Join Jane Goodall, Patricia Arquette & Robby Romero And the Animals of the Serengeti As Part Of Earth Day Programming- Updated

Tom Tapp
·6 min read

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UPDATED: Networks and streamers are setting special programming to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22. We’ll be updating as more information comes in, so refresh for the latest.

National Geographic has programmed an entire day of special Earth Day programming on April 22, culminating with two Nat Geo specials.

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Jane Goodall: The Hope, featuring the legendary Dr. Jane Goodall, follows her throughout her travels, capturing her commitment and determination to inspire others. Premiering April 22, at 9/8c on Nat Geo and Nat Geo Wild. Born Wild: The Next Generation is produced in tandem with ABC News and hosted by Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts. It features National Geographic Explorers and photographers, along with Chris Hemsworth and leading ABC News anchors and correspondents who present stories “taking viewers on a journey into the most fascinating, breathtaking environments around the world to witness and celebrate the diversity and resilience of charismatic baby animals, their families and habitats”. Premieres April 22, at 8/7c on Nat Geo and Nat Geo Wild.

Hulu is launching an Earth Day collection in celebration of the 50th anniversary that will be live for all viewers from April 18th-April 22nd. Commemorative programming will include March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step, What on Earth?, Jane, How the Earth Works, Dr. Seuss: The Lorax, The Zoo, The Biggest Little Farm, Island Earth, Saving Jaws, Above and Beyond: NASA’s Journey to Tomorrow, The Riot and the Dance: Earth, Endlings and Guardians of the Amazon.

Patricia Arquette and Robby Romero will discuss climate change as part of Earth Day Live, a three-day streaming event commemorating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

Romero and Arquette will talk about their experiences at Standing Rock, and Arquette’s nonprofit organization GiveLove’s current projects to provide better access to clean water and safe sanitation in high-need and Indigenous communities in Kenya and Uganda.

Earth Day Live will be live from 9 am to 9 pm ET on April 22, 23 and 24 at http://www.earthdaylive2020.org and accessible on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Twitch.

Apple has premiered its new animated short film Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth, narrated by Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep and starring Chris O’Dowd, Jacob Tremblay and Ruth Negga. The short is currently streaming exclusively on Apple TV+. In the film, based on Oliver Jeffers bestselling book, a precocious 7-year-old learns about the wonders of the planet from his parents over the course of Earth Day.

The short film, which hails from Studio AKA, is written by Philip Hunt (Ah Pook is Here) and Luke Matheny (God of Love); directed by Hunt, and executive produced by Sue Goffe (A Morning Stroll), Hunt and Jeffers. Alex Somers (How to Train Your Dragon) is the music composer.

A clip follows below.

BBC America kicks off four days of special programming on Monday, April 20 with a marathon of the original Planet Earth series, presented by Emmy winner David Attenborough. It begins at 1pm/12c and continues through 11am/10c Tuesday, April 21. It will be followed by a Blue Planet II marathon beginning at 3 pm, April 21.

The network will premiere Best of Seven Worlds, One Planet on Tuesday, April 21 at 8pm/7c, the latest series from BBC Studios Natural History Unit, narrated by Attenborough. On Wednesday, April 22 BBCA will air a Planet Earth II marathon, a series which explores the islands, mountains, jungles, grasslands, deserts and cities of the world, also narrated by Attenborough.

Killing Eve‘s Sandra Oh will narrate the documentary She Walks With Apes on Wednesday, April 22 at 9pm/8c. The documentary is the epic story of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Biruté Galdikas who embarked on lifelong journeys to live with humanity’s closest living relatives, the Great Apes.

The programming will conclude with Dynasties 12-Hour marathon beginning Thursday, April 23 at 6pm/5c. Hosted by Attenborough and executive produced by Mike Gunton (Planet Earth II), Dynasties follows five of the world’s most celebrated but endangered animals, as they do whatever it takes to survive and protect the next generation.

BBC America also will offer free nature documentaries on BBCAmerica.com and the BBCA App for the month of April, including First Steps, New England, Hidden World, and Attenborough and the Giant Elephant, along with nature series on demand, and animal and nature video clips on WonderstruckTV.com

On April 22, Disney Channel has daylong programming scheduled beginning at 2 PM EDT, including a new National Geographic special titled Born Wild: The Next Generation, the Disneynature films Monkey Kingdom and Penguins, and environment-themed episodes of series Bunk’d, Big City Greens, Coop and Cami Ask the World, Raven’s Home and Sydney to the Max.

Disney Junior will spotlight themed episodes of Mira, Royal Detective, Mickey Mouse Mixed-Up Adventures, T.O.T.S., Muppet Babies and Puppy Dog Pals. The channel also will present on-air messages introducing preschoolers to Earth Day themes such as taking care of animals and appreciating the world around them.

Disney XD will offer viewers a full-day marathon of the animated series Amphibia, followed by a presentation of the Disneynature film Born in China.

Disney Channel programming will include specially-produced interstitial segments produced in collaboration with National Geographic. Filmed last month on location, the interstitials will take viewers on adventures with animals such as elephants, tigers and gorillas and help them learn about the importance of protecting wildlife.

Discovery Channel will premiere The Great Global Cleanup featuring Zac Efron and and social media personality Zach King, who serves as special host filmmaker. Produced in association with Earth Day Network, the special features celebrities from the worlds of entertainment and sports spotlighting the efforts of the next generation of individuals dedicating themselves to cleaning up the planet.

The network will also re-air the six-part series, Serengeti. Filmed on the plains of Tanzania in 2019, the series explores one of the most pristine and unspoiled corners of Africa. Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o narrates as filmmakers follow African wildlife including lions, zebras, baboons and cheetahs over the course of a year. Created and produced by Emmy-winner Simon Fuller (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance), Serengeti is directed and produced by Emmy-winning wildlife filmmaker John Downer (Penguin: Spy in The Huddle). Episodes air April 22 starting at 9:00am ET/PT.

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