Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Stars on screen
Back in the water: Discovery has a love affair with the ocean’s greatest toothy predators, and so does its audience. Sharks — killing machines so deadly that they’ve changed very little over millions of years — are the stars of the channel’s annual week-long programming event, and starting Sunday, July 23, they return from the ocean’s darkest and most terrifying depths.
Running until the following Sunday, Discovery’s Shark Week is exactly as advertised: seven days of shark-centric programs and specials that range from wild and entertaining to smart and finformative.
More entertaining than terrifying is Sunday night’s big event, one that already has the metaphorical tongues on social media waggling. “Phelps vs. Shark: The Battle for Ocean Supremacy” is pretty much exactly what its name implies: swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time and holder of several world records, challenges a great white shark to a race to discover who is the true king of the waves.
If that sounds a bit too kitschy, then some of the more educational and informative programming might be in order. Monday night’s “Alien Sharks: Stranger Fins” takes a look at some of the strangest sharks in the water, like long-snouted saw-sharks and deep-dwelling goblin sharks. Friday’s “Lair of the Sawfish” goes even more in depth with the enigmatic creature, consulting with experts who are trying to bring the unique species back from the brink of extinction.
Love them or fear them (or maybe even both), sharks hold a special place in the hearts of so many people. Whether you’re in it to be entertained or informed, Shark Week has toothy programming for everyone, and it kicks off Saturday, July 23, on Discovery.
Behind closed door: Ever wonder, while out away from home, who else has stayed in the same hotel room in which you spend the night? Chances are it was no one super important, but that doesn’t mean that the other guests can’t have interesting stories.
From the minds of Jay and Mark Duplass (“Togetherness”) comes a new anthology series premiering Friday, July 28, on HBO, that takes a stab at answering exactly that question. “Room 104” is a mix of comedy, drama and horror that features a new cast of characters checking in to the titular room at an entirely average American motel in every half-hour episode.
Whether it’s a man in a Santa outfit, a tuxedo-clad man with his dancing shoes on or a pair of Mormon missionaries, Room 104 hosts its fair share of quirky guests. Of course, as an anthology with new characters in each episode, “Room 104” also features a diverse array of actors.
The list of stars set to appear over the series’ run is lengthy but includes some pretty big names. Ellen Geer (“Clear and Present Danger,” 1994), James Van Der Beek (“Dawson’s Creek”), Mae Whitman (“Parenthood”), Nat Wolff (“The Fault in Our Stars,” 2014), Tony Todd (“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” 2009) and Ross Partridge (“Stranger Things”) are just a few of the actors who are set to check in to Room 104 at some point over the next few weeks.
It’s a quirky idea on a channel that’s known for pushing the envelope. Plan a trip to the couch and check in to “Room 104,” premiering Friday, July 28, on HBO.