Shark Week
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This article is missing information about the history and origins of the series. Please expand the primary text and the lead to include this information. (August 2010) |
| Shark Week | |
|---|---|
 Decoration on the Discovery Communications headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland in the lead-up to Shark Week |
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| Genre | Annual Week-long Event |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 161 |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Discovery Channel |
| Original run | July 27, 1987 – present |
The Discovery Channel's Shark Week, which first aired on July 27, 1987, is a week-long series of feature television programs dedicated to sharks. Shark Week is held annually, normally running in July or August. Shark Week was developed to help the average person have a greater respect for sharks. Shark Week is now broadcast in over 72 countries. Shark Week is promoted heavily via social networks like Facebook and Twitter.
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[edit] Broadcasting
In 2000, six million 3D Pulfrich glasses were distributed to viewers in the United States and Canada for an episode featuring an extinct giant shark, which had 3D segments.[1]
In 2005, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman from the Discovery Channel series MythBusters hosted Shark Week, and a two-hour MythBusters "Jaws Special" was premiered for the event.
In 2006, Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs hosted, and two Dirty Jobs episodes were featured, titled "Jobs that Bite" and "Jobs that Bite…Harder". Also during the week, the Silver Spring, Maryland, headquarters of the Discovery Channel was outfitted to resemble a giant shark.[citation needed]
In 2007, Discovery Channel celebrated Shark Week's 20th Anniversary hosted by Les Stroud, host of Survivorman. The 20th anniversary included the launch of Sharkrunners, a video game that uses GPS data from tagged sharks in the Pacific Ocean.
Shark Week 2008 ran from July 27 to August 2 and was hosted by both the MythBusters and Mike Rowe.[2][3] Both a new MythBusters shark special and a shark-themed episode of Dirty Jobs premiered for the event.
2009's Shark Week began the evening of August 2.
Shark Week 2010, hosted by The Late Late Show's Craig Ferguson, began on August 1 and featured six brand-new shark specials.[4]
Shark Week 2010 was rated the most viewed Shark Week ever with 30.8 million unique people. (Source: Nielsen Media Research; cume; M-Su 8-11P; LSD P2+; 6-minute qualifier) Shark Week is now considered the longest running program event on cable.[5]
Shark Week 2011, hosted by Andy Samberg, began on July 31. It featured seven specials.[6]
[edit] Hosts
The following are all of the hosts for Shark Week:
- 1987-2003: No Hosts.
- American Chopper Guys: 2004
- Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman: 2005
- Mike Rowe: 2006
- Les Stroud: 2007
- Adam Savage, Jamie Hyneman and Mike Rowe: 2008
- Les Stroud: 2009
- Craig Ferguson: 2010
- Andy Samberg: 2011
[edit] DVD releases
Shark Week on DVD
| DVD Name | Release Date | Ep # | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anatomy of a Shark Bite | 2004 | 1 | Bonus Shark Week episode. |
| The Shark Week 20th Anniversary Collection | 2007 | 14 | Various Shark Week episodes. |
| Ocean of Fear | 2008 | 6 | The complete 2007 season, the 20th season. |
| Shark Week: The Greatest Bites Collection | 2009 | 9 | The complete 2008 season, plus three bonus episodes. |
| Shark Week: Jaws of Steel Collection | 2010 | 8 | The complete 2009 season, the 22nd season, plus two bonus episodes.[7] It features the 2 hour documentary titled Blood in the Water, which was the season premiere of the 22nd season. |
| Shark Week: Restless Fury | 2011 | 8 | The complete 2010 season. |
[edit] References
- ^ Bartless Manufacturer “swims with sharks” in Upcoming 3D Television Event, 3dglassesonline.com, Aug. 11, 2000
- ^ Shark Week 2008: Discovery Channel : Shark Behavior and Conservation
- ^ Les Stroud’s Blog ~ Survivorman » Les Stroud hosts “Surviving Sharks” for Shark Week 2008
- ^ SHARK WEEK: TV Shows: Discovery Channel
- ^ Discovery Channel's 23rd Annual 'Shark Week' Is Most-Watched Ever; Seen by 30.8 Million People
- ^ SHARK WEEK: TV Shows: Discovery Channel
- ^ "Shark Week: Jaws of Steel Collection". http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003E1QDJO.
