or


[05/14/13 - 09:11 AM]
This Memorial Day, National Geographic Channel Highlights the Journeys of Injured Soldiers Moving Forward and Fishing in "American Heroes Fishing Challenge"
The one-hour special premieres Monday, May 27 at 10:00/9:00c on the network.

[via press release from National Geographic Channel]

THIS MEMORIAL DAY, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL HIGHLIGHTS THE EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEYS OF INJURED SOLDIERS MOVING FORWARD ... AND FISHING

A Documentary on How One Boy's Compassion Brought Soldiers Severely Wounded in Afghanistan to Compete in America's Oldest Fishing Tournament

American Heroes Fishing Challenge premieres Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, at 10 p.m. ET/PT

Film Features Original Music by Seven-time Grammy Winner John Mayer

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 14, 2013) After seeing a story about severely injured veterans in Afghanistan, 11-year-old Jack Nixon said, "I wish those guys could fish. It would change their life; they would love it." With Jack's idea came the American Heroes Fishing Challenge. And lives changed.

In the one-hour special American Heroes Fishing Challenge, which premieres Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on the National Geographic Channel, follow a group of recently wounded veterans from the war in Afghanistan working to jump-start the healing process ... by going fishing. For more information, see natgeotv.com and @NGC_PR on Twitter.

The film features original music by seven-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter John Mayer, who has dedicated himself to helping veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan readjust to life after deployment. Mayer says, "Seeing to it that we care for our returning veterans is quite possibly our biggest collective duty as a nation."

American Heroes Fishing Challenge climbs onboard fishing vessels to experience the "thrill of the catch" with severely wounded active duty military. They'll travel from Walter Reed and Fort Belvoir military hospitals to New England to compete with 3,000 others in the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.

Some are just days out of surgery, while others are taking their first steps outdoors on new legs, but they stop at nothing in their efforts to win the annual fishing tradition. At sea, there are no doctors, no physical therapy appointments and no drama (except for the brash banter between competing teams!).

The line-up includes Spc. Dylan Waugh, a soldier who nearly died a few months ago in an IED explosion and is now gripping a fishing pole; 1st Lt. Army Ranger Nathan Rimpf, walking on sand for the first time since losing his legs; and Pvt. Colton Wiley, a young Army infantryman shot through the legs after only two weeks in Afghanistan, who now gets to see the ocean for the first time.

Wiley boasts, "I am gonna get out and do everything, even if I am in a chair forever. I'm determined I'm gonna win. I am going to catch that big fish, I promise." Waugh, in turn, explains, "Combat was my adrenaline - I loved everything about it. Fishin' and combat kinda go hand in hand. Game on." Rimpf, 24, of North Carolina, lost his legs in Afghanistan last July, but two months later he was onboard legendary captain Buddy Vanderhoop's "Tomahawk." He describes the experience and its impact on his life: "I've loved to fish my whole life. Walking down the dock on my new legs and climbing into that famous fishing boat gave me the profound sense that life could return to normal."

Jack Nixon's idea became reality when his parents, Bob and Sarah Nixon - also the filmmakers - worked with him to secure boat and fuel donations from enthusiastic Menemsha charter captains and garner the endorsement of Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. The Vineyard's Beach Plum Inn donated rooms, and others came forward with funding and transportation. The Walter Reed and Fort Belvoir military hospitals endorsed the experiment in "extreme" saltwater therapy. Soon, the American Heroes Fishing Challenge was underway, pairing wounded warriors with legendary charter captains who are competing for the winning fish.

Says Bob Nixon, the film's director, "Our goal was to capture the extraordinary can-do spirit of our military, while revealing how the challenges of a week of hardcore fishing on the Atlantic and the grateful embrace of an entire island jump starts their recovery."

As we follow their fishing exploits, the veterans share their stunning commitment to service, harrowing war experiences and their challenges on the long road to recovery.

American Heroes Fishing Challenge is narrated by comedian/actor and long-time Vineyarder Lenny Clarke, whose wife Jennifer Clarke is the award-winning captain of the "Femme Fatale," featured in the film.

American Heroes Fishing Challenge is produced by True Blue Films for National Geographic Channel. For True Blue Films, producers are Robert Nixon, Todd Wendel and Sarah Guinan Nixon. For National Geographic Channel, executive producer is George Verschoor; vice president, production and development is Kevin Mohs; and president is Howard T. Owens.

# # #

About National Geographic Channels

Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel Nat Geo WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in 85 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channel is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 38 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.





  [may 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[09/03/25 - 11:04 AM]
Peacock Announces November 24 Premiere Date for "Bel-Air's" Fourth and Final Season
In season four of Peacock's "Bel-Air," Will tries to balance the fun and excitement of senior year with the expectations that have brought him to this moment.

[09/03/25 - 11:02 AM]
New Episode of HBO Original Documentary Series "The Case Against Adnan Syed" Debuts September 18
This all-new episode chronicles Adnan's personal journey from incarceration to freedom, and his eventual reunion with family after 23 years behind bars.

[09/03/25 - 11:01 AM]
"The Kelly Clarkson Show" Returns with All New Episodes on Monday, Sept. 29
New season guests include Emily Blunt, Marion Cotillard, Colin Farrell, Scarlett Johansson, Dwayne Johnson, Matthew McConaughey, Lionel Richie, Julia Roberts, Shonda Rhimes, Margot Robbie, Sylvester Stallone, Channing Tatum, Reese Witherspoon and others.

[09/03/25 - 10:35 AM]
FOX Sports Wraps Inaugural NTT IndyCar Series Season with Largest Viewership Growth of Any Sport
The 17-race 2025 season scored in a big way, averaging 1,362,000 viewers according to Nielsen Media Research, a +27% year-to-year increase from 2024 and the most-watched season in 17 years.

[09/03/25 - 10:25 AM]
Sophie Turner Confirmed as Lara Croft in Upcoming Prime Video New Series "Tomb Raider"
Jonathan Van Tulleken will serve as director and executive producer and Chad Hodge joins as co-showrunner and executive producer.

[09/03/25 - 09:31 AM]
"Jake Makes It Easy" Returns with All-New Episodes 9/29 at 10pm ET/PT on FYI Network
With his impressive culinary background and love of hosting and bringing people together through food, each half-hour episode showcases how Jake pulls from Jewish and Middle Eastern influences, family, and friends to create stress-free delicious dishes that always feel like a celebration.

[09/03/25 - 09:30 AM]
HBO Max to Stream Live All Elite Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events, Starting with "AEW All Out" on Saturday, September 20 at 3 P.M. ET
Also, earlier in the week on Wednesday, September 17, TBS and HBO Max will be live from London, Ontario for a special three-hour show - September to Remember - starting at 8 p.m. ET, featuring AEW's biggest names in non-stop high-flying action as they set the stage for the signature pay-per-view event that weekend.

[09/03/25 - 09:04 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases a Killer Official Trailer for Seasons One and Two of "Helluva Boss"
The trailer celebrates the greatest moments from the first two seasons and teases new footage from the original episode.

[09/03/25 - 09:01 AM]
Warner Bros. Pictures Partners Exclusively with AMC Theatres and Dolby to Return New Line Cinema and Andy Muschietti's Blockbuster "IT" to Select Big Screens Worldwide, Ahead of the Upcoming Debut of the HBO Original "IT: Welcome to Derry" on HBO Max
At the screenings, audiences will also be treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the upcoming series "IT: Welcome to Derry," set in 1962.

[09/03/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Happy Mess Method" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Organizational expert Sabrina Soto and New York Times bestselling author Jennifer McCartney help celebrity and non-celebrity clients find realistic and sustainable methods for keeping their homes tidy.

[09/03/25 - 09:01 AM]
Winter Is Here! The History Channel's "Ice Road Truckers" Returns for Season 12 on October 1
From its original series premiere in 2007 to a several years long hiatus, the fearless truckers return like never before to the treacherous terrain of icy roads and frozen lakes in Northern Canada delivering crucial supplies and necessities to isolated communities.

[09/03/25 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian" Debuts September 19
In his debut stand-up special, filmed in front of a sold-out crowd at Constellation in Chicago, the presentation showcases Hearon's ability to unpack life's most absurd contradictions with his signature charm and razor-sharp wit.

[09/03/25 - 07:35 AM]
Food Network's "Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking" Kicks Off the Holidays with a New Chapter of Magical Dessert Artistry
Chapter Two will feature even more spellbinding creations, enchanted elements and baking wizardry as a new field of competitors embark on the experience of a lifetime.

[09/03/25 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The film offers viewers an intimate look at the controversial love story between Norwegian king's eldest child, Märtha Louise, and Hollywood's self-proclaimed spiritual guru, Durek Verrett.

[09/03/25 - 07:16 AM]
Andscape Announces Powerful New Three-Part Documentary Series "Memphis to the Mountain"
The series will premiere on Hulu and Disney+ on September 5.