Before we “Googled,” “Twittered” or “YouTubed;” before we rode Segways (remember those?) or drove hybrid cars; and before NASA landed its first rover on Mars, DAILY PLANET was leading the way. On Sunday, October 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Discovery Channel, the world’s first and only nightly science and technology show celebrates an incredible 15 years with DAILY PLANET’S GREATEST SHOW EVER. Filmed with a live audience at the Ontario Science Centre* in Toronto with hosts Jay Ingram and Ziya Tong – and airing just days before Ingram’s new book, Daily Planet: The Ultimate Book of Everyday Science, hits the shelves on October 12 – DAILY PLANET’S GREATEST SHOW EVER is a jam-packed extravaganza of new stories, best moments from the vault, celebrity guests and bold make-it-or-break-it experiments.
“Television colleagues from around the world said we were crazy – that no one would watch and that we’d run out of ideas. Well, they were all wrong,” said Paul Lewis, Discovery Channel’s President and General Manager, and DAILY PLANET’s first Executive Producer (under its former name, @discovery.ca). “We have hit a remarkable TV milestone. And we’ve been able to do it because of the tireless creativity and commitment of the team, and the enthusiasm and the involvement of some of the greatest scientists and innovators in Canada and on the planet.”
With a nod to some of DAILY PLANET’s most captivating and ground-breaking moments and stories from the last 15 years – a staggering 3,000 episodes! – this two-hour celebration is a look forward focusing on what the show has always done best: capturing the curiosity and drive that inspire today’s scientists and innovators to make our lives – and our “Planet” – better in every way.
And propelling “science” forward? A little friendly competition, of course! Tapping the brightest scientific minds from Vancouver to Halifax, the “Science Centre Showdown” gives five regional science centres across the country a moment in the spotlight to wow viewers with the wonder of science. Each of these five teams – from the Ontario Science Centre (Toronto), Science North (Sudbury), Discovery Centre (Halifax), Telus World of Science (Edmonton) and Science World (Vancouver) – will rise to the DAILY PLANET challenge with an extreme experiment. Before a panel of judges that include past DAILY PLANET hosts Natasha Stillwell and Gill Deacon, and CASH CAB host Adam Growe, the teams are graded on degree of difficulty, presentation, execution and wow factor.
In addition to the “Science Centre Showdown” team endeavours, Physicist Jearl Walker – who’s been known to walk barefoot over hot coals or lie on a bed of nails to vividly illustrate various physics principles – joins the festivities with an eye-popping demonstration or two; and DAILY PLANET contributor Alan Nursall counts on audience participation to execute a big experiment. And for guests preferring to preserve life and limb and showcase their mental acuity instead, DAILY PLANET’S GREATEST SHOW EVER will feature a celebrity edition of its ever-popular “Mindbender” segment.
Get involved with your Planet! The celebration continues online. From @discovery.ca to DAILY PLANET, discoverychannel.ca/greatestshowever highlights the best photos, favourite videos, and first Internet columns from the past 15 years – see just how much the show has evolved from the earliest days of @discovery.ca! Visit the microsite for Ingram’s interview discussing his new book – Daily Planet: The Ultimate Book of Everyday Science – download an excerpt and sign up for your chance to win a copy! DAILY PLANET’S GREATEST SHOW EVER will be available online following the broadcast.