“Planet Earth”
Many days and times, Discovery Channel
The most compelling drama on TV this season didn’t come from a scripted show or reality challenge. It came from this 11-part documentary that just wrapped its initial run on Discovery Channel, and which is now in heavy rerun rotation. For five years, camera crews took tricked-out high-definition cameras to document life in every conceivable area of the globe, from forests to deserts, polar caps to the deep sea, great plains to caves. The results are astounding. From the adorable (hydroplaning dolphins) to the majestic (the fascinating baobab tree) to the terrifying (cave snotties! Blech!), I can almost guarantee you’ve never seen sights like this. Narrator Sigourney Weaver explains all the proceedings for you.
“Today”
Weekdays 7-10am, NBC
This week, co-host Matt Lauer brings back his perennial “Where in the World is Matt Lauer?” series, in which he jets from place to place around the world documenting the culture and customs. It’s kind of funny that the bit has way outlived its inspiration, the ’90s kid game “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” I’m not entirely sure what that says about “Today”’s hip quotient. At any rate, this makes a good companion to “Planet Earth,” since Lauer typically focuses on the people that populate this planet instead of its animals and environs. If the public school system’s geography and social studies classes failed you as badly as they failed me, it’s a good week to watch TV.
“Work Out”
Tuesday 10pm, Bravo
I could never get into Season 1 of Bravo’s docu-drama about L.A. gym owner Jackie Warner and her staff of trainers. It just seemed kind of petty and boring. But Season 2 has improved considerably, as there’s more usable fitness information and the interpersonal relations have gotten a lot more interesting. Warner herself is fascinating; she’s flawed but likable, and she’s got a drive to succeed that you can’t help but respect. She’s also a strong lesbian role model, and we can always use more of those.
