jem Stansfield must make England's
most remote youth hostel energy self-sufficient, using only natural
resources. Dick looks to generate energy from a stream while Jem aims
to create a wind turbine. TV-PG

Log
on http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/planet-mechanics/episode-water-wars.html

Sunday, May 30, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P

Planet Green Channel

Science

Economics

Middle and High School

"
60 MINUTES - SPECIAL EDITION ”

This is a special edition of CBS’ Sunday newsmagazine and its airing
one hour later than the program’s usual time slot. In the first report
CBS cameras spend two days on the road with a bomb-hunting unit in
Afghanistan as they encounter one deadly bomb after another. As shown
in the second report scientists believe they can sustain endangered
species – maybe even one day resurrect some that have died out –
using DNA technology. Lesley Stahl reports. The final story is about
Anna Wintour. The sunglasses come off the high-queen of haute couture
in this rare and unprecedented interview, in which the Vogue editor
reveals why she always wears them and much more to Morley Safer in her
first long-length interview for U.S. television.

Log
on http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml

Sunday, May 30, 2010, 9:30-11p.m. E/P	PBS	U.S. History and Arts	Elementary, Middle and High School
"National Memorial Day Concert”
This is a broadcast of The annual Memorial Day Concert, featuring Lionel Richie, Brad Paisley, Katherine Jenkins, Kelli O’Hara and Yolanda Adams, honors the service and sacrifice of the men and women in uniform, their families and all those who have given their lives for this country. The multi-award-winning concert event featuring the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly, offers viewers a time to remember, to heal and bring the country together, the event has become the nation’s memorial service. The show will be broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, to millions more at home and, on the American Forces Network, to troops serving around the world. Once again, Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise co-host the broadcast.
Info http://pressroom.pbs.org/programs/national_memorial_day_concert_2010

Monday, May 31, 2010, 9-11 p.m. E/P	PBS	U.S. History	Middle and High School
"America The Story of Us: Superpower/Millennium”
”America The Story of Us” is a documentary miniseries that focuses on the ways everyday Americans harnessed technology to advance human progress, from the early colonies through today. This is is a broadcast of the final two episodes. They look at defining moments in U.S history from 1945 through the present and trace them back to their antecedents in earlier American history. Some of the nation’s most prominent personalities and leaders share their ideas on the definitive moments in American history. The story of post-war America is retold though multiple voices—events explored include the building of the interstate highways and suburbia, the tensions of the Cold War, the euphoria of the Civil Rights movement, the role of hippies and counter culture, the dark hours of Vietnam and Watergate, the Reagan era, the rise of Silicon Valley and the groundbreaking election of Barack Obama. Following the theme of technological innovation throughout the series, these episodes explore the stories behind how the U.S. landed humans on the moon and contributed to technological inventions such as the internet. Through the reflections of historians and notable Americans, we’ll look at what has endured through 400 years of U.S. history, and ponder the stories that have yet to be told. TV-PG
Info http://www.history.com/shows/america-the-story-of-us

Monday, May 31, 2010, 9-10 p.m. E/P	PBS	Science and Arts	Middle and High School
" AMERICAN EXPERIENCE : Civilian Conservation Corps”
This documentary tells the story of one of the boldest and most popular New Deal experiments to fight unemployment with training programs organized by the U.S. Army. In March 1933, within weeks of his inauguration, President Franklin Roosevelt sent legislation to Congress aimed at providing relief for unemployed American workers. He proposed the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) to provide jobs in natural resource conservation. Over the next decade, the CCC put more than three million young men to work in the nation’s forests and parks, planting trees, building flood barriers, fighting fires, and maintaining roads and trails, conserving both private and federal land. After a decade of national prosperity in the Roaring Twenties, Americans faced a national crisis after the Crash of 1929. The Great Depression saw an unemployment rate of more than twenty-five percent in the early 1930s. Inner-city crime rates soared, and the government did not have any specific plans to intervene. At the same time in the Midwest, the nine-year drought that would come to be known as the Dust Bowl was just beginning. Farmers struggled to hold on to their crops and their livestock as more precious topsoil blew away in windstorms every day. . Enlisting 250,000 workers in just two months, the CCC was an ambitious undertaking that brought several government agencies together in the effort. The Department of Labor recruited men from the ages of 18 to 25; the War Department clothed and trained them for two weeks, and the Department of Agriculture designed and managed the specific work assignments. With projects in every U.S. state and territory, “Roosevelt’s Tree Army” lived in camps under quasi-military discipline, and received a wage of $30 per month, $25 of which they were required to send home to their families. Typically, boys rose early for breakfast in the canteen before heading off for eight hours of manual labor. Lunch was often brought out to the work site. In the evenings ninety percent of enrollees took advantage of classes offered in subjects from literature to welding — courses which, over nine years, taught 40,000 illiterate men to read and write. After planting 3 billion trees in nine years of service, the CCC dissolved in July of 1942. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor and subsequent U.S. involvement in World War II, the CCC’s funding and assets were diverted as the nation’s focus shifted toward the war effort. The legacy of the CCC continues to live on in the hundreds of campgrounds, hiking trails and swimming holes still enjoyed by Americans today. In The Civilian Conservation Corps, four alumni Corpsmen share their experiences of poverty, racism, hard work and brotherhood from their time in the CCC. From Producer Robert Stone (Earth Days, Oswald’s Ghost), the film tells the tale of one of the boldest and most popular New Deal experiments.
Info http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/ccc

Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 8-9 p. m. E/P	PBS	Science and Arts	Middle and High School
" NOVA: Musical Minds”
Through case studies drawn from neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks’ latest book, “ Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain”, this documentary investigates the extraordinary impact music can have on the human brain. According to Sacks anatomists cannot identify the brain of a visual artist, writer, or mathematician—but they can recognize the brain of a professional musician. Music affects more parts of our brains than language does—clearly humans are musical animals. What can music tell us about our minds? And what can our minds tell us about music? Finally, can music aid people battling severe neurological disorders? To find out, this program follows the BBC's Alan Yentob on an intercontinental quest—from New York to England and Ireland—to meet individuals like those chronicled in Musicophilia, bringing Sacks's latest work to life through their intimate and phenomenal stories.
Info http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/musicminds

Wednesday, June 2,
2010,
9-11 p.m. E/P

PBS

World History

Middle and High School

"Cities
Of Light: The Rise And Fall Of Islamic Spain ”

This
documentary journeys back into one of the most captivating and important
periods of world history — a centuries-long period when Muslims, Christians
and Jews inhabited the same far corner of Western Europe and thrived.
From the days of Charlemagne to Christopher Columbus, Islamic Spain
represents one of the most productive intercultural relationships in
Western history down to the present day. The lemon tree, the water wheel,
the astrolabe and Aristotle’s lost philosophy all arrived in Europe
through Islamic Spain. Churches and temples that strongly resemble Muslim
mosques, the pinnacle of Hebrew literature’s Golden Age, the roots
of modern medicine and mathematics, and the transmission of Greek philosophy
into Western Europe are just a few of the collaborative achievements
that form the legacy of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim cultures interacting
on the Iberian Peninsula over seven centuries. The film also consistently
sticks to an even-handed presentation of the triumphs and shortcomings,
achievements and failures of a centuries-long period when Muslims, Christians,
and Jews built a lasting society that was both part of Christian Europe
and the Muslim Middle East. It demonstrates how these very different
groups found the means to co-exist and thrive together—and yet how
fragile that symbiosis could be. The pluralistic centuries of Medieval
Spain ended in the Spanish Inquisition and the formation of an exclusively
Catholic Spain.TV-PG

Info
at http://www.islamicspain.tv/Islamic-Spain/index.html

Thursday, June 3, 2010,
8- 10 p.m. E/P

Science Channel

Science

Middle and High School

"Creating
Synthetic Life ”

For
the first time in history, scientists report that synthetic life has
been created. This broadcast contains exclusive behind the scenes footage
reveals the story behind Dr Craig Venter’s seven year journey to success,
and the incredible implications for the future The second hour of the
program on this topic is a discussion of this breakthrough and its
profound implications for our future TV-PG

Info
at http://science.discovery.com/search/results.html?query=creating+synthetic+life&search.x=24&search.y=11

Thursday, June 3, 2010,
10-11 p.m. E/P

PBS

Arts and U.S. History

Middle and High School

"
Chicano Rock! The Sounds of East Los Angeles "

This
documentary tells the story of generations of Mexican Americans who
proudly expressed their identity through music. Narrated by Edward James
Olmos, it was produced, written, directed and edited by Emmy Award-winning
filmmaker Jon Wilkman, it follows young people in America's largest
Mexican American community — caught between two cultures and not fully
accepted in either — as they created a unique musical voice. The
program combines intimate interviews, rare archival film and photographs
with t music. The story begins with Lalo Guerrero, a National Medal
of the Arts honoree known as the Father of Chicano Rock. Arriving in
Los Angeles in the late 1930s, Lalo found a city bursting with ambition,
even in the last days of the Great Depression. During the war years
that followed, many young Mexican Americans defied prejudice and stereotypes,
adopting zoot suit fashions and a Spanglish slang called calo. Lalo
Guerrero and his friend bandleader Don Tosti captured their spirit in
music, mixing swing and boogie woogie in a cross-cultural dialog between
African American, Anglo and Mexican American influences. TV-PG

Log
on http://www.pbs.org/chicanorock

Friday, June 4, 2010,
9-10 p.m. E/P

Animal Planet Channel

Science and Economics

Middle and High School

"
WHALE WARS: As A Species, We’re Doomed "

This
is the new season premiere of the documentary series, “Whale Wars”,
Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society return
to their battle to find and stop Japanese ships from hunting
whales in the name of research. A modern-day
Ahab, Watson and his eclectic group of international staff
and volunteers - labeled activists and
heroes by some or eco-pirates by others - take a hard-line approach
to eradicate whaling and alleged ocean-law
violations. Highlighting the controversial whaling trade and
the tactics that the Sea Shepherds deploys
to attempt to cripple it, the series documents the group's three month
expedition across icy Antarctic waters. Both Sea Shepherd and the Japanese
whalers engage in an environmental showdown with millions of dollars
at stake - all while drawing global attention to the practice of whaling.
As this season begins in the Antarctic, the Sea Shepherds embark on
a new campaign. With each boat launching from a different port, Captain
Paul Watson now faces the
daunting task of being the admiral of
a fleet. As the Steve Irwin reaches open water, new first mate,
Lockhart “Locky” Maclean discovers
that a Japanese reconnaissance vessel is following them. Soon
enough the Steve Irwin’s crew is quickly
plunged into their first clash of the campaign. Meanwhile, a
major donation from game-show host Bob
Barker allowed the Sea Shepherds to purchase a former
Norwegian whaling ship. In a race against
time, the crew has struggled against all odds to perform a
year’s worth of repairs on the Bob
Barker in just 90 days, led by Captain Chuck Swift. The final ship
in Paul Watson’s fleet is a stealth
speedboat, the Ady Gil, helmed by Captain Pete Bethune. Looking
like the vehicle of a superhero, it’s
the fastest boat ever to circle the globe as it pierces through waves
at twice the speed of the whaling ships.
As Watson and Irwin venture deeper into Antarctic waters, a mysterious
spy ship gives chase. Soon the Sea Shepherds are embroiled in their
first battle of the season. In a reversal, the whalers turn the tables
on their nemesis and launch an attack on the helicopter, and pilot Chris
Aultman is in a race against time to save one of the Sea Shepherds’
most valuable weapons. TV-PG

Series
info at http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars

Saturday, June 5, 2010,
6-7:30 p.m. E/P

Planet Green Channel

Natural Science

Middle and High School

"Stranger
Among Bears”

For
some people bears appear in their dreams. For tv host Charlie Vandergaw
they appear in his yard. This is a broadcast of three episodes of his
“Stranger Among Bears” natural science miniseries. Episode
1, “The Grizzlies Are Coming” - Several weeks into bear season,
Vandergaw still hasn't seen any grizzly bears around Bear Haven. Their
eventual arrival changes the atmosphere, increasing the danger as the
bears stake their claim to the territory surrounding Charlie's cabin.
Episode 2, “Feeding Controversy “ -

A recent change in the law has made feeding bears a serious offense,
and if Charlie continues to defy the authorities he could end up in
jail. A loophole may allow him to avoid prosecution, but it also raises
the ire of those who seek to shut him down. Episode 3 , “Man vs Bear
“ - Living side by side with black and grizzly bears is becoming more
and more difficult for 70 year-old Vandergaw. As the bears start
tearing apart his cabin, Charlie faces the unthinkable - is he getting
too old for life among the bears? TV-PG

Friday, May 21, 2010

Media Menu, May 22, 2010

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Media Menu, May 15, 2010

Here are home viewing suggestions for the week, selected from online advanced TV program listings and aligned with the state and national K-12 academic standards available online. Please consult local listings also, since actual broadcast times may vary. The Websites cited in the “Log on“ box below the tv listing provide further details about the show’s topic and may contain links to video clips from the show or a complete streaming video version of the show.

Saturday, May 15, 2010,

5-7 p.m. E/P

History Channel

U.S. History and Geography

Middle and High School

" How the States Got Their Shapes "

This is repeat broadcast of a documentary which examines how every state is a puzzle piece ultimately revealing the unique geography, political and social history of America. We are so familiar with the map of United States, but do we know why our states look the way they do? Every shape on the map tells a great story about our past. Why is California bent? To cling on to gold. Why does Oklahoma have a panhandle? Because of shifting borders for slavery. Why does Missouri have a boot? Because of a massive earthquake. TV-PG

Interactive info at http://www.history.com/topics/states/interactives/place-the-state-game

Saturday, May 15, 2010,

10 p.m.-midnight E/P

History Channel

World History and Geography

Middle and High School

" The Dark Ages "

This is a documentary about what happened after the fall of the Rome. Its Empire, rotten to the core by the fifth century A.D, lay open to barbarian warriors. Europe was beset by famine, plague, persecutions, and a state of war that was so persistent it was only rarely interrupted by peace. These centuries are remembered today as the Dark Ages. Beneath this cloak of darkness were people like Charlemagne, St. Benedict and the Empress Theodora who helped to bridge the gap of civilization between Rome and the Renaissance. Ultimately, these points of light would illuminate the darkness, and Western Europe would rise from the Dark Ages to a level of cultural and political power unseen for a thousand years. TV-PG

Sunday, May 16, 2010,

7-8 p.m. E/P

CBS

U.S. History and Arts

Middle and High School

" 60 Minutes "

There are two stories in this newsmagazine. The first one is a double-length segment investigating the explosion that killed 11, causing the ongoing oil leak in the waters off of Louisiana, and speaks to one of the oil rig platform crew survivors who was in a position to know what caused the disaster and how it could have been prevented. The report contains never-before-seen footage of the minutes after the explosion and new information about what led up to it. The second segment is about Gustavo Dudamel, the musical director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which he wants to transplant in the U.S. the Venezuelan child orchestra system that changed his life.

Log on http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml?tag=hdr;snav

Sunday, May 16, 2010,

9-11, p.m. E/P

History Channel

U.S. History

Middle and High School

“AMERICA THE STORY OF US: Cities/ Boom

The new documentary series, AMERICA THE STORY OF US, continues its telling of how America was invented, looking at the moments where Americans harnessed technology to advance human progress— from the rigors of linking the continent by transcontinental railroad, the internet of its day, to triumphing over vertical space through construction of steel structured buildings to putting a man on the moon. First in tonight’s dual episode broadcast is “Cities”. Between 1880 and 1930, nearly 24 million new immigrants arrive in America. Many go to work building a new frontier: the modern city, and one of America’s greatest inventions. The high cost of land in cities like New York and Chicago means the only way to build is up. A new kind of building, the skyscraper, is made possible by steel. Produced on a massive scale by Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie, steel production underpins the infrastructure of the modern city. This new urban frontier draws rural migrants and newly arrived immigrant workers. For many, the Statue of Liberty is their first sight of the New World and Ellis Island is the gateway to the American Dream. The lawless city offers opportunities for many, astronomical wealth for a few. Police chief Thomas Byrnes uses his violent new innovation, “the third degree,” to keep a lid on crime. The millions flocking to urban areas often experience terrible conditions in disease-ridden tenements. Jacob Riis, photographer and reformer, brings their plight to the world with his groundbreaking photographs in the book “How the Other Half Lives.” Workers in new high rise factories become urban martyrs in New York City’s Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire, as the city struggles to make these new buildings safe. Powered by steel and electricity, the city begins to be tamed and defined by mass transportation, stunning skylines, electric light...and the innovative, industrious American spirit. The second episode is “Boom” . In 1910 California, a column of oil nearly 200 feet high explodes out of a derrick and sets off a chain of events that will turn America into a superpower. Oil production doubles overnight and prices plummet from $2 to 3 cents a barrel. Quick to capitalize on this abundant cheap fuel is Henry Ford, a maverick entrepreneur who vows to bring the motor car to the masses. In 1900 there are 8,000 cars in the country. By 1930 there are over 20 million. As the population becomes more mobile, the entire shape of America changes. Cities grow as centers of industry, creating new opportunities, and new challenges. In one of the greatest engineering projects of the century, thousands of workers divert enough water hundreds of miles across a desert to quench sprawling Los Angeles’ thirst. Mass production and job opportunities prompted by the First World War draw African Americans to northern cities like Chicago, but racial conflict follows. Many Americans see the burgeoning cities as havens of vice, and chief among them is drink. A popular campaign to ban alcohol succeeds, yet when it comes, Prohibition triggers a wave of organized crime. One man set to benefit is Al Capone. He makes the equivalent of $1,500 a minute from bootleg alcohol. For a time he seems untouchable. But even he is not above the law.
Details at http://www.history.com/classroom

Sunday, May 16, 2010,

9-9:30 p.m. E/P

Nickelodeon Channel

Health and Science

Middle and High School

" Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: So NOT Cool: The Most Annoying Stuff Parents Say and Do "

Parents know what kids do that annoys them, and they are quick to say so. But do parents know what things they say and do that annoy or embarrass their kids? The truth is revealed in this interview special. It features a countdown of kids’ top 10 gripes about their parents and commentary from some famous former kids, including: Tina Fey (30 Rock), Marlon Wayans (actor/comedian), Wendy Williams (The Wendy Williams Show), Brad Garrett (actor/comedian), Howie Mandel (Deal or No Deal), Jenna Elfman (Accidentally on Purpose), Aisha Tyler (Bedtime Stories), Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live), Fran Drescher (The Nanny) and Tracey Ullman (Tracey Ullman’s State of the Union).

Log on http://news.nick.com/05/2010/07/the-most-annoying-stuff-parents-say-and-do/

Monday, May 17, 2010,

8-9 p.m. E/P

National Geographic Channel

Science and Geography

Middle and High School

" 10 Things You Didn't Know About Earthquakes "

In this documentary geologist Dr. Iain Stewart walks viewers through 10 of the most remarkable earthquake stories from around the world as he follows earthquake fault lines in Greece. Find out where earthquakes last 60 times longer than anywhere else on the planet, how the Cold War gave scientists a crucial clue to understanding earthquake theory and which earthquake fault line even causes hallucinations.

Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/episode/earthquakes-4536/Overview

Monday, May 17, 2010,

9-10 p.m. E/P

Science Channel

Science and Technology

Elementary, Middle and High School

"Sci Trek: What Animals Build”

In this documentary viewers will find out how animals construct amazing engineering marvels that rival, and in some cases surpass, our own. These incredible structures, like spider webs, bee honeycombs, and beaver dams, can even teach us how to build more efficiently in the future.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010,

10:30-11:30 p.m. E/P

PBS

World History and Geography

Middle and High School

" INDEPENDENT LENS “Project Kashmir” "

This is a documentary journey to one of the most beautiful, yet dangerous places on Earth. Two American women, one Muslim and the other Hindu, sneak cameras into Kashmir—a place where different faiths there are the cause of ongoing war between India and Pakistan. Their mission: find out what makes their peers choose homeland over preserving their own lives. As pressures rise, emotions run high and their friendship is tested. TV-PG

Log on www.pbs.org/independentlens/project-kashmir

Wednesday, May 19, 2010,

9-10 p.m. E/P

National Geographic Channel

Science and Technology

Middle and High School

" Delta Divers: Racing the Storm"

This timely documentary takes viewers to the Gulf of Mexico, home to thousands of gas and oil platforms, in addition to some of the planet's most severe storms. So who do you call when a well or platform stops producing, or is toppled by a massive storm? Meet the Delta Divers, a team of highly skilled underwater adventurers who descend where few dare to go to - 300 feet below the water's surface. Join them on the dive barge "Southern Hercules" as they head out to repair an aging subsea oil well. Hazards increase exponentially with the depth. After detonating an explosive charge to cut the well pipes below the seafloor, they find that mysterious and potentially dangerous bubbles are flowing from the well. Aboard the “Arapaho” heavy lift barge, the dive team faces a tight schedule and the constant threat of heavy weather as they take apart a massive platform by burning through steel underwater. Supervisor Scott Noakes gives his lead tender, an apprentice diver, a chance to get her feet wet.

Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/inside/4907/Overview#ixzz0nmVV8KXb

Thursday, May 20, 2010,

10-11 p.m. E/P

CNBC

Science and Technology

Middle and High School

" Carbon Hunters"

As corporations, governments and consumers hunt for ways to reduce and offset their greenhouse gas emissions, a whole new breed of businessman has been born. Welcome to the world of the Carbon Hunters. They are scouring the planet in search of new ways to capture carbon; lassoing every dime they can, often with shams and scams that make our heads spin. They then are trading the resulting – and often lucrative – credits. Many believe carbon trading is a process vital to stopping climate change. And just as many are skeptical. What’s not debatable is that carbon offset trading is emerging as one of the century’s biggest business, political and environmental stories. But behind the carbon credits on an airline ticket, shares in a tree-planting scheme or a project that will supposedly suck carbon out of the air, lies a tale of dubious truth which can bring disaster to both the poor and the investors and people in the developing world. This documentary follows Vancouver-based businessman Shawn Burns and other hunters around the world, as they seek out new and interesting opportunities such as methane capture projects in the Philippines, carbon exchange houses in Mumbai and Chicago and the golden wheat fields of Alberta, in the world’s first regulated carbon market. It’s a strange, growing industry that is changing the nature of business – and one that, depending on who you believe, just may help save the planet.

Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/35872593

Friday, May 21, 2010,

10-11 p.m. E/P

CNBC Channel

Science and Economics

Middle and High School

" One Nation, Overweight,”

The obesity epidemic is acutely felt among the nation’s youth, with nearly a third of American children either overweight or obese. Many are threatened with the onset of diabetes, and some medical experts warn that for the first time in the history of our nation, this younger generation may be on track to have a shorter life span than their parents. This CNBC documentary goes back to school to examine the role the lunchroom plays in this national fight. Reporter Scott Wapner tours a Virginia high school where students regularly flock to a school-sanctioned snack stand that sells a variety of candy and other junk food as early as 9:30 a.m. He also visits a California school struggling to offer healthier meals to a population raised in a culture of junk food and junk food marketing. CNBC takes cameras inside the laboratories of Vivus, Inc., a pharmaceutical company working to develop an anti-obesity drug that could, if approved, be a financial blockbuster. CNBC also looks at the troubled history of previous popular diet drugs. Employers have a big stake in getting their workforce to lose weight and reduce the enormous costs in medical claims and lost productivity linked to obesity. CNBC cameras go inside Johnson & Johnson, and other companies big and small, that are investing in their employees’ weight loss and seeing big returns. This documentary begins inside one of the nation’s preeminent hospitals—the Cleveland Clinic—with the story of Henry Butler, an obese patient lying on the operating table undergoing bariatric surgery. Butler is one of 12 million Americans considered severely obese, defined as more than 100 pounds overweight. Wapner speaks with Dr. Philip Schauer, the Director of the Clinic's Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, a specialized unit that performs the surgery of last resort on more than 500 patients each year. Wapner also interviews Dr. Toby Cosgrove, the CEO of the Cleveland Clinic, about his controversial statement that if he had his choice, he would not hire obese people

Log on http://www.cnbc.com/id/36073283

Saturday, May 22, 2010,

4-5 p.m. E/P

Planet Green Channel

U.S. History and Geography

Middle and High School

"30 Days: Muslims And America "

This is a repeat of a still-timely documentary aired last week. Viewers follow David Stacy, a 33-year-old Christian man from West Virginia, who agrees to make a drastic life change for 30 days when he moves to the largely Muslim community of Dearborn, Michigan. David struggles with his feelings and previous prejudices against a religion that does not believe in Christ and in the minds of many Americans is associated with the September 11 terror attacks, as he befriends his new host family and adopts their customs. What is it like to be a Muslim in America today? Will David’s experience break all his prejudices or just break him? Documentarian Morgan Spurlock (“Supersize Me”) directs. TV-14

Series info at http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/30-days/american-muslims.html

Friday, May 7, 2010

Media Menu, May 8, 2010

Saturday,
May 8, 2010,
7-8 p.m. ET, 4-5 P.M. PT

CNBC Channel

Economics

Elementary, Middle
and High School

”Biography
on CNBC: Home Depot - Do It Yourself Success”

When
Home Depot’s founders were fired from Handy Dan in the late 1970’s,
they put on their tool belts and went to work on a new concept. After
the Home Depot’s disappointing opening day when “nobody came,”
the do-it-yourself center went on to become the fastest growing retailer
in U.S. history.

This documentary explains how.

Details
at http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1274069992&play=1

Saturday,
May 8, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P

Science Channel

Science

Elementary, Middle and High
School

”The
Amazing Octopus”

This
documentary tells the life story of a single female octopus, from birth
to old age, and of her encounters with squid, paddle crabs, sea
eggs, anemones, and the dreaded cod TV-G

Sunday,
May 9, 2010,
7-8 p.m. E/P

CBS

U.S History and Economics

Middle and High School

”60
Minutes”

Here
are the reports in this newsmagazine: HOMEGROWN TERROR -- Steve Kroft
reports on American citizens – like the recent would-be Times Square
bomber – who have traveled abroad for terrorist training in order
to attack America or its allies. THE SECRETARY OF STATE -- Scott Pelley
follows Hillary Rodham Clinton as she performs her duties as secretary
of state and questions her on the latest developments in foreign policy
and the recent terror scare in New York’s Times Square. WALKING AWAY
--- It’s estimated that one million Americans walked away from homes
“underwater” or worth less than their mortgages even though they
could afford the payments. Morley Safer reports on this trend, called
strategic default, that threatens the economic recovery.

Log
on http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml

Sunday, May 9, 2010, 9-11, p.m. E/P	History Channel	U.S. History	Middle and High School
“AMERICA THE STORY OF US: Cities/ Boom
The new documentary series, AMERICA THE STORY OF US, continues its telling of how America was invented, looking at the moments where Americans harnessed technology to advance human progress— from the rigors of linking the continent by transcontinental railroad, the internet of its day, to triumphing over vertical space through construction of steel structured buildings to putting a man on the moon. First in tonight’s dual episode broadcast it “Cities” Between 1880 and 1930, nearly 24 million new immigrants arrive in America. Many go to work building a new frontier: the modern city, and one of America’s greatest inventions. The high cost of land in cities like New York and Chicago means the only way to build is up. A new kind of building, the skyscraper, is made possible by steel. Produced on a massive scale by Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie, steel production underpins the infrastructure of the modern city. This new urban frontier draws rural migrants and newly arrived immigrant workers. For many, the Statue of Liberty is their first sight of the New World and Ellis Island is the gateway to the American Dream. The lawless city offers opportunities for many, astronomical wealth for a few. Police chief Thomas Byrnes uses his violent new innovation, “the third degree,” to keep a lid on crime. The millions flocking to urban areas often experience terrible conditions in disease-ridden tenements. Jacob Riis, photographer and reformer, brings their plight to the world with his groundbreaking photographs in the book “How the Other Half Lives.” Workers in new high rise factories become urban martyrs in New York City’s Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire, as the city struggles to make these new buildings safe. Powered by steel and electricity, the city begins to be tamed and defined by mass transportation, stunning skylines, electric light...and the innovative, industrious American spirit. The second episode is “Boom” In 1910 California, a column of oil nearly 200 feet high explodes out of a derrick and sets off a chain of events that will turn America into a superpower. Oil production doubles overnight and prices plummet from $2 to 3 cents a barrel. Quick to capitalize on this abundant cheap fuel is Henry Ford, a maverick entrepreneur who vows to bring the motor car to the masses. In 1900 there are 8,000 cars in the country. By 1930 there are over 20 million. As the population becomes more mobile, the entire shape of America changes. Cities grow as centers of industry, creating new opportunities, and new challenges. In one of the greatest engineering projects of the century, thousands of workers divert enough water hundreds of miles across a desert to quench sprawling Los Angeles’ thirst. Mass production and job opportunities prompted by the First World War draw African Americans to northern cities like Chicago, but racial conflict follows. Many Americans see the burgeoning cities as havens of vice, and chief among them is drink. A popular campaign to ban alcohol succeeds, yet when it comes, Prohibition triggers a wave of organized crime. One man set to benefit is Al Capone. He makes the equivalent of $1,500 a minute from bootleg alcohol. For a time he seems untouchable. But even he is not above the law.
Details at http://www.history.com/classroom

Monday, May
10, 2010,
9-11 p.m. E/P

PBS

U.S. History and Economics

Middle and High School

”
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: Into The Deep: America, Whaling & The World”

This
documentary charts the rapid rise and precipitous decline of the American
whaling industry, which powered the start of the industrial revolution
and laid the groundwork for a truly global economy in the 18^th
and 19^th centuries. American whale oil lit the world —
powering the start of the industrial revolution and laying the groundwork
for a truly global economy. From its stunning rise as an economic force
in the 18^th century to its precipitous decline in the decades
following the Civil War, the whaling industry mapped millions of miles
of uncharted ocean, opened new seaways and markets, employed the world’s
most multi-cultural workforce and shrunk the globe by bringing once
remote reaches of the Earth into contact as never before — all the
while capturing the American imagination. As Americans now see fortunes
rise and fall on the global energy and consumer markets, the rapid commoditization
of whales and the sharp decline of the whaling industry serve as a stark
reminder of the volatility of the global marketplace. TV-PG

Details
at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/introduction/whaling-intro

Tuesday,
May 11, 2010,
8:30-9:30 p.m. E/P

Sundance Channel

World History and Geography

Middle and High School

“Cities
On Speed: Bogota”

This
documentary examines challenges facing the world's growing megacities,
which are expected to double their populations by 2040. This episode
visits Bogotá Columbia and considers the unorthodox methods of
two charismatic mayors - Antanas Mockus and Enrique Peñalosa - who,
in less than a decade, turned a corrupt city with the world's highest
murder rate into a peaceful model metropolis. TV-PG

Tuesday,
May 11, 2010,
10:30-11:30 p.m. E/P

PBS

Science and Health

Middle and High School

“INDEPENDENT
LENS: Horse Boy”

This
documentary explores one family’s unforgettable journey as they travel
halfway across the world in search of a miracle to heal their autistic
son. The film blends footage from the family’s adventure through the
Mongolian countryside with scenes from their life at home in Texas.
Bolstered by testimony from autism experts, including Dr. Temple Grandin,
this compelling film exquisitely captures an astonishing physical and
spiritual journey. TV-PG

Details
at http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/horse-boy

Wednesday,
May 12, 2010,
9-10:30 p.m. E/P

PBS

Arts

Middle and High School

“AMERICAN
MASTERS: The Doors - When You’re Strange”

The
creative chemistry of four — drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby
Krieger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and singer Jim Morrison — made the
Doors one of America’s most iconic and influential, theatrical and
mysterious, thrilling and sometimes frightening rock bands. This, the
first feature documentary to tell their story, uses only original footage —
much of it previously unseen — shot between the group’s formation
in 1965 and Morrison’s death in 1971. Johnny Depp narrates. TV-PG

Details
at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/when-youre-strange-a-film-about-the-doors/about-the-film/1543

Thursday,
May 13, 2010,
9-10 p.m. E/P

History Channel

Science and Technology

Middle and High School

“MODERN
MARVELS: Breaking Point”

This
documentary examines technological points of failure in ultra slow motion.
Watch drivers crash cars and trucks at the Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety to find their breaking points, and to find the breaking points
of the crash dummies inside. At Underwriter's Laboratories, fire rounds
at bullet proof glass until it breaks, and see how long it will take
experts to breach a safe using more and more powerful tools. Watch as
lithium-ion batteries catch fire and blow up at Sandia National Laboratories
- they're essential to the electric cars of the future. And at Arizona
State University, find the breaking points of steel, concrete - even
Kevlar jet engine containment systems. See how a bike helmet guards
against the skull reaching its breaking point, then fire high-speed
projectiles at Oakley's sport glasses and military grade goggles to
see if they shatter or survive. And at Black Diamond, scale a rock face
with a professional climber to find the breaking point of the carabineers
and chalks upon which his very life depends.

Friday, May
14, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P

Planet Green

Science and Health

Middle and High School

“30
Days: Muslims In America”

In
this documentary, David Stacy, a 33-year-old Christian man from West
Virginia, agrees to make a drastic life change for 30 days when he moves
to the largely Muslim community of Dearborn, Michigan. David struggles
with his feelings and previous prejudices against a religion that does
not believe in Christ and in the minds of many Americans is associated
with the September 11 terror attacks, as he befriends his new host family
and adopts their customs. What is it like to be a Muslim in America
today? Will David’s experience break all his prejudices
or just break him? Documentarian Morgan Spurlock directs.

Details
at http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/30-days/american-muslims.html

Friday,
May 14, 2010,
10-11 p.m. E/P

CNBC Channel

U.S. History
and Economics

Middle and
High School

"Detroit:
City of Heartbreak and Hope"

It
was once the heartbeat of the American economy, but today, Detroit could
be seen as the ultimate reflection of America's pain. The population
- once two million - is now less than half of that; the schools are
among the worst in the nation, crime and corruption run rampant, and
people are struggling to survive in a shattered economy. In this documentary
NBC reporter Chris Hansen who grew up in the Detroit suburbs and worked
as a reporter in the city for a decade, returns to take a very personal
look at what's being done to save the city and revive its economy, and
the people who are leading the way..

Info at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36665950/ns/dateline_nbc-the_hansen_files_with_chris_hansen

Saturday,
May 15, 2010,
5-7 p.m. E/P

History Channel

U.S. History and Geography

Middle and High School

"
How the States Got Their Shapes "

This
is repeat broadcast of a documentary which examines how every state
is a puzzle piece ultimately revealing the unique geography, political
and social history of America. We are so familiar with the map of United
States, but do we know why our states look the way they do? Every shape
on the map tells a great story about our past. Why is California bent?
To cling on to gold. Why does Oklahoma have a panhandle? Because of
shifting borders for slavery. Why does Missouri have a boot? Because
of a massive earthquake. TV-PG

Interactive
info at http://www.history.com/topics/states/interactives/place-the-state-game

Saturday,
May 15, 2010,
10 p.m.-midnight E/P

History Channel

World History and Geography

Middle and High School

"
The Dark Ages "

This
is a documentary about what happened after the fall of the Rome. Its
Empire, rotten to the core by the fifth century A.D, lay open to barbarian
warriors. Europe was beset by famine, plague, persecutions, and a state
of war that was so persistent it was only rarely interrupted by peace.
These centuries are remembered today as the Dark Ages. Beneath this
cloak of darkness were people like Charlemagne, St. Benedict and the
Empress Theodora who helped to bridge the gap of civilization between
Rome and the Renaissance. Ultimately, these points of light would illuminate
the darkness, and Western Europe would rise from the Dark Ages to a level
of cultural and political power unseen for a thousand years. TV-PG

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