Top Rated Documentary TV Shows - Page 493

Strange Days on Planet Earth

2005

Strange Days on Planet Earth

2005
6
Strange Days on Planet Earth is a four-part television program on PBS concerning human impact on the environment. It is narrated by Edward Norton. The show was produced by Sea Studios Foundation. Strange Days on Planet Earth grew into an ongoing partnership with the National Geographic Society to bring focus on our personal connection to the planet’s life systems. The series were broadcast on PBS to over 12 million viewers in the U.S. and millions more in Europe, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2007–2008, the Strange Days initiative focused on the global issues acing the ocean, under the name Strange Days Ocean.
Crimes That Shook the World

2006

Crimes That Shook the World

2006
8
Some of the most notorious murderers in recent history are examined. Using dramatic reconstruction and expert testimony, this is a forensic account of the perpetrators and the detectives in the crimes that shook the world.
Anatomy for Beginners

2005

Anatomy for Beginners

2005
1
Anatomy for Beginners is a television show created by Gunther von Hagens. In this 4-part series, Dr Gunther von Hagens and Professor John Lee demonstrated the anatomical structure and workings of the body. The 4 episodes were screened in the United Kingdom on Channel 4 in 2005. The show features public anatomy demonstrations with the use of real human cadavers and live nude models, carried out at Gunther von Hagens' "Institute for Plastination" in Heidelberg, Germany. Dr von Hagens’ public demonstrations are not formal anatomy dissections performed by medical students in some countries as part of their medical training. Formal dissection are performed slowly and take dozens of hours of dissection. Anatomy for Beginners performs quicker autopsy and also combines with demonstration of plastinated body parts and specimens to gives just a glimpse of the human anatomy. The individuals on whom the demonstration was performed had, before their death, enrolled on von Hagens’ body donor programme and consent
Behind the Scenes

1992

Behind the Scenes

1992
6
Behind the Scenes was a 10-part television miniseries aimed towards 8- to 12-year-olds about various aspects of the arts, that was broadcast on PBS in 1992. The series was executive produced by Alice Stewart Trillin and Jane Garmey, produced and directed by Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer, and hosted by Penn & Teller. It was developed to illuminate the creative process underlying the working of artists. The series was funded by The National Endowment for the Arts, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, the Bingham Trust and McDonald's.
Endgame in Ireland

2021

Endgame in Ireland

2021
6
A comprehensive look at the Irish people's struggle for Civil rights and how it transpired into a military campaign for independence, before a political agreement was made for fair devolution. Spanning from the late 60s up until present day.
Driving School

1997

Driving School

1997
5
Driving School is a docusoap that was broadcast on BBC One in the summer of 1997, which followed a group of learner drivers around Bristol and South Wales. Made on a reduced budget but shown in primetime, it created one of the first reality TV stars in Maureen Rees. It was narrated by Quentin Willson, who would later present the similar Britain's Worst Driver.
The Most

0000

The Most

0000
6
The Most was a 2002-4 on the History Channel, hosted and narrated by Mike Rowe, and produced by Weller/Grossman Productions. The show covered many subjects and has a "Most Moment" at the end of every episode. The subjects of the series had to do with the "Most" of something. For example, the most isolated place in space, the most infamous symbol, or even the "most" largest island. In addition, the stories were arranged into categories such as "close calls". The Most detailed the "most" in history—the people, places, and events of the past that had significant impact when they occurred, and how they stood the test of time.
Border Patrol

2002

Border Patrol

2002
7
Border Patrol is a New Zealand reality television series, focusing on the Customs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the New Zealand Immigration Service. It is narrated by Tim Balme. They are checking through packages, travelers and goods to find if they try to smugle prohibited or undeclared goods. They have trained staff, dogs and technology to find this out.
Extreme Dreams With Ben Fogle

2006

Extreme Dreams With Ben Fogle

2006
8
Extreme Dreams is a reality TV programme made by the independent British production company Ricochet and hosted by Ben Fogle. The premise behind the show is that deserving individuals are taken to unfamiliar and extreme environments and given the opportunity to participate in an adventure beyond their wildest dreams. Participants are typically seeking a life-changing experience: a boost to improve their health, build their confidence, mend relationships or overcome past difficulties. For each programme four different teams are selected by a small panel comprising adventurers and a psychologist as well as Ben Fogle himself. Each team then travels with Ben to a different region of the world to undertake a challenging trek.
America at a Crossroads

2007

America at a Crossroads

2007
10
America at a Crossroads is a documentary miniseries concerning the issues facing the United States of America as related to the War on Terrorism. It aired originally on PBS television. The miniseries initially consisted of 11 independently produced aired episodes, and premiered April 15–20, 2007 on PBS. Its executive producers are Jeff Bieber and Dalton Delan; series producer is Leo Eaton and it is presented by Robert MacNeil. Its music score is composed by Canadian musician Mark Korven.
The Secret City Adventures

0000

The Secret City Adventures

0000
1
The Secret City Adventures was a series of television programs designed to teach children how to draw. The series was produced by Maryland Public Television and aired on PBS and TVOntario in the late 1980s. The series starred Mark Kistler as Commander Mark who led viewers through various drawing exercises and examples. The show also featured other characters, including Moonbot, Unibear, Pigasus, Furbles, Violet the Dragon, and others. Occasionally, guest artists would appear on the show to demonstrate other art forms.
The Louvre

1964

The Louvre

1964
10
The Louvre is a documentary guided tour the Louvre lead by Charles Boyer.
Born to Be Different

2003

Born to Be Different

2003
2
Born to Be Different is a British documentary on Channel 4, which follows the life of six disabled children. Reviewing the show, TimesOnline commented with irony that "by the end of [it], we had sobered up entirely. A queasy feeling followed, of being pulled morally up and down and in and out until you didn't know whom you pitied or why. The sign, in other words, of excellent television." In its review, The London Paper expressed concerns about the voyeuristic approach of the show and asks: "what is to be gained from watching harried mothers breaking down, and children being constantly reminded of their problems by the camera crew? [...] Let’s just hope Channel 4's intentions were in the right place." The music for the series was composed by Julian Stewart Lindsay.
Maximum Security

1984

Maximum Security

1984
5
Maximum Security is an American drama television series on HBO about life in a supermax prison. The 45 minute pilot premiered July 3, 1984, and the six-part series began on March 5, 1985. Its stars included Robert Desiderio, Geoffrey Lewis, and Jean Smart. Among its directors were Sharron Miller and Gilbert Moses. The series was filmed at the Lincoln Heights jail in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Paranormal Cops

2010

Paranormal Cops

2010
10
Paranormal Cops was an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on January 19, 2010 on A&E. The program was produced by NorthSouth Productions for A&E. It followed the Chicago Paranormal Detectives as they "fought crime by day and hunted for paranormal happenings by night." The series lasted for one six-episode season. Presumably due to ratings, the series is no longer produced by A&E Television Networks.
Flying Heavy Metal

2005

Flying Heavy Metal

2005
9
Flying Heavy Metal was a 5-part British television series produced by Ricochet and broadcast in the UK and Europe on the Discovery Channel and subsequently repeated on Discovery Wings in the UK. It was presented by commercial Boeing 757 pilot and Iron Maiden frontman, Bruce Dickinson. In the series, Bruce looked at, and often flew, a number of aircraft from across the history of commercial aviation. There were some quite surprising aerobatics done in rather large aircraft. Flying Heavy Metal is now repeated on the new channel from Discovery Networks UK called Discovery Turbo.
The Twentieth Century

1957

The Twentieth Century

1957
8
The Twentieth Century was a documentary television program, sponsored by the Prudential Insurance Company, which ran on the CBS network from 20 October 1957 until 4 January 1970. It was hosted by Walter Cronkite. The opening and closing theme music was written by composer George Antheil. The program presented filmed reports on news and cultural events that were important for the development of the 20th century. The show did not just present the events, but also interpreted them. Such subjects as World War I and major assassinations were presented in context. On 20 January 1967, the show was renamed The 21st Century, sponsored by Union Carbide. The show's focus changed to the future, and what mankind could look forward to. 'The 21st Century' was cancelled after three seasons. The reason given was that the writers had run out of things to talk about. However, it is possible that CBS may have wished to replace it with a more commercially successful program.
Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World

2009

Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World

2009
10
Bizarre World is the followup to the successful Bizarre Foods. The show encompasses not only the classic bizarre foods of the world but also the unique cultures of the world. The new show appears to have been dropped in favor of new episodes of Bizarre Foods, which began in April 2010. The official website link redirects to the Bizarre Foods page on the Travel Channel website.
Moon Machines

2008

Moon Machines

2008
0.5
Moon Machines in the US and UK is a Science Channel HD documentary miniseries consisting of six episodes documenting the engineering challenges of the Apollo Program to land a man on the Moon. It covers everything from the iconic Saturn V to the Command Module, the Lunar Module, the Space Suits, the Guidance and Control Computer, and the Lunar Rover. It was created by the team who made In the Shadow of the Moon in association with NASA to commemorate the agency's fiftieth anniversary in 2008. It first aired in June 2008 and was released on DVD a year later in June 2009.
Obsessed

2009

Obsessed

2009
6
"Obsessed" offers an honest and unflinching look at a difficult subject: extreme anxiety disorders. It explores the world of individuals suffering from such mental illnesses as obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and hoarding, as well as the effects their illness has on their family and friends. Each participant undergoes a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that exposes the sources of their fears in an attempt to manage them.