Week 1

Friday, September 1
Dirty Jobs: Alligator Farmer
9 p.m. (1 hour) Discovery Channel
Not only does alligator farming sound like a dirty job, it sounds like one of the scariest.

Saturday, September 2
The Ultimate Guide: Dolphins
1 p.m. (1 hour) Animal Planet
Learn all about these fun-loving, intelligent animals.

Sunday, September 3
Nature - The Reptiles: Turtles and Tortoises
8 p.m. (1 hour) PBS
The first part of a four-part series about reptiles, this one-hour show focuses on turtles and tortoises. Learn how to tell the difference between the two and find out about their past, present, and uncertain future.

Monday, September 4
History Detectives: Superman Sketch
9 p.m. (1 hour) PBS
A woman has found a signed drawing of Superman from the 1940s with her father's name on it. History Detectives try to figure out whether or not this could be an authentic piece of Superman memorabilia.

Tuesday, September 5
100th Dirty Job Special
9 p.m. (1 hour) Discovery Channel
Host Mike Rowe learns what the dirtiest jobs in the Army are, including wading around in swamps to retrieve Humvees. He also looks back on the previous 99 dirty jobs he's had the pleasure of trying.

Wednesday, September 6
Cool Fuel
9 p.m. (1 hour) Science Channel
A crew of travelers decides to cross the country in specially made machines without using gasoline. See if corn whiskey ethanol, garbage and wind can get them from point A to point B.

Thursday, September 7
Escapes from Alcatraz - The True Stories
1 p.m. (1 hour) Discovery Channel
Was the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary actually "escape-proof?" Find out.

Week 2

Friday, September 8
Ancient Mysteries: The Odyssey of Troy
8 a.m. (1 hour) Biography Channel
What is the real story behind the Trojan horse? And what about the abduction of Helen of Troy? Just how much of Homer's Iliad is true? Watch as archaeology researchers and scholars visit modern-day Turkey to unearth these ancient mysteries and more.

Saturday, September 9
The Rise of Man
2 p.m. (1 hour) Discovery Channel
Learn about mankind's humble beginnings, starting with homo erectus.

Sunday, September 10
Anatomy of a Hurricane
10:30 p.m. (30 minutes) PBS
A documentary crew spent the 2004 hurricane season with the National Hurricane Center located in Miami, Florida. They had an unprecedented look at the inner workings of hurricane tracking and learned of the life and death judgment calls that must be made on a regular basis. Find out all about it in this 30-minute special.

Monday, September 11
The Most Extreme: Odd Couples
7 p.m. (1 hour) Animal Planet
Sometimes teamwork can happen between seemingly unrelated animals. Find out which animals know there's no "I" in team.

Tuesday, September 12
Understanding: Sleep
5 p.m. (1 hour) Science Channel
Settle down in your footy pajamas with a big glass of milk (and maybe some cookies) to find out why sleep is so important for people to function properly.

Wednesday, September 13
Mythbusters: Mega Movie Myths
9 p.m. (2 hours) Discovery Channel
The boys of Mythbusters spend two hours testing "movie logic" seen in such films as "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and "The Dukes of Hazard." So pop some popcorn, sit back, and find out why those super cool scenes in all your favorite movies could never happen in real life.

Thursday, September 14
The Future is Wild
8 p.m. (1 hour) Animal Planet
This one-hour special takes a look at a world without humans millions of years from now. There you'll find spiders big enough to trap mammals in their webs. Yikes!

Week 3

Friday, September 15
Discover Magazine: Size and Scale
4:30 p.m. (30 minutes) Science Channel
Discover Magazine compares the solar system to a town to demonstrate the distance between all the planets.

Saturday, September 16
Killer Jellyfish
1 p.m. (1 hour) Discovery Channel
There is a jellyfish in Australia's waters that's virtually invisible to the human eye and it doesn't leave a mark when it stings. Learn more about this dangerous predator.

Sunday, September 17
Ancient Mysteries: The Black Death
1 p.m. (1 hour) Biography Channel
A truly devastating event in human history, the plague wiped out much of Europe's population. There are many theories regarding where the Black Death originated and this special tries to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Monday, September 18
Spontaneous Human Combustion
11 a.m. (1 hour) History Channel
What causes this rare phenomenon? Is it supernatural? This special looks at various examples of spontaneous human combustion to get the answer.

Tuesday, September 19
The Desert Speaks: Death Valley
8 p.m. (1 hour) Discovery HD Theater
Visit the lowest, hottest, driest area in North America -- aptly named Death Valley -- where it seems like nothing could thrive in these conditions. Locales like "Badwater," "Furnace Creek" and the "Devil's Golf Course" will help you discover the fascinating landscapes of this unique environment.

Wednesday, September 20
Ocean Adventures: America's Underwater Treasures
8 p.m. (1 hour) PBS
Following in familial footsteps, Jean-Michel Cousteau heads underwater for an amazing adventure. Join Cousteau and his team as they explore more than a dozen fascinating underwater parks -- the National Marine Sanctuary -- within America's national park system.

Thursday, September 21
Ancient Mysteries: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
8 a.m. (1 hour) Biography Channel
The only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World is the Great Pyramid of Giza; all other Wonders rely on descriptions and art of their time. How were each of these monuments chosen and what happened to them? Watch this one-hour special to find out.

Week 4

Friday, September 22
Dr. Know: Incredible Edibles
6 p.m. (30 minutes) Science Channel
If you swallow a piece, how long does gum really stay in your stomach? Can someone eat until they burst? Dr. Know might know!

Saturday, September 23
Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom: Gorilla Encounters
10 p.m. (1 hour) Animal Planet
In order to help preserve the species, scientists are working with gorillas on getting used to the idea of sharing their space with humans. Find out all about it.

Sunday, September 24
The Man Who Skied Down Everest
8 p.m. (1 hour) Discovery HD Theater
Yuichiro Miura and his team of climbers faced one of the most harrowing climbs of Everest in history. Six members of the crew died in an icefall. Find out what drives people to such dangerous extremes.

Monday, September 25
Where did it Come From?
12 p.m. (1 hour) History Channel
This episode looks at shipbuilding in Ancient Greece. Learn how the shipbuilders of that time paved the way for the ships and boats we know today.

Tuesday, September 26
The Most Extreme: Cleaners
8 p.m. (1 hour) Animal Planet
Who is the "Mr. Clean" of the animal kingdom? Find out during this episode.

Wednesday, September 27
Polar Extremes
11 a.m. (1 hour) National Geographic Channel
Watch as National Geographic visits inhabitants of the North Pole and the South Pole.

Thursday, September 28
Modern Marvels: Non-Lethal Weapons
7 p.m. (1 hour) History Channel
This one-hour special covers the history of non-lethal weaponry from mace to crowd control.

Week 5

Friday, September 29
World's Ugliest Dog Competition
9 p.m. (1 hour) Animal Planet
Step aside, gorgeous show dogs! Its time for the "other half" to get their time in the sun (unless of course they have a skin condition that prevents them from doing so). Find out why what most people would consider "ugly dogs" are also some of the most loved pets around.

Saturday, September 30
Naked Science: Earth's Core
2 p.m. (1 hour) National Geographic Channel
What would it be like to travel to the Earth's core? Some Gatorade and one of those hats with a little fan on it might come in handy.