or


[03/14/19 - 07:57 AM]
Enter the Fast and Deadly Track of the Circus Maximus in "Rome's Chariot Superstar"
The two-part special premieres Sunday, April 21 on Smithsonian Channel.

[via press release from Smithsonian Channel]

ENTER THE FAST AND DEADLY TRACK OF THE CIRCUS MAXIMUS IN

"ROME'S CHARIOT SUPERSTAR"

TWO-HOUR SPECIAL PREMIERES SUNDAY, APRIL 21 AT 8PM ET/PT ON SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL(TM)

NEW YORK - March 14, 2019 - With new discoveries from the world of Roman chariot racing, ROME'S CHARIOT SUPERSTAR pieces together an epic view of the lost ancient sport - the most popular and longest-lived form of mass entertainment in the Roman world, yet also the most lethal. Smithsonian Channel's new two-hour special offers a detailed account of the life of Flavius Scorpus, a real chariot star, and the racing contests he and other champions entered in the famed Circus Maximus arena. Drawing from expert knowledge, archeological evidence and written records, ROME'S CHARIOT SUPERSTAR rebuilds the world of chariot racing and its stars in graphic detail. The special premieres Sunday, April 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

ROME'S CHARIOT SUPERSTAR focuses on the end of the first century AD, when the race-mad Roman emperor Domitian presided over one of the most popular and lucrative eras in sports history. Scorpus rose from a slave to become the charioteer all-star of his age, winning an astonishing 2,048 races and earning the modern equivalent of $15 billion in a decade. When he died, he was just 26 years old. Dramatic reconstruction brings to life the noise, the smell and the excitement of audiences turning up to see their favorite team - the gambling, the fanatical support and, above all, the adrenaline-fuelled nine minutes of each race from start to finish.

The first part, FROM SLAVE TO STAR, examines how Scorpus rose to become one of the greatest chariot racers of all time. He likely grew up on a stud farm or stables and chose in his mid-teens to try to make it as a charioteer - or die trying. Chariot racing at the time was dominated by four commercial "factions," which like modern sports teams had scouts throughout the Empire looking for talent. By his late teens, Scorpus would have been testing his skills in the Roman equivalent of the minor leagues.

In the second hour, CIRCUS MAXIMUS, Scorpus takes his place on chariot racing's greatest stage. The famed Roman arena held audiences topping 150,000 - more than three times the capacity of Yankee Stadium. As Sinclair Bell of Northern Illinois University puts it, "the circus games weren't just athletic competitions, or political stagecraft or a religious ritual. They were all three wrapped into one spectacular package." This half deconstructs not just how the races were won and lost, but how the spectacle was used by the unpopular Emperor to keep his subjects complacent.

The two-part special uses rare evidence and experimental archaeology to reveal the world of chariot racing and bring the sport vividly back to life, traveling to the great sites of Carthage, Caesarea and all across the Roman Empire. Expert coachbuilder Robert Hurford uses a 2,000-year-old Roman bronze toy to build a replica chariot to be tested by race historian Mike Loades. Loades thunders around a circuit with four horses pulling a Roman chariot at maximum speed with ancient-style harnesses to rediscover the incredible skills required, the danger involved and the sheer spectacle created on the track.

ROME'S CHARIOT SUPERSTAR is produced by Lion Television Limited and Smithsonian Networks in association with ZDF, Arte and Channel 4. Executive producers for Lion Television are Bill Locke and Richard Bradley. Charles Poe and David Royle serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel(TM), owned by Smithsonian Networks(TM), a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where curiosity lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing factual entertainment, available in HD and 4K Ultra HD across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel, winner of Emmy(R) and Peabody awards for its programming, combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME(R) with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, travel, history, science, nature and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, America in Color, The Lost Tapes, Mighty Ships, Million Dollar American Princesses, The Pacific War in Color and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include The Coronation, The Mountain Lion and Me, Earth from Outer Space and Titanoboa: Monster Snake. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Channel Plus(TM), a subscription video streaming service delivering over a thousand hours of the Channel's stunning and diverse library of documentaries and series in HD and 4K Ultra HD. Smithsonian Channel is also available internationally in Canada, Singapore, Latin America and the UK. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.





  [march 2019]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[11/25/24 - 02:49 PM]
Hallmark's Critically Acclaimed, Hit Series "The Way Home" Jumps Back Into the Pond When Season 3 Premieres January 2, Exclusively on Hallmark+
Season three picks up where season two left off - with Kat (Chyler Leigh) and her brother Jacob (Spencer Macpherson), who went missing more than two decades ago at the age of eight and is now an adult, poised to walk into the Landry home to an unsuspecting Del (Andie MacDowell).

[11/25/24 - 12:30 PM]
"The Curious Case of Natalia Grace" Returns This January for the Final Chapter
"The Final Chapter" offers a conclusion to Natalia's story as she strives for healing and resolution in her tumultuous journey filled with decades of unexpected twists and turns.

[11/25/24 - 12:00 PM]
Matthew Broderick and Son James Wilkie Broderick to Guest Star on CBS' "Elsbeth" in 2025
This will be the first time the father and son share the screen together.

[11/25/24 - 11:00 AM]
Peacock's "Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker Tapes" Exposes the Troubled Man Behind the Dark Myth Through Firsthand Recordings and Accounts from Some of the Women Who Knew Him Best
Collected from more than 25 hours of audio recordings - most of which have never been heard before - and including revealing interviews with his family, friends and wife, the series explores the dark forces that led Ramirez to become the infamous Night Stalker.

[11/25/24 - 10:32 AM]
Video: Tom Hanks Narrates an Extraordinary Journey - "The Americas" - NBC
Narrated by Academy Award winner Tom Hanks comes the extraordinary journey of Earth's great supercontinent.

[11/25/24 - 10:30 AM]
Epic Landmark Natural History Series "Asia" Set to Premiere Saturday, January 25 on BBC America and AMC+
Presented by renowned naturalist and three-time Emmy Award-winner Sir David Attenborough, the cinematic series explores each corner of this remarkable part of our planet and journeys through Asia's most stunning landscapes, uncovering stories of extraordinary unseen animal behavior.

[11/25/24 - 10:20 AM]
AMC Networks' Launches Inaugural "Celebrating Indigenous Stories" Collection on AMC+
Also included in the special collection, and as part of the company's "Future of Film" initiative, which partners with indie film festivals that feature emerging talent from historically excluded communities, is the company's first-ever "Indigenous Rising Stars" collection.

[11/25/24 - 09:02 AM]
MTV's "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" Rings in the New Year with All-New Episodes Starting Tuesday, January 7 at 8PM ET/PT
MTV today announced the return of the popular docuseries, bringing viewers more drama, music, and the personal stories that keep fans hooked.

[11/25/24 - 09:00 AM]
Final Season of "Blue Bloods" to Conclude on Friday, Dec. 13 with Two Remaining Episodes
Amanda Kloots and Edward James Olmos will guest star in the final installments.

[11/25/24 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases the First-Look Teaser for "Beast Games" Competition Series
The series is set to debut weekly on Thursday, December 19 on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[11/25/24 - 08:00 AM]
Legendary Artist, Actor, Producer, Author and Entrepreneur Queen Latifah to Host "The 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors" to Be Broadcast Sunday, Dec. 22 on CBS
The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes and celebrates individuals whose unique contributions have shaped the way we see ourselves, each other and our world.

[11/25/24 - 07:16 AM]
Stream Max Today for 70% Off
This limited time deal is available now through Monday, December 2 for both new and returning subscribers on Max.com, Apple, Google Play, Roku, Samsung, and Xumo, and for new Max customers only on Amazon Fire TV.

[11/25/24 - 07:05 AM]
2024 Billboard Music Awards to Air on December 12 in First-of-Its-Kind Multi-Platform Viewing Experience Across FOX, Paramount+ and Amazon's Fire TV Channels
Hosted by actress and comedian Michelle Buteau, the 2024 BBMAs presented by Marriott Bonvoy airs on Thursday, December 12 at 8:00pm ET/PT on FOX and Fire TV Channels, and on-demand on Paramount+, with performances also rolling out across Billboard.com, and via BBMAs and Billboard social channels.

[11/25/24 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Missing You" - Official Trailer - Netflix
What would you do if your ex disappeared and came back into your life after 11 years? Your next Harlan Coben New Year's Day watch is almost here.

[11/25/24 - 07:01 AM]
5&2 Studios Announces Theatrical Debut of "The Chosen: Last Supper" (Season 5) on March 27, 2025 and Unveils First Look Trailer
Later in 2025, the season will make its streaming debut.