Media Menu, November 20, 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, November 20, 2010,
8-10 p.m. E/P
Planet Green Channel
Health and Science
Middle and High School

"Supersize Me”

While examining the influence of the fast food industry, documentarian Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald's food for one month. TV-14

For news about the recent study "Evaluating Fast Food Nutrition and Marketing to Youth" log on http://adage.com/article?article_id=146960 For information about this documentary log on http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390521

Sunday, November 21, 2010,
8 p.m. – midnight E/P
National Geographic Channel
Science
Elementary, Middle and High School

"Great Migrations: The Complete Miniseries”

This broadcast reprises the four episodes of the recently premiered nature documentary miniseries “Great Migrations”. In the first hour, witness the migration of Christmas Island's red crabs; the wildebeest's arduous 300-mile trek; the monarch butterfly's flight across North America; and the sperm whale's life-long travels. In the second hour witness the awe-inspiring stories of species' need to reproduce, the obstacles they overcome and the distances they travel to ensure future generations. In the third hour journey alongside zebras in Botswana; witness the heartbreaking struggle of the Pacific walrus; watch a herd of proghorn antelope follow its ancient migration path; and follow in the wake of the mysterious whale shark. In the final hour witness Mali elephants as they undertake the longest elephant migration on earth, see the great white sharks that cover thousands of miles of ocean each year, and follow Palau's golden jellyfish on a race to follow the sun.

Log on http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/great-migrations/?source=fohomefeat1

Monday, November 22, 2010,
9-10 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History
Middle and High School

"The Real Story Of Thanksgiving”

The story of Thanksgiving, with its costumed Pilgrims, turkeys and pumpkin pie, zigzags through American history with some surprising twists. At the iconic Thanksgiving feast of 1621-- no pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce was served, and that event was wiped from the history books for 200 years. In the 19th Century, some southern states thought Thanksgiving was an abolitionist plot and refused to celebrate it. Thanksgiving didn't become an annual national holiday until World War II. What started as a somber Puritan day of prayer is now about football and food. This documentary explains how we got there. TV-PG

Log on http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving

Tuesday, November 23, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P
PBS
World History and Geography
Elementary, Middle and High School

" NOVA: Quest for Solomon’s Mines”

NOVA and National Geographic embark on two investigations that illuminate the legend of Solomon and reveal the source of the great wealth that powered the first mighty biblical kingdoms. Countless treasure seekers have set off in search of King Solomon’s mines, trekking through burning deserts and scaling the forbidding mountains of Africa and the Levant, inspired by the Bible’s account of splendid temples and palaces adorned in glittering gold and copper. Yet, to date, the evidence that has claimed to support the existence of Solomon and other early kings in the Bible has been highly controversial. In fact, so little physical evidence of the kings who ruled Israel and Edom has been found that many contend that they are no more real than King Arthur. The expeditions covered in this documentary expose important new clues buried in the pockmarked desert of Jordan, including ancient remnants of an industrial-scale copper mine and a 3,000-year-old message with the words “slave,” “king” and “judge.” TV-G

Log on http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ancient/quest-solomons-mines.html

Wednesday, November 24, 2010,
3-6 p.m. E/P
History Channel
U.S. History
Middle and High School

" Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of The Mayflower ”

The three parts of this documentary - a 3-hour combination of scholastic and dramatic effort – present the history of the Pilgrims and their journey to and colonization of the New World. A marriage of feature-film quality historical reenactments with the latest scholarship and analysis of original source material , it shows the reality of their experience. Most of the people whom we now know as "the Pilgrims" made their way from England to the city of Leiden, Holland, a place of religious tolerance. They found religious freedom, but faced extreme financial hardship. A bold decision is made to move to America. In the late summer of 1620 The Mayflower sets sails carrying 102 English settlers and 30 sailors. Over the next four months, about half of the settlers and sailors die of scurvy and weather-related illness. After the survivors had settled on shore on shore English speaking Indian, Samoset, visits them and his visit leads to the signing of a peace treaty. By the Fall of 1621, the English decide to celebrate their harvest with a feast which is attended by at least 90 Wampanoags. That peace will last 40 years. TV-PG
Log on http://shop.history.com/detail.php?ecid=PRF-2101452&p=69858&pa=PRF-2101452

Thursday, November 25, 2010,
8-9 p.m. E/P
CNN
World History and Geography
Middle and High School

"CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute,"

This program, spotlighting everyday people who are changing the world, is the result of considering more than 10,000 nominations received from more than 100 countries. The top 10 CNN Heroes are selected by a blue-ribbon panel of judges, including Muhammad Ali, Richard Branson, cellist Yo Yo Ma, Olympic speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, rapper Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and actor Rainn Wilson. Judges also include Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, singer Ricky Martin, actresses Holly Robinson Peete and Patricia Heaton, supermodel Alek Wek, actor and author Hill Harper, and entrepreneur Ela Bhatt. The CNN Hero of the Year will be revealed at the tribute show. Each of the top 10 CNN Heroes receives $25,000, and the CNN Hero of the Year receives an additional $100,000. The 2009 CNN Hero of the Year was Efren Peñaflorida, who started a "pushcart classroom" in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership. CNN Heroes has illustrated the best of humanity through the telling of stories of selfless acts of kindness, courage and perseverance.

For profiles of the honorees log on http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive10/index.html

Friday, November 26, 2010,
9:30-10:30 p.m. E/P (check local listings)
PBS
U.S. History and Arts
Middle and High School

“ The President's Photographer: Fifty Years Inside the Oval Office"

This documentary offers a current and historical behind-the-scenes look at the everyday grit of the American presidency and a chance to see what it’s like to cover the most powerful man in the world, for history. Currently, Pete Souza is never far behind President Obama. In fact, sometimes he’s ahead of him. As the president’s chief White House photographer, Souza is the president’s shadow. National Geographic and PBS follow Souza inside the Obama White House — aboard Air Force One, backstage at the State of the Union and into the heart of the West Wing. TV-PG

Log on http://www.photographyblog.com/news/the_presidents_photographer

Saturday, November 27, 2010,
7-9 p.m. E/P (check local listings)
PBS
Arts
Middle and High School

'Cirque du Soleil -- Flowers in the Desert'’

Since 1993, Cirque du Soleil has produced seven original, permanent shows in Las Vegas, creating a garden of delights that has transformed the very nature of entertainment in this desert oasis. Cirque du Soleil - Flowers in the Desert, an extraordinary entertainment experience, capturing the magic of Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. This documentary will present performances recorded in High Definition at six of the seven Cirque shows in Las Vegas. TV-PG

Log on http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1728972/