# Am I The Only One Who Started Watching Planet Earth on Discovery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 26, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547 "2007-03-26T14:50:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/1 "2007-03-26T14:50:13Z")
This is a new nature series on Discovery that uses the most advanced cameras to film in High-Def. If you haven’t seen it I think they are replaying it all the time. The one scene where the shark jumps ten feet out of the water is absolutely stunning. ---
**Author:** ![Constant\_Reader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8edcca/32.png) [@Constant\_Reader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Constant_Reader)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/2 "2007-03-26T15:15:33Z")
You’re not the only one. I usually do not have tv envy, but deeply wish I had a large screen HDTV to watch this series on. It was gorgeous and amazing to see the beautiful brutality of nature in such detail. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/3 "2007-03-26T15:22:50Z")
I saw Pole to Pole last night in High Def, and it was jaw-droppingly amazingly gorgeous. Aside from HD, this was an amazing show. I’ve never seen a Great White leaping out of the water like that. I’ve heard of African Hunting Dogs, but never seen them in action. The birds of paradise were amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Labtrash](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/labtrash/32/528_2.png) [@Labtrash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labtrash)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/4 "2007-03-26T15:24:08Z")
DVR’ing this afternoon (they repeat the first 3 eps starting at 4pm, I think). I _lurve_ my HDTV !! ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/5 "2007-03-26T15:30:32Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] The one scene where the shark jumps ten feet out of the water is absolutely stunning. [/QUOTE] From what I understand, the series kinda goes downhill from there, though. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/6 "2007-03-26T15:35:17Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] From what I understand, the series kinda goes downhill from there, though. [/QUOTE] There is a bit of front-loading of OMG! clips in the first part “Pole to Pole”, but it is pretty amazing all the way through. What’s with the Sigourney Weaver commentary? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/7 "2007-03-26T15:37:55Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] From what I understand, the series kinda goes downhill from there, though. [/QUOTE] Simply brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/8 "2007-03-26T16:01:57Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] What’s with the Sigourney Weaver commentary? [/QUOTE] I’m guessing the network thought Americans would be more willing to listen if an American did the commentary. Sir David Attenborough did the narration for the British version, according to my local TV critic. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/9 "2007-03-26T16:11:38Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] I’m guessing the network thought Americans would be more willing to listen if an American did the commentary. Sir David Attenborough did the narration for the British version, according to my local TV critic. [/QUOTE] That makes sense, and Attenborough did do the original commentary. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/10 "2007-03-26T16:16:05Z")
[QUOTE=Zakalwe] Simply brilliant. [/QUOTE] Too brilliant for me, what is he getting at? ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/11 "2007-03-26T16:20:09Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] Too brilliant for me, what is he getting at? [/QUOTE] Shark… jumping… series… Fonzie… I watched the first episode, enjoyed it (although I got a little annoyed with their “NOBODY HAS EVER SHOT THIS BEFORE” bits). I’ve got an HDTV, so it’s looking great… Well, except that I don’t have HDTV Discovery Channel. I’d have to pay extra for that. Still, it’s looking pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/12 "2007-03-26T16:24:14Z")
[QUOTE=mobo85] I’m guessing the network thought Americans would be more willing to listen if an American did the commentary. Sir David Attenborough did the narration for the British version, according to my local TV critic. [/QUOTE] Who I’d much rather listen to than Sigourney. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/13 "2007-03-26T16:38:07Z")
I get it – it was a “jumped the shark” joke! :smack: That \*was \* simply brilliant. Wasn’t there another nature documentary in the 80s, produced & narrated by David Attenborough? I know I had the companion book at one time. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/14 "2007-03-26T16:39:34Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] From what I understand, the series kinda goes downhill from there, though. [/QUOTE] Heh. Heh heh. Heh heh heh heh heh. Heh. (And I set the TiVo immediately upon seeing just a small piece of the promo, while skipping through a commercial break during “Dirty Jobs.” Looks frakking amazing.) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/15 "2007-03-26T16:50:57Z")
[QUOTE=Lightnin’] Shark… jumping… series… Fonzie… [/QUOTE] Well sure, now that I have it completely spelled out for me and explained I get it. D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/16 "2007-03-26T17:02:05Z")
[QUOTE=jsc1953] Wasn’t there another nature documentary in the 80s, produced & narrated by David Attenborough? I know I had the companion book at one time. [/QUOTE] His own series include “Life on Earth”, "The Living Planet"and “The Trials of Life”. He’s also done a set of series focusing on the individual kingdoms including “The Private life of Plants”, “The Life of Birds” etc. He’s doing one last one, about reptiles, and then he’s going to retire. He’s only the narrator of “Planet Earth”, not the main producer, and I think it shows in places. PE is more concerned with gee-whiz visuals, whereas his own stuff has a lot of information and an overarching narrative. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/17 "2007-03-26T17:43:31Z")
I’m watching it too, although I was rather annoyed last night when it got to be my bedtime and I realized it was coming on yet again. Don’t these people know I need my sleep??? That seems like a pretty serious design flaw in the panda, that they have weak milk because they can only eat one thing, and then they have two cubs but can only rear one. I’d be a rotten nature photographer, what with pouring water on thirsty baby elephants and throwing pork chops to hungry snow leopards and bears. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/18 "2007-03-26T20:33:22Z")
I posted a thread on this before (which sank unceremoniously), but if you like this sort of thing, make sure you see _Galapagos_ on the National Geographic HD channel. It’s only 3 hours long, but I think the photography is actually better. ---
**Author:** ![Shawn1767](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/19 "2007-03-26T20:47:08Z")
I started watching it. I saw “Pole to Pole” and recorded the rest. However, the narration seems to be a little corny at times. “Part ballet, part boogie…” bleah… I’d like a little more serious explaining and less cutesy observation. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547/20 "2007-03-26T20:55:26Z")
We caught three hours of it. Fucking incredible. When are the next episodes on? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-the-only-one-who-started-watching-planet-earth-on-discovery/397547.md?page=2)