Power of 10
Think you know your fellow Americans? Then tell us: what percentage of us insist we're smarter than the president? How many don't wear underwear? Not sure? Find out on the new game show "Power of 10." (Watch a Y! TV exclusive interview clip.) The show has polled thousands of people on topics ranging from sex to immigration to religion, and contestants must take their best guesses at how Americans responded. Back when Drew Carey hosted the improv comedy show "Whose Line is it Anyway?" he rewarded comics with imaginary points and bragging rights, but on the "Power of 10" the stakes are sky-high for his players as they compete for a life-altering $10 million. It's sort of like "Family Feud" minus the family... and with a whole lot more loot up for grabs. Let's just hope Drew doesn't copy Richard Dawson's gross-out habit of kissing all of the female contestants. more
Jeopardy!
This All-American quiz show has been around so long it's amazing the writers can keep coming up with new questions, er, we mean "clues." Each night three brainy contestants compete for cash by coming up with answers (that must be phrased in the form of a question, of course) on topics ranging from ancient history to geography to '90s rock. Over the past several years "Jeopardy!" has added some new elements to the show, including sending a group of roving correspondents called the "Clue Crew" around the world to deliver pre-taped clues from remote corners of the globe. But no matter how difficult some of the questions get during the Double Jeopardy round, you can always count on two things: everyone's favorite Canadian, Alex Trebek, will be at the helm, and you won't be able to get that catchy theme song out of your head. more
Meet the Press
Get a Sunday morning dose of the week's news from the people paid to know it best: journalists and politicians. Moderated by the affable NBC Bureau Chief Tim Russert, weekly panelists -- ranging from newspaper editors to U.S. senators to acclaimed authors -- discuss, debate, and often disagree on the topics of the day. Whether it's the war in the Iraq, the presidential race, or the latest headlines, you're bound to turn the TV off better informed than you were when you turned it on. This show must be doing something right. It premiered a whopping 60 years ago and is now the longest-running program in the history of network television. Way to press on, "Meet the Press." more
Build it Bigger
Architecture student turned television host Danny Forster (who applied for the job via a Craigslist posting) takes viewers behind the scenes of some of the world's most fascinating -- and dangerous -- construction projects. Watch as Forster hangs onto the outside of a soon-to-be 104-floor skyscraper in Shanghai, heads 1,000 feet underground with workers digging a set of tunnels along California's San Andreas Fault, and spends the day with a team of roller coaster engineers (who knew they existed?) to find out what goes into creating everyone’s favorite thrill ride. After a few episodes of "Build It Bigger," building that shed in your backyard won't seem so tough after all. more
The Suze Orman Show (Syndicated)
Don't know a mutual fund from a money market? Not to worry. It's Suze to the rescue. The feisty certified financial planner and best selling author (who did the unheard of when she broke into the male dominated finance field back in the '70s) doles out advice on how to make, manage, and invest your loot on "The Suze Orman Show." You can even get personal questions answered during the "Can I Afford It?" segment when viewers get the opportunity to call Suze, give the gory details of their salaries, savings, and monthly expenses and let the money whiz decide whether or not they can afford that new convertible or semester of cooking school. more
Planet Earth
After spending 2000 days shooting in more than 200 locations, "Planet Earth" brings viewers eleven amazing episodes guaranteed to show you exotic places you've never been, natural wonders you've never seen, and rare animals you've never even heard of. Each episode, narrated by Sigourney Weaver, focuses on a different element of our planet, including jungles, deserts, and bodies of freshwater. It's hard to take your eyes off the magical footage of the world's tallest waterfall in the Venezuelan jungle, or the group of adorable smooth-coated otters as they gang up on a preying giant crocodile. "Planet Earth" also gives some occasional behind-the-scenes insight into the tedious, challenging, and often hazardous process of filming the series, like the story of the cameraman who had to spend 600 hours over 8 weeks hiding in a bush waiting for a male and female bird of paradise to show up at the same time. And you thought your job could get boring. more
Secrets of the Dead
The gang at "Secrets of the Dead" just can't sleep knowing there are unsolved mysteries still lingering from yesteryear. This investigatory show takes a new look at old events -- collecting clues and evidence, conducting interviews, and taking advantage of technology that didn't exist hundreds of years ago -- in order to crack some puzzling historic cases. How did some Europeans survive the bubonic plague even after being exposed? Who are the unidentified victims of the tragic sinking of the Titanic? How did a group of Vikings in Greenland simply disappear 500 years ago? Watch as "Secrets of the Dead" brings you answers to the baffling questions that have persisted for centuries. more
Good Eats
The wacky Alton Brown hosts this free-spirited show that's part cooking instruction, part science experiment, part history lesson, and part comedy routine, complete with props and sound effects. Brown knows how to get creative, visiting the country's only cast-iron skillet factory before giving a demonstration on chicken frying, or staging a skit to educate viewers on the history of nachos. The show is chock full of trivia, facts, and figures, but always comes back to the most important element: cooking up something delicious you'll want to make at home. No wonder they call it "Good Eats." more
Nova
This is the Emmy winning science show that started it all -- long before the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, or even cable television entered the scene. During the show's more than two decades on the air, "Nova" has explored nearly every conceivable science-related topic from volcanoes to veterinary medicine. Though PBS science shows may not have the most exciting reputations, "Nova" is one piece of educational television that will keep you on your toes. In recent years the show has revealed the secret lives of spies, investigated the crash of flight 111 off Nova Scotia, and followed a Turkish family that walks on all fours. If only high school science class had been this interesting. more
History Detectives
History is full of mystery, and the "History Detectives" are here to help solve a few of them. Could the petite soldier in a Civil War photograph really be a woman in disguise? Is one man's old tape deck actually the first commercially produced automobile tape player in the U.S.? The quartet of detectives examines documents, tracks down experts, and even analyzes DNA to help people from around the country find out if their family folklore and local legends are fact or fiction. All four of the show's investigators have ultra impressive resumes: Elyse is an art historian, Gwendolyn teaches architecture at Columbia University, Wes has a Ph.D. in anthropology, and Tukufu is the director of the Center for Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. If these guys don't inspire you to go back to school, no one will. more
Antiques Roadshow
Think that vase that once belonged to your great great grandmother might be worth a pretty penny? (Not that you'd ever sell it, of course). Then you'll want to tune in to "Antiques Roadshow" as history buffs and pat racks alike find out from professional appraisers if their family heirlooms and garage store finds are pricey treasures or plain old junk. For every lucky soul who walks away with confirmation that his dusty rifle dates back to the Civil War and is worth thousands, there's another collector crushed by the news her Faberge egg is a fake. Who knew antique appraisal could be so emotional? more
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
The chain smoking, heavy drinking Bourdain with his New York accent and attitude definitely keeps this show interesting. Though "No Reservations" takes viewers to plenty of well-known restaurants as well as hidden eateries in far-flung destinations around the world, the show also injects a good dose of local color and culture. During some of Bourdain's recent adventures, he's encountered wild elephants in Ghana, brought both a Catholic and a Protestant cab driver together for an Irish stew lunch at a Belfast pub, and even arrived in Beirut just as the Israel-Hezbollah conflict was breaking out. Not to worry, this food lover makes sure to eat (and drink) plenty of wacky and wild stuff along the way. By the end of each episode you'll want a meal and a nap. more