It is our favorite time of the year here at Sharkophile.com — Shark Week on Discovery Channel. Personally, we think it should be declared a national holiday. The channel’s annual ode to the apex predator, will air July 28 through August 4.
Shark Week 2019 will air over 20 hours of new shark-themed programming Featuring nearly two dozen of the world’s most respected marine biologists and science institutions performing innovative shark research technology while offering compelling insight on some of the most unique shark species in the world. This year’s ode to the ocean’s apex predator, now in its 31st season, “will take viewers to the depths of the ocean in search of Deep Blue, employ the first ‘drone-towed’ seal decoy, and test some of the most exciting, cutting-edge technology for shark detecting surveillance.”
Some of this year’s programming highlights include “Shark Trip: Eat. Prey. Chum.” hosted by comedian Rob Riggle. Riggle, who will also host Discovery’s “Shark After Dark,” will surprise his friends Anthony Anderson, Adam Devine, Joel McHale and Damon Wayans Jr. with the ultimate shark-themed adventure much as he did in last year’s top-rated show “Shaq Does Shark Week.”
“I’m a huge Shark Week fan and can’t wait to dive back into the water with the oceans most magnificent creatures. It’s going to be an epic ‘Shark Trip’ with some of my best buddies,” Riggle said of the hour-long show that will premiere on Sunday at 9 p.m..
Other shows will include specials like “Andrew Mayne: Ghost Diver,” which will feature illusionist Andrew Mayne, “Sharks of the Badlands,” which will explore the sharks of New Zealand and the latest iteration of the “Monster Mako” series, which was filmed off the coast of Australia. This year’s slate of shark-centric documentaries will also include sequels to fan favorite episodes such as Great White Abyss II and Air Jaws’ Revenge.
This year will also feature a Shark Week first in “Capsized: Blood in the Water,” the franchise’s first-ever full length feature film starring Josh Duhamel, Tyler Blackburn, and Rebekah Graf. The film is based on actual events off the coast of Florida in 1982.
SHARK WEEK 2019 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE:
Expedition Unknown: Megalodon – Sunday, July 28 at 8PM ET/PT
Five times bigger than a T. Rex, with jaws capable of crushing a tank, the Megalodon was the ultimate apex predator. This 60-ton mega-shark ruled the world’s oceans for nearly 20 million years. Then, suddenly, it vanished. So how did the king of the deep lose his throne? Paleontologists are using fossilized teeth – the only surviving evidence of the Megalodon – to take a bite out of the mystery of its disappearance. These prehistoric dental records may hold the key to when this monster shark went extinct and why. Meanwhile, marine biologists are studying the Megalodon’s modern shark descendants to understand what caused its demise. What they’ve uncovered is a deep sea “Game of Thrones” that pitted one species against another in a battle for dominance. Josh is diving into shark-infested waters to unravel one of the oceans greatest mysteries – what happened to the mighty Meg?
Shark Trip: Eat. Prey. Chum. – Sunday, July 28 at 9PM ET/PT
From Will Packer, the record-breaking Producer of “Girls Trip” comes the ultimate “Shark Trip”. Rob Riggle is back and campaigning for his own Shark Week special – but he’ll only get one if he can find a way to bring along some of his celebrity friends and get them to swim with sharks. The trip is booked, the bags are packed, and the adventure is ready to begin – whether or not his friends realize what they’ve signed up for.
Sharks of the Badlands – Monday, July 29 at 8PM ET/PT
White sharks are infiltrating the waters off Cape Cod. This year alone a record 150 white sharks were recorded off the coast, and for the first time in 80 years, a white shark attack turned fatal. Greg Skomal teams up with Andy Casagrande and shark expert Kina Scollay in New Zealand to test the most exciting, cutting-edge new technology for shark detecting surveillance. If all goes well, they hope to bring it back to Cape Cod to make the water safe again.
Legend of Deep Blue – Monday, July 29 at 9PM ET/PT
Shark experts Brandon McMillan and Jimi Partington head back to Guadalupe Island to search the depths for Deep Blue. Believed to be the largest great white shark in the world, Deep Blue, measures almost 21 feet long and over 2 and a half tons. If they can locate her, they might be able to shed some light on the mysteries of these deep-sea mega sharks.
The Sharks of Headstone Hell – Monday, July 29 at 10PM ET/PT
In the middle of the South Pacific lies a tiny speck of land called Norfolk Island. At the end of the 18th century, it was the site of one of the harshest penal colonies on Earth. But today, it is the gathering spot of some of the largest tiger sharks on earth… and an extraordinary event – full size animal carcasses tossed into the sea by the present-day islanders. Has this practice completely altered the behavior of these massive sharks and made shark attacks on humans more likely when this beef buffet is outlawed? Shark scientist Riley Elliott is on a quest to find out.
Sharkwrecked: Crash Landing –Tuesday, July 30 at 8PM ET/PT
Ramping up the adrenaline levels for SHARKWRECKED: CRASH LANDING, Paul de Gelder & James Glancy bail out of an aircraft at 3500ft to experience first-hand what it’s like to crash land into some of the world’s most remote and shark infested waters. This time the location is Palau in the Pacific, renowned for its rich shark life and many plane wrecks.
Laws of Jaws: Dangerous Waters – Tuesday, July 30 at 9PM ET/PT
You asked for more, you got it! Back by popular demand, hosts Paul de Gelder, Mike Dornellas, Nick LeBeouf, and Jamin Martinelli will put themselves in harm’s way as they reenact 5 recent shark attacks to find out how things could have ended differently. What do you do if you’re surrounded by human or fish blood? Could the electronics we’re bringing into the water be triggering attacks? Our hosts will attempt to answer these questions and more as they stage the most daring shark experiments ever attempted in search of answers. No cages are allowed.
Air Jaws Strikes Back – Tuesday, July 30 at 10PM ET/PT
Air Jaws returns as shark expert Chris Fallows leads a team of researchers into a newly discovered shark vs. seal battleground at the base of a 200-foot cliff. Here a deadly game of life and death plays out in waist deep water. As the great whites stalk the seal colony, the seals have learned to team up and mount counter attacks against the predators. And for the first time, these extraordinary predatory events are captured in their entirety by the researchers.
Extinct or Alive: The Lost Shark – Wednesday, July 31 at 8PM ET/PT
Wildlife biologist and animal tracker Forrest Galante embarks on a mission to the Indian Ocean to search for the supposedly extinct Pondicherry shark. This rare species was last seen in the 1970s, but recent photos of unidentified sharks around Sri Lanka and the Maldives lead many to believe it could still be alive. Along with his wife Jessica, a team of wildlife experts and filmmakers, Forrest dives into an untamed wilderness to track down this amazing shark. But because of its ability to osmoregulate, meaning it can swim in fresh or saltwater, Forrest must cover tons of ground – including deep ocean, shallow coral reefs, underwater caves, and even jungle rivers. Armed with cutting edge technology including a 3D structure scanner and genetic testing, Forrest’s team leaves no stone unturned in their quest to validate whether or not the photos of a strange shark swimming in the Indian Ocean are Pondicherry. If they can prove it’s still alive, it will be removed off the extinct species list, and they can redouble their efforts to study and protect the Pondicherry’s ongoing existence.
Capsized: Blood in the Water – Wednesday, July 31 at 9PM ET/PT
Based on the harrowing true story of an October 1982 shark encounter. After a yacht bound for Florida capsizes during an unexpected storm, its crew is left to drift for days in the chilling waters of the Atlantic where they become prey to a group of tiger sharks. With the hope of rescue dwindling, the crew must do everything in their power to survive as the sharks continue to hunt them. Starring Josh Duhamel, Tyler Blackburn, Rebekah Graf, Beau Garrett, and Josh Close.
Return to Shark Island – Thursday, August 1 at 8PM ET/PT
With the help of shark scientist Dr. Craig O’Connell, and the confirmed cooperation of Réunion’s newly established CRA Shark Protection Program, RETURN TO SHARK ISLAND investigates the ongoing shark crisis that is threatening to bring this former island paradise to its knees and sets out to answer the critical questions: Have the islanders’ worst fears come true? Is this so-called ‘spike’ in shark attacks now the new normal? Why have Bull sharks, rarely seen before 2011 on the populous west coast of the island, now apparently made it their home and hunting ground? Why despite all the measures taken by the authorities are people still dying and crucially, what, if anything, can be done about it?
Great White Kill Zone: Guadalupe – Thursday, August 1 at 9PM ET/PT
150 miles off the coast of Baja, California, Guadalupe Island is a notorious hot spot for great white sharks. Here to target the abundant seal population, great whites are silent hunters, stalking their prey and killing with a surprise attack. But the waters surrounding Guadalupe Island are crystal clear. So how do they do it? At other white shark hot spots around the world there is always a kill zone – a place where more predation events occur. But here in Guadalupe, an attack has never been witnessed. Now, a team of experts led by Dr. Yannis Papastamatiou and Melissa Marquez, are setting out to record never before seen white shark hunting behaviors. With the help of cutting-edge technology and three kinds of specialist cameras, they aim to discover the location of the Guadalupe Kill Zone.
Monster Mako: Perfect Predator – Thursday, August 1 at 10PM ET/PT
One of Shark Week’s most exciting missions over the years has been the search for Granders, the largest Makos in the world. Joe Romeiro and Keith Poe revisit the most exciting events and discoveries from Monster Mako and Return of the Monster Mako all leading up to brand new footage captured off the coast of California of rare Mako behavior. Produced by Discovery Creative and Production.
Isle of Jaws: Blood Brothers – Friday, August 2 at 8PM ET/PT
An intrepid team of shark explorers ventures out for a third year to the famed Isle of Jaws, a remote island off the West Australian coast. Two great white shark males, believed to be brothers, are at the heart of an intriguing mystery –do these animals recognize, and prefer to live and hunt with, a blood relative? The team endures a runaway submersible, face-to-jaws encounters, and deploys a mini-ROV camera dubbed “The Guppy” that provides some of the most chilling close-up visuals yet. By using the latest in tracking technology, a major mystery is finally solved.
Andrew Mayne: Ghost Diver – Friday, August 2 at 9PM ET/PT
Master illusionist, author and inventor Andrew Mayne is going to attempt to create the first-of-its-kind SHARK SUIT to overcome the senses of a great white shark and make him invisible to the world’s most perfect predator… He teams up with underwater cameraman Andy Casagrande and Dr. Neil Hammerschlag on a global quest to uncover the power of the great white’s predation senses – all to prepare him for the ultimate test – putting himself in the middle of a great white frenzy in Australia. Will it work? Andrew’s life depends on it. Produced by Anomaly Entertainment.
I Was Prey: Shark Week – Friday, August 2 at 10 PM ET/PT
In the Pacific Ocean, danger lurks just below the surface. Along the sundrenched coast of Southern California, single mother Leeanne Ericson is enjoying a relaxing day at the beach when she’s confronted with her worst nightmare – a giant great white shark that grabs her leg and drags her under the water. Off the rugged northern coast of Hawaii, spearfisherman Braxton Rocha is ambushed by a tiger shark so massive it could easily swallow him whole. In the wake of these vicious attacks, both victims must fight through their injuries and the unforgiving elements to reach safety before it’s too late.
Sharks Gone Wild 2 – Saturday, August 3 at 8PM ET/PT
Discover everything that has happened in the world of sharks this year – the unbelievable viral videos, the biggest news stories, and the latest cutting-edge shark science.
Shark Week Immersion – Saturday, August 3 at 9PM ET/PT
Rooster Teeth tackles Shark Week as the Immersion crew answers a wide range of shark-fueled questions by taking some of the most iconic shark moments from pop culture history and bringing them to real life.
MORE WAYS TO WATCH AND FOLLOW
If you don’t have a subscription that provides live broadcast through cable or satellite and were wondering how to stream or follow along with this year’s , there are several options. Hulu will stream select episodes along with previous seasons. Click here to start a free trial.
If you have a subscription but are trying to watch while away from your house, every episode will be available to stream live on Discovery.com and the Discovery Go app. The Daily Bite, available exclusively on the Go app, will offer a daily dive into the year’s most exciting developments in shark science and sightings with expert commentary from an ocean of SHARK WEEK experts. Audiences will also get access to an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at SHARK WEEK’s first feature-length film, ‘Capsized: Blood in the Water’, featuring interviews from the cast, crew, and a real-life survivor. Rounding out the Discovery GO Originals offering, SHARK WEEK will go behind the scenes with YouTuber and former NASA engineer Mark Rober to test the theory if sharks can really sense blood from great distances.
Discover will also continue its tradition of delivering original content through its digital and social media platforms. Last year, Shark Week-related content reached 48 million users across Facebook and Instagram. Leading up to and during SHARK WEEK, Discovery Channel presents Shark News. Fans who follow SHARK WEEK on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter will receive daily video updates featuring the planet’s most incredible shark footage with commentary from top tier shark experts. Join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #SharkWeek and follow SHARK WEEK on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sharkweek, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sharkweek/, and Twitter https://twitter.com/sharkweek.
Throughout Shark Week, Sharkophile.com will have exclusive stories, videos and photos throughout Shark Week, including interviews with a variety of shark experts and behind-the-scenes looks at the various programs. Click here for the latest Shark Week-related stories.
Follow along with Sharkophile on Twitter and Instagram to join the Shark Week conversation, and don’t forget to like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Sharkophile for the latest news and videos.
SHARK WEEK ESSENTIALS
Does the sight of mutilated seal carcasses make you hungry? You are going to need a special bowl for all those Shark Week snacks that you will be consuming.
For a delicious Shark Week-inspired cocktail, try out this ‘Mad Mako’ from our friends at SunnySweetDays.com.
Of course, no Shark Week is complete with out the official Old Hitler the “Monster Hammerhead” short-sleeve performance fishing shirt, available in the official Sharkophile apparel store. Check out our full selection of shirts available here. Proceeds from every shirt sold help support our mission to provide the latest shark-related news, photos and videos.
For a behind the scenes look at how the legend of Old Hitler became one of the most-viewed Shark Week episodes of all time, click here.
