Entertainment
All of ‘Shark Week’ Hosts since the Discovery Show First Aired in 1988
All Shark Week hosts to date!
Shark Week is a weekly television programming block on the Discovery Channel that highlights shark-related material. The show first aired on July 17, 1988.
It was initially dedicated to conservation efforts and dispelling shark myths and was held yearly in July or early August. It gained popularity over time and became a success on the Discovery Channel.
It has been the longest-running cable television programming event in history since 2010. And it seems like they won’t be stopping anytime soon.
Since its inception in 1988, there have been a lot of hosts who have hosted Shark Week. For 2023, the host is none other than Jason Momoa.
Jason Momoa to host ‘Shark Week’ 2023
In an interview with People, Momoa confessed that he had always wanted to host Shark Week. He said that he had been begging to host the show since 2018.
Momoa also gushed about how he had an interest in marine and wildlife. In fact, he studied marine and wildlife biology in college before he started acting.
He said, “It’s my original passion. This goes back to something I’ve wanted to do my whole life.”
Moreover, it is a tradition for him and his family to watch Shark Week every year. He grew up watching the show, and now, he tunes in with his kids, Lola Iolani and Nakoa-Wolf, annually.
The Aquaman actor does not only want to be the host of Shark Week this year but plans on coming back next year as well. He said, “I’m hoping Shark Week goes well, and I can do another one, and then another one, and just pass on more information.”
Momoa’s passion for the event is evident in a video published by Discovery in June announcing his hosting responsibilities. In the video, he walks to the edge of an empty beach, and as he gets closer to the sea, the music starts to swell.
He starts “conducting” as sharks leap from the sea. The music abruptly stops, and Momoa exclaims, “I’m doing Shark Week!”
Shark Week debuts on the Discovery Channel on July 23. Shark Week programs will be accessible to watch on Max as well.
Hosts prior to Jason Momoa
Before Momoa, there have been 16 hosts on Shark Week. From 1988 to 1993, there were no hosts for the show.
Similarly, the shows between 1995-1999 and 2003 also had no hosts. Here is the list of 16 hosts of the Shark Week before Momoa.
Peter Benchley — 1994
Peter Benchley was the first host of Shark Week since its inception. He was a novelist, screenwriter, and ocean activist from the United States.
He is well known for his famous novel Jaws, which he co-wrote with Carl Gottlieb. Several of his other novels, including The Deep, The Island, Beast, and White Shark, have also been adapted for film and television.
Benchley’s Jaws was the major inspiration behind Shark Week, so his being the first host made sense. Moreover, the location for Shark Week 1994 was where the Jaws movie was filmed.
Nigel Marven — 2000 to 2002
From 2000 to 2002, Nigel Marven hosted the Discovery Show. He is a naturalist, environmentalist, author, and television producer from the United Kingdom.
In 2000, six million 3D Pulfrich glasses were provided to US and Canadian viewers in 2000 for an episode showcasing an extinct enormous shark with 3D portions.
In 2001, Marven held Shark Week for the second time. Jaws: Sharks of South Africa was first shown in 2001.
The episode featured great white sharks jumping out of the ocean along the South African coast. It was one of the most viewed Shark Week programs in history.
In 2002, Marven presented Shark Week for the third time. That year, Shark Week had a celebrity theme.
Several celebrities swam in the sea with sharks. Julie Bowen, Mark McGrath, David James Elliott, Adrian Pasdar, Estella Warren, Brian McKnight, Gabrielle Reece, and Casper Van Dien were among them.
The cast of American Chopper — 2004
In 2004, Shark Week was hosted by the cast of the Discovery reality TV show American Chopper.
The show revolves around Paul Teutul Sr. (also known as Senior) and his son Paul Teutul Jr. (also known as Paulie or just Junior), who build unique chopper-style motorbikes.
Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman — 2005
Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman presented Shark Week in 2005, and a two-hour MythBusters “Jaws Special” aired to coincide with the event.
Savage is a former co-host of the Discovery Channel television shows MythBusters and Unchained Reaction, as well as an actor, lecturer, and television personality and producer.
Hyneman is a former co-host of the television series MythBusters with Savage, where he became noted for his unique beret and walrus mustache.
Mike Rowe — 2006
Mike Rowe presented in 2006, and two Dirty Jobs episodes were aired, headlined ‘Jobs that Bite…Harder’ during Shark Week. During the week, the Discovery Channel’s Silver Spring, Maryland headquarters was transformed into a huge shark.
Rowe is a television personality and narrator from the United States. He is most recognized for his work on the Discovery Channel series Dirty Jobs and the CNN series Somebody’s Gotta Do It.
Les Stroud — 2007 and 2009
The Discovery Channel honored Shark Week’s 20th anniversary in 2007, presented by Survivorman host Les Stroud. Sharkrunners, a video game based on GPS data from tagged sharks in the Pacific Ocean, was released to commemorate the 20th anniversary.
Similarly, Ocean of Fear premiered on July 29, 2007. Shark Week 2009 began with ‘Blood in the Water,’ a dramatization of the 1916 Jersey Shore shark attacks.
Stroud is a Canadian survival expert, filmmaker, and musician most known for creating, writing, producing, directing, cameraman, and hosting the television series Survivorman.
Adam Savage, Jamie Hyneman, and Mike Rowe — 2008
The MythBusters hosts, Savage and Hyneman, along with Rowe, hosted Shark Week 2008, which took place from July 27 to August 2. For the occasion, a new MythBusters shark special and a Dirty Jobs shark-themed episode launched.
Craig Ferguson — 2010
Shark Week 2010, presented by Craig Ferguson of The Late Late Show, began on August 1 and included six brand-new shark programs. The second appearance of the enormous inflatable shark mounted to the Discovery Channel building called “Chompie” promoted it.
With 30.8 million unique viewers, Shark Week 2010 was the most watched Shark Week ever. Similarly, Shark Week is currently the longest-running program event on cable, as of 2010.
Andy Samberg — 2011
Shark Week 2011 was hosted by Andy Samberg — actor, writer, comedian, producer, and director best known for Saturday Night Live and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
It began on July 31, 2011, and there were seven specials.
Philip DeFranco — 2012
Shark Week 2012 began on August 12, 2012, at 9/8c, presented by Philip DeFranco, YouTuber and commentator.
The 446-foot-long great white shark “Chompie” was hoisted atop the Discovery Channel headquarters building once more. To commemorate the series’ 25th anniversary, viewers were asked to vote on which item a mechanical megalodon shark would destroy with its hydraulic jaws in the “Shark Week Chompdown” through Twitter or Facebook.
Josh Wolf — 2013 and 2014
Josh Wolf hosted Shark Week 2013 and 2014. In 2013, the event began with Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives, a hypothetical documentary-style video that hypothesized the existence of the megalodon shark in modern times.
The event’s marketing campaign debuted on Discovery’s Skywire Live, with a broadcast documenting the return of “Snuffy The Seal” to the water, only to have a shark rush out and devour the seal on camera.
In 2014, the programming block had fourteen programs, including five Shark After Dark LIVE episodes aired after two new programs each night for the first five days.
Eli Roth — 2015 to 2017
Eli Roth hosted Shark Week for three consecutive years, from 2015 to 2017.
Shark Week 2015 premiered a month earlier than last year, on Sunday, July 5 at 8/7c. It lasted eight days in total.
14 new episodes were released. A program named Shark Week Sharktacular was broadcast on June 23, 2015, and it celebrated the finest events in Shark Week history and looked ahead to Shark Week 2015.
There were also eight ‘Sharkopedia Edition’ episodes. These were re-cuts of new episodes from this year that include more information for the viewer.
Shark Week 2016 aired on June 26, 2016. Lokai, a bracelet firm promoting “balance,” collaborated with Oceana and Discovery Channel to restore the ocean’s equilibrium and implement the shark fin ban.
Shark Week 2017 premiered on July 23 at 7 p.m. ET. Beginning July 18, select theatres around the United States played a “best of” episode from 2016, as well as a new 2017 special, to commemorate its 29th anniversary.
Shaquille O’Neal — 2018
In 2018, Shaquille O’Neal, the legendary former NBA athlete and commentator, hosted the Discovery series. Shark Week designed a limited edition Shark Week Box to match the Shark Week Experience to commemorate its 30th year.
Rob Riggle — 2019
Rob Riggle, American actor, stand-up comedian, and retired United States Marine Officer, hosted Shark Week 2019 from July 28 to August 4, 2019.
Josh Gates — 2020 and 2021
Josh Gates hosted Shark Week for two years, 2020 and 2021.
He is an American television host, and co-executive producer of the Discovery Channel shows Expedition: Unknown and Legendary Locations.
He also hosts live specials and appears as a guest investigator on the television shows Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International.
Dwayne Johnson — 2022
Dwayne Johnson, best known as The Rock, was the host of Shark Week 2022.
All Elite Wrestling, whose Dynamite and Rampage shows run on Discovery-owned networks, took part in Shark Week with a shark cage-themed bout, and their Fight for the Fallen event raised funds for ocean animal groups.
What is ‘Shark Week’ about?
The week-long event includes numerous programs about the many shark species that live in waters all around the world. The Discovery Channel has created such a spectacle of its shark-infested coastlines that the program has included a host to introduce the weekly debuts since 1994.
Steven Spielberg’s classic film Jaws was released in theatres in June 1975, making everyone frightened to go into the sea. The film was based on Benchley’s novel of the same name, and it grew out of the author’s lifelong fascination with sharks, which he discovered while fishing.
Both the novel and the film were inspired by the attacks that shook the Jersey Shore in the summer of 1916 in the village of Matawan, which were based on scant scientific knowledge about sharks in their natural environment. People’s perception of sharks was altered as a result of the smash movie, and fishermen rushed to their local waters to clear them of sharks.
Therefore, to remove this stigma around sharks, dispel shark myths and provide viewers with knowledge about the very real risks that sharks confront, Discovery Channel debuted Shark Week in 1987 — a projected week-long festival of shark documentary-style programming.
Entertainment
How Deadite Alyssa Sutherland from ‘Evil Dead’ Transformed Herself from Model to Actress?
The alluring actress Alyssa Sutherland, who just swept the horror community off her feet as the possessed Natalie in “Evil Dead Rise,” has a career trajectory that defies convention. Her career started in the bright lights of the fashion business, not on bloody, gory movie sets. How did this Australian beauty go from walking the haute couture catwalks to facing evil forces on screen?
A Model Start:
The narrative of Sutherland starts in Brisbane, Australia. At an early age, Alyssa Sutherland was discovered in a mall and moved fast through the modeling ranks. Her remarkable physical attributes secured her highly sought-after endorsements for labels such as Bulgari and Ralph Lauren, and she was featured on the pages of esteemed publications like Glamour and Australian Style. Success as a model seemed to be her destiny. But something else gnawed at Sutherland like a spark.
The Need to Take Action:
Although modeling provided a stable income and an opulent lifestyle, Sutherland’s true ambition was to become an actress. She relates, “I had wanted to be an actress… I was doing drama in high school.” This desire was not just a passing fancy for her. She had a deep-rooted passion for acting, which she nurtured even during her modeling days. But as a child growing up in Australia, an acting profession seemed like a far-off ideal. Despite the seeming constraints, Sutherland’s passion for telling tales and taking on personalities remained strong.
The Leap of Faith:
Sutherland took a risky move because she was determined to follow her passion. Despite a successful modeling career, she put off attending college and started her acting profession. There was no denying her skill and commitment. In 2009, she was cast in her debut on-screen part in the short film “The Verge”. Sutherland kept refining her technique and accumulating a filmography demonstrating her range, but this was only the beginning.
Beyond the Runway:
Sutherland’s acting career is a testament to her versatility. She has portrayed powerful female characters in historical dramas such as ‘Vikings’ and the Australian miniseries ‘Janet King,’ and showcased her comedic timing in shows like ‘The Astronaut Wives Club.’ However, it was her venture into the horror genre that truly captivated audiences, demonstrating her ability to excel in a variety of roles.
Unleashing the Deadite:
Sutherland was cast as Natalie in the much-awaited “Evil Dead Rise,” the follow-up to the beloved classic horror film franchise, in 2023. This film was not just another project for her. It was a significant milestone in her career, marking her transition from the basic model to the evil character. It was different from your usual role of the damsel-in-distress. After falling under demonic forces’ control, Natalie becomes a formidable force. Sutherland underwent rigorous physical training and delved deeply into the character’s mind to fully accept the role’s emotional and physical demands. Her status as a rising star in the horror genre was cemented by the positive reviews she received for her performance.
It’s a significant step to have the guts to abandon a successful career to follow one’s passion, but it can be challenging to make that kind of leap in a field where people tend to box artists into their first big success. Sutherland faced constraints on the kinds of parts the business would consider her for rather than misgivings about her ability to transition from modeling to acting. This is how she phrased it:
“I don’t think anyone doubts the ability of models to become actors. The business is not a whole pigeonhole model because I believe plenty have proven themselves. I believe that you struggle with saying, “But she’s too pretty to be a lawyer,” particularly if you’re a woman. She is too gorgeous to be like this. However, we also have Brad Pitt, a very attractive man with a wide range of acting skills. That has proven to be a challenging obstacle for me to conquer, which is why Evil Dead Rise is such a blessing.”
Evil Dead Rise turned out to be a blessing in many ways. Sutherland could not only swing for the fences, get dirty, and deliver one slick one-liner after another in her role as Ellie, but she also got to go big in a place where there was no fear.
Takeaways from the Transformation:
Sutherland’s transformation from model to actor provides insightful inspiration for budding artists. It emphasizes the importance of pursuing your goals, regardless of how unusual they may seem. It exemplifies the strength of commitment and tenacity, especially in the face of early uncertainties and obstacles. More significantly, it illustrates how acting can change people and how it may push limits and alter perceptions.
Alyssa Sutherland’s Future:
With “Evil Dead Rise,” Sutherland’s career is about to soar to even higher levels. She is in high demand as an actress because of her versatility in acting and her ability to play nuanced roles. Whether she’s strutting down the catwalk with style or taking on demons in a fierce manner on screen, Alyssa Sutherland never fails to enthrall viewers and surpass expectations. There’s no telling what terrifyingly fun roles she’ll play in the future, but one thing is certain: nothing.
Entertainment
Small-Town Stories Are Changing the Landscape of Modern Films, Here’s How
In recent years, the film industry has significantly shifted towards stories set in small towns, bringing fresh perspectives and untold narratives to the forefront.
These stories offer a glimpse into the nuanced lives of communities often overlooked in mainstream cinema, challenging audiences to engage with diverse experiences and environments. This movement towards small-town tales is not just a trend but a transformative force in modern filmmaking, reshaping how stories are told and what stories are considered worth telling.
The Rise of the Underdog
One notable example of this shift can be seen in the Possum Trot movie, a film that brings the intricate dynamics of rural life into the limelight. Such movies go beyond mere settings; they delve into the heart and soul of communities, showcasing the strength, resilience, and complexity of people living far from urban sprawl.
This focus on underrepresented locales has broadened the thematic horizons of cinema and democratized storytelling, allowing for more voices and experiences to be heard.
Authentic Representation
Small town stories provide a platform for authentic representation, showcasing the realities of life in these communities. This authenticity resonates with audiences, offering a break from the often-glamorized portrayals of city life in movies. The realness of the characters, their struggles, and their triumphs strike a chord, creating a more inclusive and relatable cinematic experience.
Diverse Storytelling Perspectives
The shift towards small-town narratives has introduced a variety of storytelling perspectives, enriching the film industry with diverse tales that might otherwise remain untold. These stories challenge stereotypes and offer a more nuanced understanding of places and people frequently marginalized or misunderstood in mainstream media.
Innovative Storytelling Techniques
Filmmakers exploring small town stories often employ innovative storytelling techniques to capture the essence of these communities. From unique cinematography that highlights the natural beauty of rural landscapes to narratives that weave together the folklore and traditions of a place, these films push the boundaries of conventional storytelling.
Economic Impact on Small Towns
Interestingly, films set in small towns can have a positive economic impact on the locations where they are shot. They bring attention to lesser-known areas, potentially boosting tourism and local business. This symbiotic relationship between filmmaking and location benefits the art of cinema and the communities that inspire it.
Fostering Community and Connection
Small town stories often center around community, belonging, and connection themes. These universal themes resonate widely, reminding viewers of the importance of human connections and the power of community, regardless of the setting. Films highlighting these aspects can foster a sense of unity and understanding among audiences.
Challenging Mainstream Norms
By bringing small town narratives to the forefront, modern films challenge mainstream norms and expand what is considered worthy of cinematic exploration. This shift not only diversifies the stories seen on screen but also challenges audiences to question and expand their perspectives.
The Future of Small Town Stories in Cinema
As the film industry continues to evolve, the importance of small town stories remains undeniable. These narratives counterbalance the urban-centric tales that dominate cinema, providing a refreshing change of pace and depth. The continued interest in small town stories signifies a broader desire for films that reflect the full spectrum of human experience, promising a future of cinema that is more inclusive, diverse, and representative of our world.
Incorporating small town stories profoundly changes the landscape of modern films. These narratives bring depth, diversity, and authenticity to cinema, challenging conventional storytelling and offering audiences new perspectives on the world.
As filmmakers continue to explore the rich tapestry of life in small communities, we can expect to see a broader, more inclusive representation of human experiences on screen. The shift towards these stories reflects a changing industry and society, which values the stories of all its members, regardless of where they live.
Entertainment
Three True-Crime Documentaries Coming to Netflix in April 2024
Time to snuggle with a cozy blanket and some popcorns!
Netflix has a wide range of TV shows and movies.
Alongside them, Netflix also hosts a lot of documentaries. It has a wide range of documentaries but the true-crime genre is the one that has its audience sitting on the edge of their seats.
There are various true-crime documentaries and docuseries on the platform, including American Nightmare, Girl in the Picture, Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, Tiger King, and Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer, among others.
In April 2024, various documentaries and docuseries are coming to Netflix. However, the three most anticipated true-crime shows are — What Jennifer Did, Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer, and Files of the Unexplained.
Here is all we know about it.
‘What Jennifer Did’
What Jennifer Did is an upcoming documentary directed by Jenny Popplewell, the creator of another famous Netflix documentary, American Murder: The Family Next Door.
What Jennifer Did digs into the frightening story of Jennifer Pan, who plotted to murder her parents. The crime, disguised as a heist gone wrong, unravels through police interrogation film and interviews, showing Pan’s network of lies leading up to the incident.
Pan is a Canadian woman who was convicted of a 2010 kill-for-hire attack on her parents, which killed her mother and injured her father. The crime occurred at the Pan house in Unionville, Markham, Ontario, in the Greater Toronto Area.
According to her exact account, several gunmen entered the house, forcefully retrained her and her parents, then shot them. Her father, Huei Hann, was sent to the hospital, and her mother, Bich Ha, died instantaneously.
A whole new image appears as the law enforcement personnel piece together the facts. Pan plotted the entire operation with her drug dealer boyfriend, Daniel Wong, whom her parents had forbidden her from dating.
This motivated her to seek his help and devise a plan to murder her parents. This threatening notion was carried out in the form of a burglary, with Pan as the victim. The documentary will also concentrate on her arrest and the legal processes.
What Jennifer Did will be released on April 10, 2024.
‘Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer’
As the name of the documentary suggests, Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer is based on true events that occurred in Berlin. The series examines the case of several odd and unusual killings.
In 2012, three guys were murdered and robbed in Berlin after being unintentionally drugged. While the murderer was called ‘The Darkroom Murderer’ at the time, just one occurred in a dark room at a homosexual bar in Berlin.
‘Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer’ will be released on April 3, 2024. (Source: Netflix)
However, the murderer did look for guys in and around the city’s party scene to prey on victims. Only when one of his targets survived his attack and the assassin attempted to purchase a train ticket with one of the deceased men’s credit cards did the inquiry begin to narrow.
Jan Zabeil and Caroline Schaper directed this true crime show and Netflix will begin streaming the series on April 3, 2024.
‘Files of the Unexplained’
Files of the Unexplained is an upcoming terrifying eight-episode docu-series that talks about strange encounters, weird disappearances, disturbing incidents, the mystery of mutilated feet washing up, and more.
This investigative documentary series examines genuine stories that defy explanations and talk about witnessing weird encounters and strange events.
Files of the Unexplained kind of dives into a similar area as its previous documentaries like Unsolved Mysteries, Haunted, and 28 Days Haunted. According to its plot on Netflix, the series is described as “Eerie encounters, bizarre disappearances, haunting events, and more perplexing phenomena are explored in this chilling investigative docuseries.”
The docuseries will be released on April 3, 2024.
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