A group of people gathers around the TV set, their eyes glued to the screen. They cheer, they gasp and they drop their jaws in awe as they watch the delivery of an almost-perfect leap. No, they’re not watching the 2012 London Olympics, but they are watching this summer’s next most highly anticipated event: Shark Week.
For those of you who don’t know what Shark Week is (or for those of you who have been living under a rock), it’s an annual television event presented by the Discovery Channel. This weeklong series features new shows nightly, all dedicated to the sharp-toothed beasts. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Shark Week has undoubtedly increased in popularity since its inception and is now broadcasted in more than 27 different countries.
No longer is Discovery Channel home to the nerds and science whizzes — people from all walks of life seem to enjoy the bone-crushing, blood-gushing awesomeness that is Shark Week. The shows incorporated into Shark Week are incredibly diverse and range from designing and creating a replica of Megalodon, history’s largest shark, to exploring the societal impact of the movie “Jaws.” Though each year offers new and exciting shows, the favorite among viewers appears to remain the same: “Air Jaws.”
The “Air Jaws” series has been an integral part of Shark Week during the last several years. Showcasing the unbelievable jumping ability of great white sharks, “Air Jaws” is always the highlight of Shark Week. This year’s “Air Jaws” episode, titled “Air Jaws Apocalypse,” features some of the most breathtaking footage to date. The search for a specific shark, a 14-foot monster named Colossus, makes “Air Jaws Apocalypse” particularly captivating. Viewers will find themselves fully engaged in the journey of author and shark expert Chris Fallows and natural history producer Jeff Kurr, two men who are determined to learn more about South Africa’s population of great whites.
Although Discovery Channel’s Shark Week began as a small event to raise awareness of the depleting shark population and promote respect for the creatures, it has quickly become a pop culture phenomenon and a staple of summer, achieving a near-holiday status. Shark Week is highly recommended every year, but this year’s 25th anniversary edition was extra special, and viewers are encouraged to relive all of the action either On Demand or online.