It could be the recent Museum visit, or it could be the lack of new episodes of my favorite TV shows like Grey's Anatomy and The Office the past few weeks.
Of course, it's probably just the fact that there's never been anything quite like it on television before that I've been tuning into Planet Earth, a groundbreaking 11-part miniseries on the Discovery Channel.
Are you watching? The first three parts – Pole to Pole, Mountains and Deep Ocean – debuted last Sunday, and the series continues tonight and for the next three weeks with two more episodes per night. Tonight is Deserts and Ice Worlds.
The hour-long episodes include an annoying number of commercial breaks, but they're a small price to pay for such an incredible showcase of our planet. (And, well, we have DVR so it doesn't much affect us. Best invention ever.)
Dave and I have watched the first three installments in complete wonder and awe. The project took five years to make: 2,000 days of filming in more than 200 locations by more than 70 camera operators, and through new technologies, the crew were able to record and document animals and behaviors that have never before been seen by the masses.
Already, viewers have seen hundreds of dolphins swimming and jumping across the ocean, a Great White leaping out of the water in slow, slow motion, and a snow leopard with her cub, caught on film in the wild for the first time ever. We've seen a panda bear in her den, polar bears awaking from hibernation, and elephants traveling across the desert in search of water. Wild dogs hunting impalas in Africa and penguins in Antarctica huddling together for warmth through the four months of the year with no sunlight.
We've seen fish we've never seen before at the very bottom of ocean, and some of the most beautiful, interesting birds who call the bottom of the rain forest their home, which have also never been filmed before as they perform their crazy, fantastic dances to attract a mate.
The series is narrated by Sigourney Weaver and is truly a masterpiece, one that hopefully sparks viewers to see our Earth for the marvel it is, and to want to take care of it. In my humble opinion, it's a thousand times more effective in promoting appreciation for the Earth and the desire to make changes that will ensure its ability to thrive in the future than any piece of propaganda we're fed by hypocritical politicians or Hollywood actors.
I can't wait to see what treasures the next eight installments of Planet Earth have in store. I highly, highly recommend you tune in if you have the chance.
Awesome! I will, thank you.
Posted by: Christi | April 01, 2007 at 04:27 PM
I'm going to go turn it on right now. I'm a huge science geek/planet earth lover. Sounds much more interesting than the Girls Next Door.
Posted by: Farrah | April 01, 2007 at 08:08 PM
Someone was just talking about this at work today. I'm definitely tuning in.
Posted by: Derek | April 02, 2007 at 04:24 PM
To truly experience the greatness that is Planet Earth, you must watch the HD version on an HDTV. The series was shot in high definition and the picture and sound quality are spectacular. Another benefit of watching Planet Earth on Discovery HD is that there are only two short commercial breaks.
Posted by: Jon | April 04, 2007 at 11:14 AM