Science Channel Unveils Its 2017-18 Upfront Slate Led By Johnny Galecki’s ‘Scijinks’ And The All New ‘Mythbusters’
(NEW YORK) – Building on 2016, the highest rated year in Science Channel history in all key demos, the network is set to present its 2017-18 Upfront slate highlighted by the new prank series hosted by Johnny Galecki, SCIJINKS (wt), as well as the return of MYTHBUSTERS, starring the recent winners of MythBusters: The Search. Other new Science Channel programming highlights include series LIFE ON THE LINE, specials GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE, SILICON VALLEY, and SECRETS OF THE PYRAMIDS, as well as returning series UNEARTHED, WHAT ON EARTH?, OUTRAGEOUS ACTS OF SCIENCE, HOW IT’S MADE and more.
“What a time it is for science. Every day there are incredible breakthroughs in space exploration, technology and research that are transforming how we live and the way we look at the universe,” said Marc Etkind, General Manager of Science Channel. “There is no better place for these mind-blowing stories about the wonders of science than Science Channel.”
The highlights of Science Channel’s 2017-18 Upfront Schedule include:
New Series
SCIJINKS (wt) – Johnny Galecki will host and executive produce SCIJINKS (wt), that will use cutting-edge science as the foundation for outrageous stunts and practical jokes to create the smartest prank show on television. Galecki will orchestrate a team of brilliant and inventive scientists drawing from chemistry, physics, robotics, and more, with colorful pranks designed to introduce audiences to remarkable and unusual scientific discoveries. Galecki’s Alcide Bava Productions and A. Smith & Co. Productions will produce the series for Science Channel.
MYTHBUSTERS – The new team of Brian Louden and Jonathan Louden, who earned the right to be called Mythbusters by displaying killer build skills and science smarts during Mythbusters: The Search, will continue to showcase their awesome talents by building and executing all new experiments.
LIFE ON THE LINE – The laws of physics are absolute. They bind us together and tether us to Earth. Adventurer and science enthusiast Todd Sampson puts his faith in science to the ultimate test as he stands tall against a speeding bullet, scales a building with vacuums, and faces off with a wrecking ball.
Special Programming
GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE – On August 21, 2017, the Great American Eclipse will cross the continental United States, an event that last happened nearly 99 years ago. Science Channel will go live during the day and feature observations from the International Space Station, a high-altitude observatory aircraft taking readings of the sun’s corona, a multitude of weather balloons streaming live high altitude footage of the eclipse from the edges of space, a fleet of telescopes from 60 locations, and much more!
SILICON VALLEY (wt) – Three-part series from award-winning documentary filmmaker Michael Schwarz that will offer the definitive history of Silicon Valley. Industry leaders including Eric Schmidt and Steve Wozniak are among the industry leaders interviewed in this remarkable look at how Silicon Valley has produced an unrivaled stream of innovations.
SECRETS OF THE PYRAMIDS – The recent discovery of what are thought to be the oldest known papyri in the world and were written by men who were involved in the building of the Pyramids at Giza, may reveal new secrets about the greatest mysteries of these ancient structures. This event mini-series will use cutting-edge science, large-scale engineering experiments and CGI animation to learn more about one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Returning Series
WHAT ON EARTH? – Science Channel’s most watched series investigates head-scratching anomalies that are constantly being discovered by the vast amounts of satellites that are orbiting the planet. Among the stories looked at in the upcoming season are reports of strange happenings in a swampy area of Argentina known as “The Ghost Zone”; aerial evidence of a giant beast stalking the Blanco River in Texas; and two lagoons in the Amazon jungle could point the way towards a legendary lost city of gold.
OUTRAGEOUS ACTS OF SCIENCE – Hosted by a team of top scientists including astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi and physicist Debbie Berebichez, each episode counts down the 20 best viral science stunt clips from the web and explains the science behind them. Upcoming themes from this season will highlight life hackers, big ideas, and anarchy and destruction.
UNEARTHED – Season two of this popular archaeology series will decode mysteries and combine scientific investigations with CGI animation to reveal the hidden secrets of iconic structures and monuments from around the globe – ancient and present day. Topics include King Tut’s tomb, Machu Picchu and Angkor Wat. HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS – Science Channel continues to be the leader in space programming as this blue-chip series returns to show how the inner workings of our planet, the Solar System, the galaxies and the Universe itself. The upcoming season will look at the planet Mercury, binary star systems, black holes and more. HOW ITS MADE – This Science Channel fan favorite returns for another season, exploring how many of the everyday objects or products we seldom stop to think about are made. Revealing the industrial processes that go into manufacturing everything from skateboard wheels to industrial coffee roasters, to lithographs, and even diving watercraft, season 15 has everything you could imagine on display.
About Science Channel
Science Channel, a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, is the home of all things science around the clock, including series such as THROUGH THE WORMHOLE WITH MORGAN FREEMAN, OUTRAGEOUS ACTS OF SCIENCE, WHAT ON EARTH?, HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS, UNEARTHED, and HOW IT’S MADE. Science Channel’s programming also includes daily news updates with SCIENCE PRESENTS DNEWS and timely, expert-driven specials covering breaking science news and discoveries. Science Channel is the premiere TV, digital and social community for those with a passion for science, space, technology, archeology, and engineering, providing immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment across all Science Channel assets including: Science Channel television network, available in more than 72 million homes in the U.S; complimentary Video On Demand offering; SCI Go app allowing viewers to catch up on full episodes of their favorite shows anytime; deep video, interactive storytelling and virtual reality at www.sciencechannel.com; and conversations on Science Channel’s popular social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat via @ScienceChannel.
About Discovery Communications:
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) satisfies curiosity and engages superfans with a portfolio of premium nonfiction, lifestyle, sports and kids programming brands. Reaching more than 3 billion cumulative viewers across pay-TV and free-to-air platforms in more than 220 countries and territories, Discovery’s portfolio includes the global brands Discovery Channel, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Animal Planet, Science and Turbo/Velocity, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. Discovery reaches audiences across screens through digital-first programming from digital content holding company Group Nine Media, Discovery VR, over-the-top offerings Eurosport Player and Dplay, as well as TV Everywhere products comprising the GO portfolio of TVE apps and Discovery K!ds Play. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.
