or


[12/04/18 - 08:19 AM]
Smithsonian Channel(TM) Revisits the Defining Moments That Made an Empire in "Eight Days That Made Rome"
The eight-part landmark series offers a fresh perspective on the building of arguably the most powerful empire of all time - examining how it came to dominate the ancient world and helping us to understand its astonishing success.

[via press release from Smithsonian Channel]

SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL(TM) REVISITS THE DEFINING MOMENTS THAT MADE AN EMPIRE IN

"EIGHT DAYS THAT MADE ROME"

NEW SERIES DEBUTS MONDAY, JANUARY 7 AT 8 PM ET/PT WITH A SPECIAL SNEAK PEAK PREMIERE EPISODE ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 6 AT 9 PM ET/PT

NEW YORK - December 4, 2018 - Presented by award-winning historian, author and broadcaster Bettany Hughes - Oxford University scholar and one of the BBC's 100 Global Women - EIGHT DAYS THAT MADE ROME explores the eight key days that defined the great Roman Empire. To tell the story of Rome, Hughes travels across the region once held by the empire, delving into its rich history and uncovering brand new archeological evidence to bring ancient Rome back to life. The eight-part landmark series offers a fresh perspective on the building of arguably the most powerful empire of all time - examining how it came to dominate the ancient world and helping us to understand its astonishing success. EIGHT DAYS THAT MADE ROME premieres on Monday, January 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT with a special premiere episode sneak peek the night before on Sunday, January 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.

The season premiere, HANNIBAL'S LAST STAND, explores Rome's defeat of the mighty Carthage at the Battle of Zama. The legendary 202 BC battle was a divisive moment for the Roman Empire and the wider ancient world - it marked the end of Carthage's hold over the western Mediterranean and the downfall of the great army led by Carthaginian general Hannibal. Hughes visits a newly discovered battlefield in Spain that offers chilling evidence of Rome's military ferocity under the leadership of Scipio and is able to examine recovered ballista bolts and hobnails from the ancient site - clear proof of a Roman war on Spanish soil.

Subsequent episodes of EIGHT DAYS THAT MADE ROME are:

THE SPARTACUS REVOLT

Premieres Monday, January 7 at 8 p.m.

Hughes looks at the day in 73 BC that gave birth to a legend - the day Spartacus, a Thracian gladiator, broke out of gladiator school and started the most terrifying slave revolt in Roman history. This episode offers a unique window into the horrifying realities of slavery in ancient Rome, examines the context for Spartacus' revolt and shows how his exploits soon attracted a mass following, from slaves and free men alike. Hughes walks in Spartacus' footsteps in southern Italy to better understand his great uprising against Rome and how his bitter fight to the end ensured his name would live on for centuries to come.

CROSSING THE RUBICON

Premieres Monday, January 14 at 8 p.m.

In 49 BC, Julius Caesar led his army across the River Rubicon, ignoring the orders of the Roman Senate and effectively declaring war on his rivals in Rome. Hughes revisits this iconic moment and analyzes the character of Caesar, arguably the most famous character to come from ancient Rome. New theories about Caesar's health shed light on his decision-making, while gruesome finds recently dredged from a Dutch river reveal the true genocidal horror of his conquest of Gaul. Caesar's quest for total power was ended by his gory assassination, and while his killers claimed to be acting to preserve the Republic from tyranny, the result was only more civil war, paving the way for the triumph of dictatorship in the empire.

ROME'S FIRST EMPEROR

Premieres Monday, January 21 at 8 p.m.

Hughes retells the story of Rome's first emperor - Octavian - and his dramatic and bloody rise to power by looking at the day in 32 BC when he stole the secret will of his most dangerous political rival, Marc Antony. Hughes shows how the theft of Antony's will was a move of cunning, brilliant subterfuge that paved Octavian's path to power. When he revealed its shocking contents to the people of Rome - including evidence of Antony's devotion to the Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra - it fatally undermined Antony's popularity, giving Octavian the crucial support of Rome's senate and people in the civil war that followed.

BOUDICA'S REVENGE

Premieres Monday, January 28 at 8 p.m.

Around 60 AD, just a few years after the Roman conquest of Britannia, Roman troops marched into a settlement in what is now East Anglia and proceeded to humiliate the local tribe, the Iceni, and their queen, Boudica. The disgraced queen would lead a revolt that came perilously close to ending the Roman occupation of Britain. Hughes looks at new archaeological finds that testify to the viciousness of Boudica's retribution - evidence of the complete destruction of Colchester and London, where the queen took both Roman invaders and British collaborators as victims for her revenge.

THE DOWNFALL OF NERO

Premieres Monday, February 4 at 8 p.m.

On June 9, 68 AD, Nero, Emperor of Rome, took his own life as troops came to arrest him for crimes against the state. Nero's was the most notorious reign in Rome's history and the last of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Using evidence from across the Roman world, Hughes reveals how Nero's early reign was dominated by one of the most remarkable Roman women - his mother, Agrippina. Brand new conservation work at the Domus Aurea, Nero's Golden House, allows us to appreciate the emperor's extravagance like never before, while clues from Nero's image on coins has led to a radical new theory that his mood was being constantly undermined by a serious illness.

THE COLOSSEUM'S GRAND OPENING

Premieres Monday, February 11 at 8 p.m.

Hughes relives opening day at Rome's Colosseum in 80 AD - the first day of the inaugural games held by Emperor Titus. With the empire near the height of its power, it was a celebration of the completion of the lavish arena, a giant new landmark for the world's greatest city where the people could revel in bloodthirsty entertainments. But why did Romans love to see so much blood? Hughes tackles this question head on, traveling across the Roman world to discover how the ritualized violence of the games played a crucial role in affirming the Romans' sense of who they were and what they had achieved.

THE REBIRTH OF ROME

Premieres Monday, February 18 at 8 p.m.

Hughes looks at the day which marked Rome's symbolic break with its thousand-year pagan past - the moment in 337 AD when Emperor Constantine the Great was baptized as a Christian. Hughes travels to both the old and the "New Rome," as Constantinople was known, to study the complex and contradictory life of this brilliant emperor. Hughes shows how many of Constantine's greatest monuments combine Christian and pagan imagery - almost certainly reflecting the emperor's own religious outlook. She also gets to explore recently discovered traces of Constantine's original palace at his new capital, its entrance now hidden below the shops and cafés of modern Istanbul.

EIGHT DAYS THAT MADE ROME is produced by Adam Bullmore and Matt Robins and directed by Jim Greayer for October Films. Joy Galane 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 Earth(TM), through SN Digital LLC., a subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular 4K original nature and wildlife content. Smithsonian Channel is also available internationally in Canada, Singapore and Latin America. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.





  [december 2018]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· EIGHT DAYS THAT MADE ROME (SMITH)





[11/01/24 - 02:01 PM]
HBO Orders Original Limited Drama "DTF ST. Louis" to Series
The limited series stars and is executive produced by Jason Bateman and David Harbour.

[11/01/24 - 02:00 PM]
Disney Branded Television Greenlights "How We Became the Biggest Band in the World" and "Vampirina" (Working Titles) for Disney Channel and Disney+
The Latter series is based on the books written by Anne Marie Pace and illustrated by LeUyen Pham, and inspired by the Disney Jr. animated series "Vampirina" from Chris Nee.

[11/01/24 - 12:48 PM]
Peacock Renews Long-Running Soap "Days of Our Lives" for 61st Season
The renewal comes on the eve of "Day of Days," the annual fan event at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles being held on Saturday, November 2, where the show's 60th season will be celebrated.

[11/01/24 - 12:01 PM]
Video: "Rhythm + Flow" Season 2 - Cast Announcement - Netflix
The search for the next face of hip-hop moves to Atlanta as global hitmakers Ludacris, Latto and DJ Khaled join the judging panel to mentor fresh talent.

[11/01/24 - 12:00 PM]
60 Years After Debuting on the Network, Christmas Classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Returns to NBC for a Special 75-Minute Telecast on Friday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Said date was the same it premiered in 1964 as part of the "General Electric Fantasy Hour."

[11/01/24 - 11:54 AM]
"High Potential" Continues Linear Dominance as ABC Wins Tuesday 10 p.m. Hour in Total Viewers for First Time in 4 Years
Season to date through week five, "High Potential" stands as ABC's most-watched (10.42 million) new series in six years - since the 2018-2019 season with "The Conners."

[11/01/24 - 10:31 AM]
Video: AMC/AMC+ Debut Riveting First-Look at Season 3 of the Hit Noir Thriller "Dark Winds"
The series will return with all new episodes exclusively on AMC and AMC+ on Sunday, March 9 at 9pm ET/PT.

[11/01/24 - 10:05 AM]
TBS "All I Watch for Christmas" and TNT "Christmas Maximus" Kick Off Holiday Programming on Saturday, November 2
With countless blockbuster films airing over 8-weeks, TNT "Christmas Maximus" takes holiday movies to the next level, serving as a hub for endless seasonal offerings and high-energy classics.

[11/01/24 - 10:03 AM]
'Tis the Season for Holiday Cheer on ABC
Highlights include a new season of "The Great Christmas Light Fight," along with news of a season 13 pickup for 2025.

[11/01/24 - 10:00 AM]
FOX and Gordon Ramsay Count Down to the Super Bowl with "Kitchen Nightmares: Road to Super Bowl LIX"
Gordon Ramsay's iconic series returns with a supercharged two-hour episode, Wednesday, January 1 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), with regular episodes airing on Wednesdays from 8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT, beginning January 8 on FOX.

[11/01/24 - 09:30 AM]
Prime Video Reveals "Pimpinero: Blood and Oil" will Premiere Exclusively on November 22
The film is set in the desert bordering Colombia and Venezuela, where gasoline smugglers known as "pimpineros" risk their lives transporting illegal fuel from one country to another.

[11/01/24 - 09:06 AM]
Freeform's "25 Days of Christmas" Returns with Yuletide Cheer This December
A delightful collection of Christmas favorites is being offered to make spirits bright, including "Home Alone," "The Santa Clause" trilogy and "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" (2000).

[11/01/24 - 09:00 AM]
Watch CBS News and Stations' "America Decides: Election '24" Team Coverage Across Broadcast, Streaming and Digital
Primetime election night coverage on CBS and CBS News 24/7 will begin at 7:00 PM, ET, anchored by Norah O'Donnell from CBS News' election headquarters in New York City.

[11/01/24 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Miss Scarlet" Season 5 Preview
Criminals have never stumped Eliza Scarlet, but a new Detective Inspector...? She's on the case!

[11/01/24 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was..." - Date Announcement - Netflix
Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actor. Grammy-winning singer. Beloved comedian. Jamie Foxx returns to the stage to set the record straight.