Entertainment Extra

2 ENTERTAINMENT EXTRA By Kyla Brewer TV Media A s summer kicks into high gear and millions flock to beaches, what better time to learn about the ocean's most fascinating creatures? Celebrities, scientists and shark attack survivors take a look at the captivating world of sharks in a programming event that will last most of the summer. Sharks swim across screens in more than 100 hours of pro- gramming during the highly anticipated ninth annual SharkFest from National Geographic, beginning Monday, July 5, and spanning National Geographic, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo Mundo, Disney+ and Disney XD. Many programs will premiere on National Geographic, to be followed by encore airings on other platforms (and Disney+ later still). With at least 21 hours of premiere content and another 60 hours of enhanced archive footage to please shark aficionados from coast to coast, it will all unfold over the course of six weeks — the longest SharkFest ever. Although many scientists and conservationists have dedi- cated their lives to raising awareness about sharks, there is so much to learn about the ocean's most often misunder- stood creatures. Luckily, SharkFest (not to be confused with Discovery Channel's annu- al Shark Week) provides a venue for those ready to dive in and learn more. "Like every year, shark sci- entists and oceanic experts have pulled out all the stops for this year's SharkFest, revealing new discoveries, shocking revelations and bizarre shark behavior never seen before," National Geographic Partners executive Janet Vissering said in a state- ment. "It's going to be jaw- some!" National Geographic and its partners are bringing a variety of documentaries and docuse- ries to the small screen this summer, beginning with the season premiere of fan-favor- ite series "When Sharks Attack," airing Monday, July 5. The series, which has been around since 2013, features underwater photography, news stories and testimonials from witnesses and survivors who share stories of real-life shark attacks. It also explores what may have caused such events and how they may be prevent- ed in the future. While "When Sharks Attack" is one of the anchors of SharkFest's annual program- ming, this year's event also features a number of stand- alone premiere documentaries. In what has been billed a "marque special," one of Hollywood's biggest stars is bringing viewers along as he learns about shark behavior. "Shark Beach with Chris Hemsworth," also premiering Monday, July 5, on National Geographic, stars the actor best known for playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the wake of one of the worst shark attack seasons in his native Australia, he embarks on a mission to dis- cover how humans can safely coexist with sharks. Meeting with famed shark conserva- tionist Valerie Taylor, the two embark on a shark dive to get up close and personal with nurse sharks. SharkFest continues on opening day with "Rogue Shark," as filmmakers take a look at a series of shark attacks that occurred in 2018 near the remote islands of Whitsunday in Australia. All of the attacks occurred in the same patch of ocean, causing some to wonder if a "rogue shark" was on the loose. Day 2 (July 6) kicks off when National Geographic debuts "Orca vs. Great White," a doc- umentary revealing that orcas began hunting great white sharks off the coast of South Africa in 2017. Cameras follow researchers in New Zealand as they infiltrate shark popula- tions off the country's south- ern coast and investigate whether it could happen again. The next day (Day 3), scientists look into surprising new shark behavior in "Shark Gangs," debuting Wednesday, July 7, on National Geographic. Many experts think of sharks as solitary predators, but experts have revealed that the predatory crea- tures have also been known to hang out in groups. Filmmakers seek to find out whether this is a mark of social behavior or a more effective hunting strategy. SharkFest wraps up its first week of programming by pre- miering "Croc That Ate Jaws" (July 8) and "World's Most Dangerous Shark" (July 9). Among the many high-profile SharkFest specials that follow Week 1 is "Shark Attack Investigation: The Paige Winter Story," premiering Monday, July 12, on National Geographic. Winter lost a leg and a part of her hand to a shark when she was just 17. After relaying the details of the attack and explor- ing what might be done to avoid it, filmmakers shine the spotlight on Winter, who, despite her expe- rience, has become somewhat of an unlikely advocate for the crea- tures. YMCA 2 x 2" Pear Tree Gallery 3 x 2" On the Cover A tiger shark swimming SharkFest runs for six weeks Chase Center 3 x 2" American Legion Post 60 2 x 3" Thrifty Muffler 2 x 2.5"

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