Latest news with #SharkFest
New York Post
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
'Shark Week' and 'Sharkfest' execs reveal how sharks took over summer TV
They take a bite out of summer TV. Between Discovery's Shark Week and National Geographic's SharkFest, for decades, shark-related programming has been the apex predator dominating TV in the hot season. 'It is our Super Bowl,' Joseph Schneier, the SVP of Production and Development at Discovery, told The Post. Advertisement 9 A photo from Discovery's 'Air Jaws The Hunt for Colossus.' Discovery He added, 'It's our best week of the summer every year. It's often the highest-rated thing on cable that week. We owe a little credit to 'Jaws,' of course.' Last year, per Discovery, 25 million viewers tuned in to Shark Week. Advertisement He explained that the 1975 Steven Spielberg movie 'created this idea that sharks are super interesting, in the American consciousness.' Schneier said that shark-related programming is 'the perfect kickoff to the summer. As summertime comes along in America, people think about beaches, the ocean in general, and shark stories. Thirty-seven years ago, when we started, we were following a national trend that was already happening in local news.' 9 A photo from Shark Week's 'Dancing With Sharks.' Discovery 9 A 'SharkFest' photo of a Blue shark at night in the offshore waters of the Gulf of Maine. Photo by Brian Skerry/National Geographic Image Collection Advertisement Shark Week on Discovery kicks off this year on Sunday, July 20 (beginning at 8 p.m. ET with 'Dancing With Sharks,' hosted by former 'Dancing With the Stars' host Tom Bergeron). The inaugural Shark Week was in July 1988. 'We've been doing this for so long that the latest crop of scientists that we have all grew up watching Shark Week,' he explained. 9 A diver feeds a shark on 'Dancing With Sharks.' Discovery Advertisement 9 A photo from Nat Geo's 'Investigation Shark Attack.' NatGeo SharkFest on National Geographic started in 2012, and is currently airing with over 25 hours of shark-related programming on Nat Geo, Disney+, and Hulu. Per Nat Geo, last year's SharkFest racked up over 69 million hours of viewing (including streaming on Hulu and Disney+). Shark Week's programming also includes scientists and marine biologists, but it has more playful offerings such as 'Dancing With Sharks,' 'Great White Sex Battle,' 'Attack of the Devil Shark,' and 'Frankenshark,' while SharkFest's programming has a more educational tone. 9 A shark in 'Investigation Shark Attack.' NatGeo Shark Fest's 2025 lineup has included over 25 hours of shark-related programming, such as 'Sharks of the North,' 'Investigation Shark Attack,' 'Sharks Up Close with Bertie Gregory,' and documentary specials about 'Jaws' in honor of the movie's 50th anniversary,' such as 'Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story.' Janet Han Vissering, SVP of Development & Production at National Geographic Partners, also credited the movie 'Jaws' for the public's interest in sharks. 'I think that that movie brought out this mysterious animal and brought it front and center,' she told The Post. 'It became the next bit of a phenomenon over the last 50 years.' Advertisement 9 A diver with a shark in Discovery's 'How to Survive A Shark Attack.' Discovery She added that there are two main 'lanes' of how people feel about sharks. 'You either became somebody who was fascinated from a biological science approach…And it spurred this momentum for the area of shark biology to thrive. I talk to a lot of shark biologists who say, 'Actually, 'Jaws' spurred me to be interested in that species.'' As for the second 'lane,' of people's approach to sharks: 'There was something to be scared for, in the ocean. I think it became something that people were fascinated about. 'Is it coming after me? What's my relationship to this being?'' Advertisement 9 A grey reef shark emerges from an explosion of plankton-eating fish at Vostok Island. Photo by Enric Sala/National Geographic Image Collection She added that when people take beach vacations, the idea of the shark has become 'synonymous with summer.' Is there a rivalry between Shark Week and SharkFest? Han Vissering told The Post, 'We try to run our own race. We want to lead, and, hopefully, people chase us, rather than us chasing after anyone else. Well done on Discovery to create Shark Week. And then, we came along.' Advertisement 9 An oceanic white tip shark. Andy Mann 'We felt that there was still room for us to put together a lineup of great shark shows that had a slightly different angle, because of the access that we had with our scientists. We had a slightly different approach, and we've been thriving with that,' she shared. Schneier told The Post that because the community of people who make shark shows is small, 'we're all friends.' He added, 'We believe the audience remembers who started it all…Shark programming and Shark Week are kind of synonymous now, which is amazing.' Advertisement However, he quipped, 'In some ways, it's 'all boats rise,' to use a water pun.' Schneier said that for both Shark Week and SharkFest, 'The important thing is we're [both] telling great stories about these cool creatures, and pushing a message of ocean conservation.'
USA Today
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Summer of 'Jaws': Shark Week 2025 stocked with drama, dread ... and dancing
Summer TV apex predator Shark Week comes face-to-face with 'Jaws' this month — at least the ongoing celebration around the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic. With teams of marine biologists, conservationists, and field researchers, Discovery Channel's Shark Week programs have often educated audiences about sharks and the fear of the ocean hunters, the unintended "Jaws" legacy. However, shows like "Great White Reign of Terror" and 'Florida's Death Beach" — not to mention the "Dancing With the Stars" tribute "Dancing With Sharks" — suggest that the 37th annual Shark Week (July 20-26) might have finally jumped the sensational shark. 'Jaws' at 50: 50 years ago, 'Jaws' scared us senseless. We never got over it. Steve Kessel, director of marine research at Chicago's Shedd Aquarium, applauds the educational possibilities of Shark Week, even when the outlandish outweighs the science. 'Since Shark Week started, it's gone in waves of more educational and more sensational," says Kessel. 'Shark Week has the power to change perceptions, but there's also fearmongering, because people love to be scared; they love the horror.' Kessel, 44, who studied marine ecology and biology at Cardiff University in Wales, was initially motivated to become a 'shark-nerd' ocean conservationist after he was blown away by 'Jaws." 'It's still my all-time favorite movie,' he says. 'And I can speak to many shark-ologists, especially in my generation, who were inspired by it. In the same way 'Jaws' inspired me, hopefully, some of these Shark Week shows will provide a new pipeline of enthusiasm." Shark Week contends with copycat SharkFest "Shark Week" owes a debt to "Jaws,' which first sparked that nation's fascination (and terror) of sharks. The OG summer movie blockbuster set the stage for the July 1988 launch of Shark Week, which ingeniously transformed a sleepy summer TV week into an iconic annual event. Discovery representatives declined to make executives available. However, Shark Week programmers face the challenging annual task of coming up with over 20 hours of new, bigger-than-last-year shows with varying degrees of science. Add to this mix the knowledge that even pure popular shark entertainment, such as the six "Sharknado" films, can spark positive interest in the shark ecosystem. Meanwhile, competitors from Netflix to Nat Geo have been lured into the chum-filled summer TV waters that Shark Week established. Nat Geo's SharkFest began in 2012 as a one-week TV event and has since grown into a multi-week shark TV celebration with 25 hours of predator programming that streams on Disney+ and Hulu, this year from July 5-21. Specials include the official nod to The Boss with "Jaws @50: The Definitive Inside Story," featuring the filmmakers behind "Jaws" discussing the iconic film that launched the summer movie blockbuster. Wendy Benchley, the shark-conservationist wife of author Peter Benchley, who wrote the 1974 novel and died in 2006, delves into the couple's efforts to educate the public about sharks and combat the "Jaws effect," the disproportionate fear generated by the film. SharkFest tends to skew more educational and conservation-focused than its louder, trailblazing cousin Shark Week. Janet Han Vissering, National Geographic's vice president of development and production, calls the 2025 schedule "science-forward," with wildlife filmmaker Bertie Gregory getting increasingly close to great whites in the aptly named "Sharks Up Close With Bertie Gregory." "Through these jaw-dropping stories, we transform fear into awe, fostering excitement and respect for these vital ocean guardians," Han Vissering says in a statement. But National Geographic is not above pushing the fear factor in series like "Investigation Shark Attack" or "Shark Quest: Hunt for the Apex Predator," which boasts "jaw-dropping" shark encounters from people who "emerged miraculously unscathed and others (who) were less fortunate." Netflix is circling the summer shark TV waters Streaming apex predator Netflix dives into the summer shark frenzy in 2025 with two major projects, including "Shark Whisperer," a documentary directed by a team that includes Oscar-winning filmmaker James Reed ("My Octopus Teacher"). "Whisperer" follows the controversial social media star and marine activist Ocean Ramsey, who interacts with great whites and tiger sharks in viral videos, purportedly for educational purposes. The competition "All the Sharks" pits shark enthusiasts in a race to photograph rare species, combining conservation with competition and showcasing cool sharks. What's in Shark Week 2025? Still, Shark Week reigns supreme. attracting the most annual attention and criticism. In 2021, researchers at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania analyzed over 200 episodes spanning 32 years of Shark Week. The final report criticized the overall programming for its narration that included "staggering examples of needlessly promoting fear" — as well as knocking sensational show titles such as 'Sharkpocalypse,' 'Great White Serial Killer,' and 'Sharks: Are They Hunting Us?' Shark Week 2025's schedule leads off with the fin-tastically ridiculous — the beloved former host of "Dancing With the Stars," Tom Bergeron, returning to host "Dancing With Sharks." The show is described as "an unprecedented dance competition between expert divers and their shark partners." Even with the premise, "Dancing" offers the opportunity to learn about shark behavior and research. "Jaws" gets its due with "Surviving Jaws,' which features marine biologist Tom 'The Blowfish' Hird and predator ecologist Michelle Jewell diving with great white sharks to answer movie-related questions such as "Does skinny-dipping really attract great white sharks?" Then there are the sensational titles such as 'Florida's Death Beach," which Allegheny College's lead report author Lisa Whitenack calls "cringeworthy." "Many Shark Week titles continue to be focused on fear and portraying sharks as man-eaters, which seems completely unnecessary," says Whitenack. Shark Week attracts education and discussion by being Shark Week During Shark Week, aquariums around the country will capitalize on the programming with local radio and TV spots that highlight sharks and promote education. The Shedd Aquarium is expecting the usual influx of July visitors, who will find special Shark Week programming around the famed central Wild Reef tank, home to more than 20 sharks. "Shark Week definitely piques people's interest, because sharks are all over the TV. And we're doing some cool stuff around the week and the 50th anniversary of 'Jaws,'" says Kessel. "This is all a great opportunity to engage people about sharks." How to watch Shark Week to SharkFast Shark Week (July 20-26) airs on the Discovery Channel and streams on Discovery+ and HBO Max. SharkFest 2025 airs (July 5-21) on National Geographic, and streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu. "All the Sharks" streams on Netflix on July 4. "Shark Whisperer" is now streaming.
Japan Today
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
What to stream: Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners,' a Kesha album, 'SharkFest' and John Cena with Idris Elba
Kesha enjoying her freedom on her first new album since she left her old label and Ryan Coogler's guts-spilling vampire film 'Sinners,' are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time, as selected by The Associated Press' entertainment journalists: Charlize Theron in 'The Old Guard 2' on Netflix, National Geographic's 25-hour 'SharkFest' and John Cena playing a U.S. president opposite Idris Elba as the UK's prime minister in the comedy 'Heads of State.' – Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners,' arguably the movie of the year up to this point, begins streaming Friday on Max. With $363.8 million in worldwide ticket sales, Coogler's supernatural thriller is one of the most successful original films of the last two decades. It stars Michael B. Jordan as a pair of twins who return to their hometown to open a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi. Vampires, and other dark forces, intrude on their plans. In her review, AP's Jocelyn Noveck wrote: 'How Coogler pulls everything off at once — and makes it cohere, mostly — is a sight to see.' – The wait has been long for 'The Old Guard 2' (Netflix, Wednesday), a sequel to Gina Prince-Bythewood's 2020 streaming hit starring Charlize Theron as a member of a team of centuries-old mercenaries. In 'The Old Guard 2,' shot all the way back in 2022, Victoria Mahoney takes over as director, while Theron returns as Andy, a warrior who has now lost her immortality. – In 'Heads of State' (Prime Video, Wednesday), John Cena plays the president of the United States and Idris Elba plays the prime minister of the United Kingdom. What could go wrong? In Ilya Naishuller's comedy, the two are hunted by the same adversary. Elba's politician, a former commando, is better prepared than Cena's president, a former action movie star. – A Zambian family funeral unearths a dark past and an anguished reckoning in Rungano Nyoni's beguiling 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' (Max, Friday). Nyoni's follow-up to the equally compelling 'I Am Not a Witch,' AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote in her review, 'cements the exciting arrival of a true filmmaker.' — AP Film Writer Jake Coyle — Kesha is a free agent. On Independence Day, she'll self-release '.' (pronounced 'Period'), her first new full-length album since her departure from RCA and the Dr. Luke-founded Kemosabe Records in 2023. That year, the pop star and the producer settled nearly a decade of suits and countersuits over her accusation that he drugged and raped her and his claim that she made it up and defamed him. Across the 11-track release, Kesha is clearly enjoying some newfound freedoms: '.' is a stuffed with throwback, ebullient pop, like the sultry 'JOYRIDE.,' the country-and-western-themed 'YIPPEE-KI-YAY.,' and the bighearted power ballad 'DELUSIONAL.' — AP Music Writer Maria Sherman — After a successful season 2, the cast of 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' gather for their first reunion episode on Hulu. #MomTok has a lot to hash out including infidelity rumors and accusations of clout-chasing. Nick Viall, a podcaster and former star of ABC's 'The Bachelor," hosts the special streaming Tuesday. — Netflix has a documentary previewing its upcoming Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fight at Madison Square Garden. "Countdown: Taylor Vs. Serrano," debuts Thursday and is narrated by Uma Thurman. It will show Taylor and Serrano as they train and prepare for their third match. — A number of fin-tastic programs about sharks stream in July. Netflix offers a new reality competition show called 'All the Sharks' debuting on Friday. Four teams of shark experts compete to locate and photograph the most number of sharks. The winners get $50,000 for their favorite marine charity. — National Geographic has compiled more than 25 hours of television for its annual SharkFest which begins streaming Sunday, July 6, on Disney+ and Hulu. In the docuseries, 'Investigation Shark Attack,' scientists attempt to pinpoint what causes a shark to attack. 'Super Shark Highway' follows researchers as they track sharks along migration routes in the waters off Australia. The goal is to find ways for sharks and humans to coexist in the busy ocean. — Alicia Rancilio — Giant robots! Maybe you like the kind that can stomp across a city, crushing office buildings under their huge metal feet. Or you prefer the ones who can fly above the chaos, unleashing missiles at each other. Perhaps you'd rather have your mech just hang back and perform maintenance on the ones taking the most damage. Whatever your choice, Mecha Break, from China's Amazing Seasun Games, hopes to have you covered. It's a multiplayer slugfest with 3 vs. 3, 6 vs. 6 and human vs. AI scenarios. You can start building your dream bot Wednesday on Xbox X/S and PC. — Lou Kesten © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
July 4 US Independence Day 2025 new movies, series - Full list of shows to watch on 4th July
July 4 Independence Day 2025 is almost here and Americans enjoy the federal holiday. Movies and shows are the prominent forms of entertainment which Americans enjoy a lot. Some of the new films, television shows, films headed to a device near you. These movies and shows include Ryan Coogler's guts-spilling vampire film 'Sinners'. The new movies and shows include Charlize Theron in 'The Old Guard 2' on Netflix, National Geographic's 25-hour 'SharkFest' and John Cena playing a the US president opposite Idris Elba as the UK's prime minister in the comedy "Heads of State". July 4 Independence Day 2025 Movies Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners,' arguably the movie of the year up to this point, begins streaming Friday, July 4 on Max. With $363.8 million in worldwide ticket sales, Coogler's supernatural thriller is one of the most successful original films of the last two decades. It stars Michael B. Jordan as a pair of twins who return to their hometown to open a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi. Vampires, and other dark forces, intrude on their plans. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [Click Here] 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software Esseps Learn More Undo The wait has been long for 'The Old Guard 2', a sequel to Gina Prince-Bythewood's 2020 streaming hit starring Charlize Theron as a member of a team of centuries-old mercenaries. In 'The Old Guard 2,' shot all the way back in 2022, Victoria Mahoney takes over as director, while Theron returns as Andy, a warrior who has now lost her immortality. It will released on Netflix, Wednesday. In "Heads of State", releasing on Prime Video on Wednesday, John Cena plays the president of the United States and Idris Elba plays the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Live Events A Zambian family funeral unearths a dark past and an anguished reckoning in Rungano Nyoni's beguiling 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl'. It will premiere on Max on Friday, July 4. July 4 Shows After a successful season 2, the cast of 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' gather for their first reunion episode on Hulu. #MomTok has a lot to hash out including infidelity rumors and accusations of clout-chasing. Nick Viall, a podcaster and former star of ABC's 'The Bachelor," hosts the special streaming Tuesday. Netflix has a documentary previewing its upcoming Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fight at Madison Square Garden. "Countdown: Taylor Vs. Serrano," debuts Thursday and is narrated by Uma Thurman. It will show Taylor and Serrano as they train and prepare for their third match. A number of fin-tastic programs about sharks stream in July. Netflix offers a new reality competition show called 'All the Sharks' debuting on Friday, July 4. Four teams of shark experts compete to locate and photograph the most number of sharks. The winners get $50,000 for their favorite marine charity. National Geographic has compiled more than 25 hours of television for its annual SharkFest which begins streaming Sunday, July 6, on Disney+ and Hulu. In the docuseries, 'Investigation Shark Attack,' scientists attempt to pinpoint what causes a shark to attack. 'Super Shark Highway' follows researchers as they track sharks along migration routes in the waters off Australia. The goal is to find ways for sharks and humans to coexist in the busy ocean. FAQs Q1. When is US Independence Day? A1. US Independence Day is on July 4. Q2. Is there Federal Holiday on July 4? A2. Yes, there is Federal Holiday on July 4.
San Francisco Chronicle
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
What to Stream: Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners,' a Kesha album, 'SharkFest' and John Cena with Idris Elba
Kesha enjoying her freedom on her first new album since she left her old label and Ryan Coogler's guts-spilling vampire film 'Sinners,' are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming offerings worth your time, as selected by The Associated Press' entertainment journalists: Charlize Theron in 'The Old Guard 2' on Netflix, National Geographic's 25-hour 'SharkFest' and John Cena playing a U.S. president opposite Idris Elba as the UK's prime minister in the comedy 'Heads of State.' New movies to stream from June 30-July 6 – Ryan Coogler's 'Sinners,' arguably the movie of the year up to this point, begins streaming Friday, July 4 on Max. With $363.8 million in worldwide ticket sales, Coogler's supernatural thriller is one of the most successful original films of the last two decades. It stars Michael B. Jordan as a pair of twins who return to their hometown to open a juke joint in 1930s Mississippi. Vampires, and other dark forces, intrude on their plans. In her review, AP's Jocelyn Noveck wrote: 'How Coogler pulls everything off at once — and makes it cohere, mostly — is a sight to see.' – The wait has been long for 'The Old Guard 2' (Netflix, Wednesday), a sequel to Gina Prince-Bythewood's 2020 streaming hit starring Charlize Theron as a member of a team of centuries-old mercenaries. In 'The Old Guard 2,' shot all the way back in 2022, Victoria Mahoney takes over as director, while Theron returns as Andy, a warrior who has now lost her immortality. – In 'Heads of State' (Prime Video, Wednesday), John Cena plays the president of the United States and Idris Elba plays the prime minister of the United Kingdom. What could go wrong? In Ilya Naishuller's comedy, the two are hunted by the same adversary. Elba's politician, a former commando, is better prepared than Cena's president, a former action movie star. – A Zambian family funeral unearths a dark past and an anguished reckoning in Rungano Nyoni's beguiling 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' (Max, Friday, July 4). Nyoni's follow-up to the equally compelling 'I Am Not a Witch,' AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr wrote in her review, 'cements the exciting arrival of a true filmmaker.' — AP Film Writer Jake Coyle New music to stream from June 30-July 6 — Kesha is a free agent. On Independence Day, she'll self-release '.' (pronounced 'Period'), her first new full-length album since her departure from RCA and the Dr. Luke-founded Kemosabe Records in 2023. That year, the pop star and the producer settled nearly a decade of suits and countersuits over her accusation that he drugged and raped her and his claim that she made it up and defamed him. Across the 11-track release, Kesha is clearly enjoying some newfound freedoms: '.' is a stuffed with throwback, ebullient pop, like the sultry 'JOYRIDE.,' the country-and-western-themed 'YIPPEE-KI-YAY.,' and the bighearted power ballad 'DELUSIONAL.' — AP Music Writer Maria Sherman New series to stream from June 30-July 6 — After a successful season 2, the cast of 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' gather for their first reunion episode on Hulu. #MomTok has a lot to hash out including infidelity rumors and accusations of clout-chasing. Nick Viall, a podcaster and former star of ABC's 'The Bachelor," hosts the special streaming Tuesday. — Netflix has a documentary previewing its upcoming Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano fight at Madison Square Garden. "Countdown: Taylor Vs. Serrano," debuts Thursday and is narrated by Uma Thurman. It will show Taylor and Serrano as they train and prepare for their third match. — A number of fin-tastic programs about sharks stream in July. Netflix offers a new reality competition show called 'All the Sharks' debuting on Friday, July 4. Four teams of shark experts compete to locate and photograph the most number of sharks. The winners get $50,000 for their favorite marine charity. — National Geographic has compiled more than 25 hours of television for its annual SharkFest which begins streaming Sunday, July 6, on Disney+ and Hulu. In the docuseries, 'Investigation Shark Attack,' scientists attempt to pinpoint what causes a shark to attack. 'Super Shark Highway' follows researchers as they track sharks along migration routes in the waters off Australia. The goal is to find ways for sharks and humans to coexist in the busy ocean. — Alicia Rancilio — Giant robots! Maybe you like the kind that can stomp across a city, crushing office buildings under their huge metal feet. Or you prefer the ones who can fly above the chaos, unleashing missiles at each other. Perhaps you'd rather have your mech just hang back and perform maintenance on the ones taking the most damage. Whatever your choice, Mecha Break, from China's Amazing Seasun Games, hopes to have you covered. It's a multiplayer slugfest with 3 vs. 3, 6 vs. 6 and human vs. AI scenarios. You can start building your dream bot Wednesday on Xbox X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
