or


[12/01/15 - 09:01 AM]
Smithsonian Channel to Premiere "Moby Dick: Heart of a Whale" on Friday, December 4
The new one-hour special draws from historical accounts where whales - then considered bloodthirsty predators - seemed to have deliberately attacked whale ships.

[via press release from Smithsonian Channel]

Smithsonian Channel to Premiere MOBY DICK: HEART OF A WHALE, 12/4

Was Herman Melville's Moby Dick an allegorical tale or were there giants of the sea that really attacked ships? Was there a real Captain Ahab, consumed by vengeance and crippled by a whale? Smithsonian Channel attempts to answer these questions in a new one-hour special MOBY DICK: HEART OF A WHALE, premiering Friday, December 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

MOBY DICK: HEART OF A WHALE, draws from historical accounts where whales - then considered bloodthirsty predators - seemed to have deliberately attacked whale ships. It explores the anatomy and behavior of one of the largest creatures on the planet, capable of producing the loudest sounds, and weighing as much as sixty tons. This special tells the gripping story of the crew members of THE WHALE ship Essex - whose epic whale hunting expedition became a tragic story as mythic in the nineteenth century as the story of the Titanic is today. The quest takes viewers from the home base of the American whaling industry in Nantucket and New Bedford, Massachusetts, into the cruel waters of the Pacific and the sperm whale hunting grounds off the coast of South America.

Through historical reenactments, computer generated graphics and expert testimony, MOBY DICK: HEART OF A WHALE explains how Melville's literary masterpiece and the legend came about, inspired by sperm whales whose extraordinary size and design allows them to perform almost unbelievable feats.

"Moby Dick" and the story of the Essex have both captured the imagination of filmmakers, playwrights, musicians and cartoonists. "Moby Dick" was first produced as a silent movie in 1926, called "The Sea Beast," John Huston directed "Moby Dick" in 1956 starring Gregory Peck and Orson Welles, and it is the subject of Oscar(R) winner Ron Howard's new movie "In the Heart of the Sea."

One of the real events that influenced Melville began in August of 1819 when THE WHALE ship Essex set out on a two and a half year voyage to hunt whales in the Pacific. A year into THE HUNT and a thousand miles west of the Galapagos Islands a giant sperm whale brutally struck the vessel. With the ship sinking, the crew members set out in three boats, leaving the doomed ship behind. Lost at sea for nearly three months, they sailed 3,500 miles with only eight of the twenty men surviving. The first mate, Owen Chase, later published an account, Narrative of the Most Extraordinary and Distressing Shipwreck of the Whale-Ship Essex, suggesting that THE WHALE acted deliberately.

Melville's whale was a malicious battering ram that attacked ships and killed sailors. But could a whale hunt down a ship and deliver a blow powerful enough to sink it? Was there really a white whale that prowled the seas with such premeditation? Today, scientists believe that this behavior might be due to a unique kind of whale sonar that may trigger a predatory response leading them to track and hunt down objects in the ocean.

MOBY DICK: HEART OF A WHALE is produced by Neue Horizonte Film and Medienproduktion Hannover for ZDF in association with ARTE. The director is Jurgen Stumpfhaus. Joy Galane and David Royle serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel(TM), owned by Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where CURIOSITY lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME(R) with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, Million Dollar American Princesses, Boomtowners, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes; MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Find out more at www.smithsonianchannel.com.





  [december 2015]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


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





[07/10/25 - 05:03 PM]
Meagan Good Returns to Lifetime to Executive Produce and Star in the Alluring New Thriller "I'll Never Let You Go" Alongside Antonio Cupo and Thomas Cadrot, Premiering August 16 on Lifetime
Good stars as Emily Westover, a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Cupo).

[07/10/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Virgin River" Is Returning for Season 8
"On behalf of myself and the whole 'Virgin River' family, we're eternally grateful to Netflix and to the fans for allowing us to continue on this journey with these beloved characters," said showrunner Patrick Sean Smith.

[07/10/25 - 12:00 PM]
ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One" Schedule Update: New York Mets to Visit San Francisco Giants on July 27
Karl Ravech will call the action with analyst Eduardo Pérez, analyst and five-time World Series Champion David Cone and reporter Buster Olney.

[07/10/25 - 11:04 AM]
Paris Berelc to Co-Star and Executive Produce Upcoming Tubi Original YA Romantic Comedy Film "Kissing Is the Easy Part"
Fawzia Mirza (The Queen of my Dreams) is set to direct the film, which is based on the popular Wattpad webnovel (currently at 31.9 million reads) of the same name by Christine Duann adapted by Rebecca Webb.

[07/10/25 - 10:30 AM]
HBO Orders Untitled American History Sketch Comedy Starring and Executive Produced by Larry David and Higher Ground
President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America's 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion. ...But then Larry David called.

[07/10/25 - 10:10 AM]
Apple's Acclaimed Sci-Fi Series "Murderbot" Lands Season Two Renewal
The season one finale of "Murderbot" premieres globally this Friday, July 11.

[07/10/25 - 10:06 AM]
AMC Networks Returns to Comic-Con International with Dynamic Lineup of Fan-Favorite Series Panels, Screenings, A Shudder Fan Activation & More
Panels include a return to Hall H for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, featuring an exclusive first-look at the official trailer from the third season, premiering Sunday, September 7 on AMC and AMC+.

[07/10/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Marc Maron: Panicked" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
He's mining for gold in a river of panic.

[07/10/25 - 09:55 AM]
"The Great Food Truck Race" Hosted by Tyler Florence Returns with New Roster of Competitors and Epic Culinary Challenges
The new season premieres Sunday, August 3 at 9pm ET/PT and streams next day on HBO Max.

[07/10/25 - 09:39 AM]
Peacock Announces September 4 Premiere Date for "The Paper"
The series premieres on Peacock with four episodes on September 4, followed by two new episodes every Thursday through September 25.

[07/10/25 - 09:34 AM]
MGM+ Unveils "Let The Devil In" Premiere Date
Premiering August 31, the four-episode documentary series is about a decades-old tragedy that destroyed one family and ignited the darkest fears of a small New Jersey town.

[07/10/25 - 09:01 AM]
Prime Video Adds Broadcast Veterans to NBA on Prime Game Coverage Lineup
The broadcast team includes award-winning play-by-play announcers Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan, Michael Grady and Eric Collins.

[07/10/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Starz Releases Key Art and Trailer for Timeless Romantic Drama "Outlander: Blood of My Blood," Premiering Friday, August 8
From the battlefields of World War I to the rugged Highlands of 18th century Scotland, two fated couples must defy the forces that seek to tear them apart, intersecting in surprising and unforeseen ways.

[07/10/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases Trailer and Key Art for Season Two of "Sausage Party: Foodtopia"
All eight episodes of the animated comedy will be served all at once in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on Prime Video August 13.

[07/10/25 - 08:13 AM]
Star Designer Bobby Berk to Host Newly Greenlit HGTV Series "Junk or Jackpot?" (wt) Produced by John Cena
Executive produced by actor, wrestler and entrepreneur John Cena, the six-episode season follows collectors as they discover the true monetary value of their massive and unusual collections.