CURRENT TV'S AWARD-WINNING INVESTIGATIVE SERIES "VANGUARD" RETURNS WITH SIX NEW EPISODES BEGINNING MONDAY, OCTOBER 31 AT 9:00 PM ET

New Installments Include "Arming the Mexican Cartels" (airing 10/31), Islamophobia (airing 11/7) and "The War on Weed" (airing 11/28)

NEW YORK, OCTOBER 28, 2011 - Current TV's Peabody and Livingston Award-winning documentary news series, "Vanguard," returns for its sixth season starting Monday, October 31 at 9:00 pm ET.

Each Monday night, Current's signature series delves into some of the hot button issues of the day. This season's seven hour-long, thought-provoking installments will explore global and domestic topics including Islamophobia on both sides of the Atlantic in the wake of the tenth anniversary of 9/11; the flooding of guns across the Mexican border, which is fueling mass murders carried out by the drug cartels; the rise in the number of Americans traveling abroad in search of affordable medical procedures; the increasing disparity between economic classes in America; the marked difference in marijuana laws in New York and California; and an inside look at modern blood sport and the world of mixed martial arts.

Over the past five seasons, "Vanguard's" fearless correspondents Adam Yamaguchi, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller have traveled to the corners of the globe to cover subjects ranging from the 2010 Sports Emmy-nominated segment, Soccer's Lost Boys, which told the story human trafficking of African boys; to the role of Big Tobacco in targeting the young generation in the Third World; to embedding themselves with undercover agents as they work to dismantle drug cartel operations. Their passion and dedication to understanding the world around them and sharing it with viewers has led to multiple awards, accolades and critical acclaim.

Commenting on this new season, Current TV's EVP of programming, Shelley Lewis, said: "Vanguard is a powerful storytelling tool that puts a vivid, human face on the issues our audience hears about, but almost never sees. Adam, Christof and Marianna are deeply committed to finding and telling the truth of each story wherever it may take them. With our correspondents embedded with their subjects for as long as it takes to get the story, viewers will experience a first-hand point of view behind the headlines unlike anything they'll see elsewhere."

Season Six Episodes Include:

"'Arming the Mexican Cartels'"

Premiering Monday, October 31 at 9PM ET

Christof Putzel examines how American guns are flooding across the Mexican border helping to fuel that country's deadly cartel wars which continue to spiral out of control.

"Islamophobia"

Premiering Monday, November 7 at 9PM ET

From New York to London, Adam Yamaguchi looks at the rising tide of Islamophobia on both sides of the Atlantic. Ten years after 9/11, the fear of future attacks paired with the growing number of Muslims across Europe and America has given birth to an aggressive new network of anti-Muslim alarmists.

"Under the Knife Abroad"

Premiering Monday, November 14 at 9PM ET

During these tough economic times, there is one industry that continues to flourish: medical tourism. Adam Yamaguchi travels to India, Mexico and Barbados, where more and more Americans are being forced to seek medical care, often times for life or death procedures, because they can't afford the medical procedures here at home. Is healthcare America's next industry to be outsourced to foreign lands?

"The War on Weed"

Premiering Monday, November 28 at 9PM ET

Los Angeles vs. New York: Christof Putzel takes a look at how America's two biggest cities are taking a very different approach to weed. It's high times in LA (and California) where laws have been dramatically relaxed in recent years. In contrast, New York is seeing more and more of its citizens arrested for low-level pot offenses, disproportionately affecting minorities.

Additional episodes airing in December include "Two Americas" and "Mixed Martial Arts America."

ABOUT "VANGUARD":

Launched in 2008, "Vanguard" has become one of the only multi-award winning long-form investigative documentary series on cable television. Its programming has showcased and provided in-depth perspectives on notable issues such as immigration, the drug trade and the environment. Committed to traveling to locations around the world, its correspondents include, Adam Yamaguchi, Christof Putzel, and Mariana van Zeller. Nominated for five Emmys, the series has become one of the most celebrated news programs in the United States, receiving prestigious awards for journalism including the Livingston Award, the Prism Award, the DuPont Award and the 2010 Peabody Award and the 2010 Television Academy Honor.

About Current Media:

Current Media, the Peabody-and Emmy Award-winning television and online network founded in 2005 by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt, features the very best in commentary and information programming. Home to the newly launched "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," as well as the celebrated documentary series "Vanguard," Current is dedicated to providing insightful analysis of important issues - and digging deep into real stories to uncover how they affect real people. Current shines a light where other networks won't dare and boldly explores provocative subjects - opening minds, sparking conversations and forming deep connections with its viewers. Current creates the commentary and delivers the independent, unexpected point-of-view our viewers want and need to hear. Current is media that matters.

Current is now available via cable and satellite TV in 71 million households worldwide - 60 million in the US - through distribution partners Comcast (Channel 107); Time Warner; DirecTV (Channel 358 nationwide); Dish Network (Channel 196 nationwide); Verizon and AT&T. In the UK and Ireland, Current is available on BSkyB (Channel 183) and Virgin Media (Channel 155). Viewers can also find Current online at www.current.com.