Everything about Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary, eh?

Strip the City premieres October 26 on Discovery World

From a media release:

Uncovering What’s Underneath: STRIP THE CITY Bares All, Oct. 26 on Discovery World

  • Original Canadian co-production strips major cities of their steel, concrete, ocean, and bedrock to explore their hidden infrastructure and solve key mysteries surrounding their origins, geology, weather, and engineering

How does Toronto’s CN Tower stay protected from frigid -32 C weather and savage snowstorms? What stops Dubai’s super-tall skyscrapers – balanced on unstable sand – from toppling over? And how can San Francisco survive – sitting on the edge of a major earthquake fault? What lies beneath major metropolises is revealed when STRIP THE CITY peels back their buildings, roads, and rivers to explore the secret technology and infrastructure that keeps them running. Premiering first on Friday, October 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery World, this six-part original-Canadian series uses stunning CGI animation to go beneath Toronto, London, Rome, Dubai, Sydney, and San Francisco. Then later, Discovery Channel presents an encore run of the series beginning Sunday, November 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Layers are peeled back to reveal a geological universe normally hidden under tarmac and concrete in STRIP THE CITY, Oct. 26 on Discovery World

Episode descriptions for STRIP THE CITY include:

STRIP THE CITY – “Ancient City – Rome”

Friday, October 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

At its zenith, 2,000 years ago Rome was the biggest city in the world. Today, it has survived better than any ancient city on earth and is home to three-million citizens. This episode strips the “Eternal City’s” most famous icons bare to reveal the inner workings and the ingenious technology behind the Pantheon, Coliseum, Trevi Fountain, and Via Appia. Roman engineers’ mastery of constructing buildings, roads, and viaducts set the city on course to become the greatest Empire the world had ever seen.

STRIP THE CITY – “Earthquake City – San Francisco”

Friday, November 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

San Francisco is standing on the brink of disaster on top of one of the world’s most infamous earthquake hotspots – the San Andreas Fault. How does the city’s buildings and infrastructure survive the onslaught of a destructive earthquake? Engineers and geologists reveal the secrets inside San Francisco’s skyscrapers, what protects the city from raging fires, and what keep residents safe during the deadliest quakes.

STRIP THE CITY – “Desert City – Dubai”

Friday, November 9 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Dubai is a gleaming metropolis, grown from the desert sands in just a few decades – yet it sits in one of the driest places on Earth, is pummelled by raging sandstorms, and its skyscrapers are resting on top of sand. This episode looks beneath the city’s skin to discover what keeps Dubai’s buildings standing, protects them from desert storms, and keeps residents alive in the searing heat.

STRIP THE CITY – “Harbor City – Sydney”

Friday, November 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT

Sydney is home to a fifth Australia’s entire population and is trapped between the Blue Mountains and the ocean, sitting on the driest inhabited continent on Earth, and surrounding one the planet’s largest natural harbours. This episode uncovers what is inside Sydney’s buildings and beneath its streets that allow the city to function – from the concealed contours of the harbour that allow super-sized ships to sail into the heart of the city, to the underground caverns that store its water.

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Highway Thru Hell special airs October 30 on Discovery

From a media release:

Head Back to the Highway One More Time When New Special HIGHWAY THRU HELL: AFTER THE CRASH Premieres Oct. 30 on Discovery Channel

  • Chat live during the special with members of the cast and crew of HIGHWAY THRU HELL as they answer viewer questions about the series via Twitter and Facebook

As HIGHWAY THRU HELL prepares to wrap its eight-episode inaugural run, Discovery Channel announced today new plans to air a follow-up special for the breakout hit series. Premiering Tuesday, October 30 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, HIGHWAY THRU HELL: AFTER THE CRASH joins series producer and host of the one-hour special, Mark Miller, as he takes viewers to the legendary “Barn” in Hope, BC, to join Jamie Davis and his crew for a season wrap-up “Beer O’clock.” Here, no topic is off limits as Jamie, Adam, Kevin, Bruce, and Samy trade stories from this season of working on the mountain.

A monster hit with critics and viewers alike – the series debut of HIGHWAY THRU HELL had the highest premiere audience in Discovery Channel history! – fans aren’t ready to leave the mountain quite yet. Produced by Vancouver’s Great Pacific TV, viewers have climbed into the cabs alongside Jamie Davis and his heavy rescue crew in British Columbia’s Cascade Mountains. Riding along, they have experienced the steep hills, lethal drop-offs, killer rockslides, and brutal weather that characterize the mountain passes east of Vancouver, known as the Highway Thru Hell. These are some of the most economically important, most travelled – and most inhospitable – trucking routes in North America. Plagued by winter storms, truckers spin out and smash up, and during the worst, the big wrecks can come as often as every 12 hours. In a place where closure is not an option, the call goes out for heavy rescue, and the big trucks must roll.

HIGHWAY THRU HELL: AFTER THE CRASH catches up with the heavy rescue crew as they reflect over the highs and lows on the mountain last winter. In between highlight clips, showing some of the best and worst times they had the over the season’s eight gripping episodes, the guys talk about their toughest wrecks, worst injuries, stormiest weather, tense moments on the team, and why they stick it out despite it all. Jamie talks about being prepared for anything and how his amazing fleet of heavy rescue trucks helps him tackle it all. Ken, the new guy from the city, stops in for a beer and recounts his struggles adjusting to life on the mountain. Brandon, Jamie’s 17-year-old stepson and last winter’s rookie, takes some heat for his work ethic but isn’t afraid to throw it back. As things are heating up, an unexpected visit from arch-rival Al Quiring brings out some serious barbs from Adam. Then Mark turns the tough questions on Kevin, Adam, and the boss himself, Jamie. It all ends with a surprise when Mark invites the guys to see the Coquihalla, and the majestic mountains surrounding it, from an angle they’ve never experienced: from­ mid-air in a helicopter.

Viewers can chat live during the special with members of the cast and crew of HIGHWAY THRU HELL as they answer questions about the series via Twitter and Facebook. Join the conversation on Discovery’s Social Screen, using hashtag #HWYThruHell. Download the Discovery Canada app free from the App Store.

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New tonight: Markeplace, The Fifth Estate

Marketplace, CBC – “Getting Squeezed”
Who’s looking out for Canadians who buy crummy cars? Why some are calling for Canada to adopt U.S.-style “lemon laws.”

The Fifth Estate, CBC – “The Widow’s Web”
New developments in a story the fifth estate first told you about in 2005 about a self-made widow – Melissa Friedrich, now Millie Weeks – who’s been arrested in Nova Scotia after the suspicious sudden illness of another husband.

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Bachelor Canada recap

From a media release:

Last Night on The Bachelor Canada: Bachelor Brad’s Journey Began with his 25 Bachelorettes

  • Bachelorettes Amber, Clarice, Fawn, Jessica, Mindy, Rebecca, Sandy, Tina, and Tracy sent home on night one
  • Beginning next week, The Bachelor Canada moves to its regular timeslot Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT

As the limousines rolled up to The Bachelor Canada mansion one by one, 25 of the most eligible women in the country were introduced to Canada’s first-ever bachelor in the series premiere last night on Citytv. From Rebecca’s (a.k.a. “Bubba”) brazen attitude to Gabrielle’s feisty personality and Whitney’s memorable entrance – which earned her the first-impression rose – the bachelorettes put it all on the line in an attempt to stand out from the crowd and woo bachelor Brad Smith.

The most shocking entrance of the night came when former bachelorette, Canadian Jillian Harris, stopped by to interview the girls and give Brad the low-down on each one, leading up to the first rose ceremony of the season. In a shocking twist, Brad – unable to limit his decision to just 15 bachelorettes – handed out one extra rose, sending only nine girls home from the mansion. The bachelorettes who did not receive roses were (in alphabetical order):

  • Amber, 29 (strip club server), from Winnipeg
  • Clarice , 25 (office administrator), from Toronto
  • Fawn, 25 (sales associate), from Ajax, ON
  • Jessica, 23 (CFL team rep), from Vancouver
  • Mindy, 33 (photo lab manager), from Rocky Mountain House, AB
  • Rebecca, a.k.a. “Bubba,” 27 (real estate agent), from Toronto
  • Sandy, 29 (makeup artist), from Wetaskiwin, AB
  • Tina, 26 (trial lawyer), from Thunder Bay, ON
  • Tracy, 28 (grad student), from Victoria

Next week, Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT, Brad and eight bachelorettes are whisked away to the first big – and risqué – group date of the season. But, when rumours begin to swirl and new pressures bear down on Brad, jealous hearts become too much to handle and a shocking cocktail party leaves everyone speechless. Find out who will earn a rose and who will be sent home as Brad continues his search for Mrs. Right with bachelorettes Ana (Ottawa); Bianka (Mississauga, ON); Britany (Swift Current, SK); Chantelle (Sylvan Lake, AB); Gabrielle (Oakville, ON); Kara (Delta, B.C.); Laura B. (Ottawa); Laura F. (Winnipeg); Melissa Marie (North Vancouver, B.C.); Michelle B. (Newmarket, ON); Michelle V. (Calgary); Nicole (St. Thomas, ON); Sophie (Moncton, N.B.); Stephanie (Montreal); Tia (Ottawa), and Whitney (Calgary).

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New tonight: Flashpoint and Doc Zone – The War of 1812: Been There, Won That

Doc Zone, CBC – “The War of 1812: Been There, Won That”
CBC tells the story of this “forgotten” war with a quirky, modern take in a two-hour documentary special. Accomplished Canadian comedic actor Peter Keleghan, brings his unique perspective to this colourful and unconventional look at a turning point in Canadian history, revisiting key moments with his band of modern day redcoats.. And finally, a show that sets the record straight – who really won the War of 1812? (Spoiler Alert: We Did! But someone forgot to tell the Americans…)

Flashpoint, CTV – “Run to Me”
Team One locks down a robbery in progress at a busy downtown bank only to discover Sarah (Clare Stone, Mr. Nobody) and Maddie (Katharine Isabelle, American Mary), two young con artists who are under the thumb of dangerous “mentor,” Pete Joris (Karem Malicki Sanchez, TRUE BLOOD). When Pete turns violent, Sarah is determined to cut him from their lives while Jules (Amy Jo Johnson) and the team race to stop her before she becomes his next victim.

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