The 411 For July 2007

National Geographic Channel Primetime Highlights For Week of July 23 - July 29, 2007

All Programming is Subject to change

Updated schedule available at nationalgeographic.com/channel.

Coming Soon...

"Science of Dwarfism" & "Science of Gigantism" on Monday, July 30, 2007 at 9:00 - 11:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)

Premieres...

"Secrets of the Shroud" on Monday, July 23, 2007 at 9:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)

Believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus, the Shroud of Turin is one of Christendom's most priceless treasures. But little is known about the mysterious origin of this precious relic...or priceless work of art. Could it perhaps be the work of a cunning 14th century forger or was it really the cloth that covered Jesus when he was placed in his tomb? Now, with a team of scientists from both sides of the debate, National Geographic Channel investigates the forensic and scientific evidence connected to the mysterious Shroud of Turin.

"Critical Situation: Taliban Uprising" on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 9:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)

Afghanistan, 2001. The Northern Alliance, a pro-American Afghan army, captures Taliban fighters and imprisons them at a castle-like compound. But a violent uprising begins after the Taliban overpower their guards, seize weapons and open fire. For days, the Taliban refuse to surrender, despite losing hundreds and a lack of food or water. Trapped in the crossfire are journalists, who now relive in Critical Situation: Taliban Uprising, how they dodged bullets and bombs to capture a rare uncensored expression of war, including obtaining the first camera footage of the 20-year-old California native-turned-Taliban John Walker Lindh, who was among the Taliban fighters.

"Locked Up Abroad: Peru" on Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)

Two young American women were promised a luxury holiday in Peru in exchange for bringing back cocaine. Instead, they found themselves facing 6 year prison sentences. Now, NGC follows them as their dream quickly turns into a nightmare in the real world of drug smuggling and Peruvian prison life. Go inside their terrifying story and their time in an overcrowded maximum security women's prison. Then, NGC cameras capture one of the women as she returns to the prison for the first time.

"Bridges of NYC" on Thursday July 26, 2007 at 8:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)

Today, New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world but it is geographically challenged by massive rivers. Now, Bridges of NYC explores how a series of key monumental bridges turned the region into the Big Apple we know today. NGC looks at the challenges faced during the construction of NYC's bridges, including the Brooklyn Bridge - New York City's first suspension bridge; the George Washington Bridge - the busiest bridge in the world; and the Verrazano Narrows - the longest bridge in the city.

Additional primetime highlights include:

Primetime Programming for Monday July 23, 2007:

"Knights Templar" at 8:00 PM ET/PT

Knights Templar examines the myths and mysteries of the legendary medieval order. The Templar have recently gained attention in the pages of the best-selling novel "The Da Vinci Code," where they are presented as the mysterious protectors of the Holy Grail. Modern conspiracy theories suggest that the Knights Templar still exist in secret to this day -- and still protect a vast and mysterious treasure. Through historical re-enactments of battles and long-secret rituals plus interviews with top medieval scholars and historians, the National Geographic Channel separates fact from fiction to reveal the true story behind these legendary warriors.

"Secrets of the Shroud" at 9:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)

Description located above in Premieres section.

"Secrets of the Freemasons" at 10:00 PM ET/PT

It is a secret society that is said to have shaped world events for more than 1,000 years. Members have been found everywhere from the World Bank to the United Nations to the Pentagon to top ranks of major corporations. They have been accused of controlling the money supply through the Federal Reserve and throughout history they have been present everywhere from the Boston Tea Party to the French Revolution. They are the Freemasons. But who exactly are they? Why do they exist? Are they the architects of a global conspiracy? And if not, how did these stories get started? In Secrets of the Freemasons, the National Geographic Channel takes viewers through a comprehensive history and development of this secret organization up to its modern day existence.

Primetime Programming For Tuesday July 24, 2007:

"National Geographic's Most Amazing Close Encounters" at 8:00 PM ET/PT

Get ready to come face to face with the horrific - the dangerous - the disgusting - the deadly - in some of the most amazing moments ever captured on film. Meet people who get up close and personal with rats - giant squid - and deadly venomous snakes. Come face to face with food that's still alive - from grubs to maggots to whole octopus. Watch amazing encounters between predator and prey, as lions and hyenas, crocodiles and killer whales fight to survive. Join in cultural rituals that pit man against man - or woman - and incredible moments where people look death in the face - from pilots in a mid-air collision - to passengers on a sinking cruise ship - to firefighters facing a massive explosion. It's National Geographic's Most Amazing Close Encounters.

"Critical Situation: Taliban Uprising" at 9:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)

Description located above in Premieres section.

"Locked Up Abroad: Peru" at 10:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)

Description located above in Premieres section.

Primetime Programming For July 25, 2007:

"Explorer: FBI Takedown" at 8:00 PM ET/PT

With extraordinary access to teams of FBI agents, NGC cameras take you inside the perilous world of one of America's most elite law enforcement agencies, offering a rare glimpse of their investigative strategies and techniques in action. Every day in the U.S., 12,000 Special Agents spread out from 56 field offices to investigate a myriad of cases, but few have witnessed their efforts in the field up close and personal, until now. In this one-hour Explorer episode, join veteran and rookie agents as they conduct a backseat rendezvous with an informant; find forensic evidence to crack a homicide; "sweep" the largest naval base in the world for potential terrorist threats; and take down a convicted felon before he can destroy evidence.

"Miami Drug Cartel" (Narrated by Anthony LaPaglia) at 9:00 PM ET/PT

In the 80s Miami was a playground to the rich and famous - America's premier tourist spot. But behind the fun in the sun, an underground drug war was escalating over a massive cocaine industry. South American drug cartels infiltrated the beaches of south Florida - bringing with them record amounts of violence. Narrated by Golden Globe winner Anthony LaPaglia, Miami Drug Cartel profiles the Miami Vice decade with rarely scene footage and exclusive interviews from former drug traffickers, dealers and the FBI agents that took them down.

"Critical Situation: Taliban Uprising" at 10:00 PM ET/PT

Description located above in Premieres section.

Primetime Programming For Thursday July 26, 2007:

"Bridges of NYC" at 8:00 PM ET/PT (World Premiere)

Description located above in Premieres section.

"Engineering Egypt" at 9:00 PM ET/PT (2 Hours)

Ancient Egypt was powerful and mysterious - lasting for more than two thousand years and leaving behind the symbols of its greatness written on the desert in stone. More than a feat of engineering brilliance, it is a story of primitive technology, sweat and toil of thousands and a powerful supernatural belief that man can survive death. In Engineering Egypt, this two-hour special takes us into the hearts and minds of two of the greatest pharaohs as they stop at nothing to build their way toward immortality and show us the story behind audacious projects in Egypt, such as one of Seven Wonders of the World: the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Primetime Programming For Friday July 27, 207:

"Dog Whisperer: Princess, Prada and Bearz" (Featuring LA Lakers Jeanie Buss & Phil Jackson) at 8:00 PM ET/PT

Princess, a 3 ½-year-old Maltese, is both a darling and a devil to her owner - LA Lakers Executive VP Jeanie Buss. Princess is the smallest - and hairiest - member of the Lakers organization, but she tries to bite team members and attack visitors. Jeanie's boyfriend - current Lakers head coach Phil Jackson - even likes to call her Princess Cujo. Can Cesar Millan help Jeanie take the Cujo out of Princess? Next, Cesar meets Prada, a 3-year-old Pomeranian, who has all the goodies of a cushy human life, including a cashmere blanket. But Prada is becoming vicious. If she does not get her way, Prada throws herself on the floor, kicking and barking until she gets what she wants. Can Cesar demote this Pomeranian debutante? Then, Cesar meets Bearz, an adopted Rottweiler, who vents his aggression on shopping carts. As luck would have it, there is a surplus of shopping carts in the neighborhood. Owner Kelle would like to walk Bearz during the day, but fears for his safety and hers. Can Cesar wheel this cart-chomping canine in the right direction? For more information log onto: ngcdogwhisperer.com.

"Dog Whisperer: Jake, King, Caper, and Julius" at 9:00 PM ET/PT

When Bob walks his dog Jake, all is well. But when his wife Linda takes over the reins, Jake goes mad to protect her. Meanwhile, will 10-year-old child actress Chantel ever be able to walk her 150-lb Rottweiler named King who outweighs her by 80 lbs? How will Cesar Millan help them regain control of their dogs and help them become pack leaders? Then, meet Daniela and Chad, who adopted Caper from a rescue organization, only to find that she had never been trained! And finally, Cesar meets four-year-old pit bull Julius, who is a scaredy-cat when it comes to just about everything. How will Cesar's calm, assertive approach work for these misfit mutts? For more information log onto: ngcdogwhisperer.com.

"Locked Up Abroad: Peru" at 10:00 PM ET/PT

Description located above in Premieres section.

Primetime Programming For Saturday July 28, 2007:

"Shark Battleground: The Red Triangle" at 8:00 PM ET/PT

More great white shark attacks are reported along the coast of California than any other place in the world. This 135 mile-stretch called The Red Triangle is the "Grand Central" for great white sharks - that can top out over two tons in weight and 21 feet in length. Now, NGC explores why these ultimate alpha predators attack us here so frequently. Do they see us as food or is it a case of mistaken identity? With riveting interviews from attack survivors and a team of shark experts, Shark Battleground: The Red Triangle examines why this location accounts for more than half of the world's attacks.

"Whale Attack" at 9:00 PM ET/PT

Passengers on a whale-watching excursion in Monterey Bay, Calif. on Mother's Day, 2004, witnessed a huge gray whale and her calf locked in mortal combat with a determined gang of killer whales. Using actual video footage from eyewitnesses and the latest scientific analysis, Whale Attack investigates this rarely seen assault and shows viewers how this attack changed our understanding of the secrets that lie beneath the waves.

"Planet Carnivore: Sharks" (Narrated by Alec Baldwin) at 10:00 PM ET/PT

Traveling across the continent, the second hour delves into the cold waters of South Africa's False Bay where a 2,000 lb great white shark called Haai, the Afrikaans word for shark, stalks her prey as she has done successfully for the past 15 years. A lone, formidable force, Haai has many neighbors - jackass penguins, fur seals and cape gannets - but no allies. In the False Bay neighborhood, there is one master rule: eat to live. Narrated by Alec Baldwin, Planet Carnivore: Sharks tracks her adventures for five weeks as she stealthily scours for food - sometimes feasting, sometimes failing in the chase. While small, inexperienced seals are the easiest to catch, Sharks captures Haai's ambush technique that nets an unsuspecting fur seal, as well as the clever tactics of a plump seal that outwits his predator ... for now.

Primetime Programming For Sunday July 29, 2007:

"Tornado Intercept/Twister Chasers" at 8:00 PM ET/PT (2 Hours)

First, in Tornado Intercept, a filmmaker and a scientist join forces on a potentially deadly quest to push twister science further than ever before. Using a specially designed tornado vehicle - a truck with 8,000 pounds of protective steel plating and bulletproof glass - watch as they drive right into the heart of a tornado. The Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) is equipped with instruments that can calculate the ground level wind - and the results allow scientists for the first time to accurately estimate ground level wind speeds of any tornado. Then, meet Twister Chasers like the "Twister Sisters" from Minnesota who take you barreling alongside some of the most spectacular storms caught on film, including several that form multiple twisters. Since 2001, they've teamed up and logged nearly eighteen thousand miles of open road every season, all in pursuit of their obsession. For two months out of every year, they put their lives on hold to chase tornados across the American Midwest. And meet Roger Hill, a veteran storm chaser who has a pending world record for seeing the most tornados in a single season - 52!

"Tornado Intercept/Twister Chasers" at 10:00 PM ET/PT (2 Hours)

See description above.

For more programming information log onto: nationalgeographic.com/channel.