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A cleaner, greener
earth, in little steps


PBS eco-documentaries, hosted by Edward Norton

Apr 23, 2008
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PBS will be going green in more ways than one tonight with the second-season premiere of “Strange Days on Planet Earth.” Edward Norton, who will play big green guy The Incredible Hulk in an upcoming summer film, hosts the two one-hour so-called eco-documentaries produced by National Geographic, starting at 9 p.m.

The idea of the show, whose first season aired three years ago and attracted 20 million cumulative viewers across four episodes, is to imagine a greener, cleaner planet where small changes in our everyday lives can make a global difference.

Tonight’s first episode focuses on over-fishing and the disastrous effect it’s having on ecosystems across the planet. The second episode focuses on problems with our water supply that are contributing to weakening coral reefs, chemically polluted rivers and striped bass deaths.

The show returns one day after Earth Day, which spurred numerous TV specials about saving the planet and conservation, but the greater green trend has been building for several years, since Al Gore’s movie “An Inconvenient Truth” became an unexpected hit.

Recent green media efforts include the Sunday issue of The New York Times Green Magazine and the June launch of Discovery’s Planet Green high-definition channel, among many dozens of media initiatives.

Norton has a history of environmental activism that actually dates back to childhood. His dad was involved with worldwide conservation as well.

 

A look at this week’s top TV draws

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 a.m.

ABC

“Good Morning America” (N)

Actress Helen Hunt guests.

8 p.m.

CW

“America’s Next Top Model” (R)

The gals go to Rome to film an Italian commercial.

8 p.m.

ESPN

“Major League Baseball” (S)

The Yankees take on the White Sox in Chicago.

9 p.m.

Fox

“American Idol” (R)

It’s starting to get down there – after tonight only five will remain.

10 p.m.

NBC

“Law & Order” (D)

Green is investigated after he’s accused in a shooting, in Jesse Martin’s last episode.

10 p.m.

MTV

“The Real World” (R)

The other girls don’t like how Brianna uses her body. Have they not seen past editions of this show?

10:30 p.m.

TNT

“NBA Basketball” (S)

The Nuggets take on the Lakers in game two of their first-round playoff series.

THURSDAY, APRIL 24

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 a.m.

NBC

“Today” (N)

“30 Rock” star Tina Fey visits the set.

8 p.m.

ABC

“Ugly Betty” (D)

A surprise visit from Charlie may change Betty’s birthday plans.

8 p.m.

CW

“Smallville” (D)

Clark looks for the only person who can change Lana’s condition.

9 p.m.

ABC

“Grey’s Anatomy” (D)

Bailey judges a surgical contest between the ladies.

9 p.m.

CBS

“CSI” (D)

The crew tries to solve two murders that occur in the same apartment building.

9 p.m.

NBC

“The Office” (C)

Michael and Dwight head to New York to try to hang with Ryan.

10 p.m.

ABC

“Lost” (D)

A body washes up on shore and Jack tries to identify it.

FRIDAY, APRIL 25

Time

Network

Program

Description

7 a.m.

ABC

“Good Morning America” (N)

Mariah Carey performs.

8 p.m.

CBS

“Ghost Whisperer” (D)

Melinda looks into the death of a student who was filming a movie.

9 p.m.

Travel Channel

“Disney: On A Dime” (N)

Looking at how to head to Disney World without breaking the bank.

10 p.m.

CBS

“Numb3rs” (D)

A gang of military thieves takes a family hostage.

10 p.m.

History Channel

“Battle 360” (N)

Reliving the largest naval battle of World War II.

10:30 p.m.

ESPN

“NBA Basketball” (S)

The Suns versus the Spurs in game three of their first-round playoff series.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

Time

Network

Program

Description

3 p.m.

CBS

“PGA Golf” (S)

Coverage of the third round of the Byron Nelson Championship, live from Irving, Texas.

3 p.m.

NBC

“NHL Hockey” (S)

A game from the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

3 p.m.

ESPN

“NFL Draft” (S)

Your favorite team is on the clock.

3:30 p.m.

Fox

“Major League Baseball” (S)

It’s Yankees-Indians, Angels-Tigers or Padres-Diamondbacks.

8 p.m.

Nickelodeon

“iCarly” (K)

Freddie and Sam try to convince Carly to stay at their school.

11 p.m.

Fox

“Mad TV” (C)

Among other things, a parody of ABC’s “Lost.”

SUNDAY, APRIL 27

Time

Network

Program

Description

1 p.m.

Fox

“NASCAR Racing” (S)

The Aaron’s 499 from Talladega Superspeedway.

3 p.m.

CBS

“PGA Golf” (S)

Final round of the Byron Nelson Championship, won last year by Scott Verplank.

3:30 p.m.

ABC

“NBA Basketball” (S)

Game four of the first-round playoff series between Shaq and the Suns and Duncan and the Spurs.

8 p.m.

Fox

“The Simpsons” (C)

Bart joins 4-H and raises a calf.

9 p.m.

ABC

“Desperate Housewives” (D)

Bree and Katherine decide to go into business together.

9 p.m.

CBS

“Cold Case” (D)

A 1962 suicide is reexamined as a murder situation.

10 p.m.

E!

“Keeping Up with the Kardashians” (R)

Kim, Khloe and Kourtney get into a fight. Except this time it’s serious.

A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.

 

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Diego Vasquez is a staff writer for Media Life.




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