They never set out to be television stars, any more than they sought Hollywood fame in those Steven Spielberg movies.
But sharks remain among the most enduring (if unlikeliest) members of TV’s A-list. Just consider Shark Week, the summer programming event on Discovery Channel since 1988. Once again, sharks are in the spotlight as Shark Week promotes respect and appreciation for these remarkable animals.
Shark Week airs Sunday through Aug. 2, featuring some of the most popular programs from past years, as well as premiering these six shows:
“MythBusters: Shark Special” (Sunday): The dynamic reality-check crew from Discovery’s “MythBusters” series investigates myths about sharks, including: Are sharks repelled by magnets? Do dogs attract sharks? Do the vibrations caused by a flapping injured fish attract sharks? And does chili powder repel sharks?
“Surviving Sharks” (Monday): Les Stroud, host of Discovery’s “Survivorman,” has tips for water safety — does kicking and splashing attract sharks? And he tests popular theories for surviving shark encounters — is it safer to stay in a group if stranded in the ocean, or to tread water alone?
“Day of the Shark” (Monday): This should be of particular interest to swimmers who have avoided the ocean after dark since the first time they saw “Jaws.” It chronicles six shark attacks that took place at different times of day to determine if day or night is safer for swimming. “Dirty Jobs: Greenland Shark Quest” (Tuesday): Mike Rowe, host of “Dirty Jobs,” travels from usual tropical shark climes to the edge of the Arctic Circle in search of the mysterious Greenland shark, which scientists hope can provide lessons in the rapid ecological changes affecting that part of the world.
“How Not to Become Shark Bait” (Tuesday): What attracts a shark’s notice? A thrill-seeking team tests shark attraction theories with tiger, lemon and reef sharks, focusing on their sensory perception of colors, vibrations, smells and other attractors. In the process, the explorers learn what not to do to catch a shark’s attention.
“Mysteries of the Shark Coast” (Thursday): On Australia’s northeastern coast — home to more species of sharks than anywhere else on the globe — sharks are disappearing.
