or


[02/01/21 - 08:49 AM]
"Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer" to Premiere on May 11, 2021 on PBS
The four-part series from Nutopia examines the science and medical innovations that conquered some of the world's deadliest diseases and doubled life expectancies for many across the globe.

[via press release from PBS]

New Four-Part Series Explores the Life-Extending Role of Science, Medicine and Public Health

EXTRA LIFE: A SHORT HISTORY OF LIVING LONGER to Premiere on May 11, 2021 on PBS

Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Steven Johnson and David Olusoga Guide Viewers Through Three Centuries of Health Innovations

Arlington, VA; February 1, 2021 -- EXTRA LIFE: A SHORT HISTORY OF LIVING LONGER, a new four-part series from Nutopia that examines the science and medical innovations that conquered some of the world's deadliest diseases and doubled life expectancies for many across the globe, will air Tuesdays, May 11-June 1 at 8:00 p.m. ET on PBS, and stream via pbs.org and the PBS Video app.

Set in the context of today's COVID-19 crisis, this series explores the lessons learned from previous global pandemics - including smallpox, cholera, the Spanish flu and others - and reveals how scientists, doctors, self-experimenters and activists launched a public health revolution, saving millions of lives, fundamentally changing how we think about illness and ultimately paving the way for modern medicine.

Best-selling author Steven Johnson (The Ghost Map, HOW WE GOT TO NOW) and historian and broadcaster David Olusoga (CIVILIZATIONS, "Black & British: A Forgotten History") combine expertise to guide viewers across 300 years of medical innovation, and go behind the scenes of modern medicine to meet the unsung heroes who are tackling COVID-19 and other public health threats. Johnson and Olusoga shed light on scientific breakthroughs and reveal how collective efforts around the world can lead to extraordinary outcomes, including doubling the human lifespan in under a century.

While the series features many leading public health authorities and scientists on the front lines of the current pandemic, EXTRA LIFE examines the bigger picture and sparks a global conversation about how we've learned to save lives. The series explores how the pioneering approaches and innovative medical triumphs of the past have provided a blueprint for our future in the battle to live longer.

The series is particularly sensitive to the cultural blind spots that have influenced our approach to health, tracing the origins of inoculation back to Africa, long before the discovery of vaccination in the west, and highlighting the often-overlooked inequalities in access to health.

"Now more than ever, we need powerful storytelling that captures and explains the achievements in public health and medicine over the past few centuries," says Johnson. "The fact that we have doubled life expectancy may well be the single most important development in modern history."

"The revolution in medicine and public health that has taken place over the past three centuries is one of the greatest achievements of all time," says Olusoga. "The series is a history of unsung heroes and forgotten pioneers whose incredible stories deserve to be better known."

Each episode will explore one aspect of public health that has played a central role in our battle to live longer.

Episode One: "Vaccines" explores the history and use of vaccination, from early practices in Africa introduced to America during the slave trade and Thomas Jefferson's clinical trials, to the first anti-vax protests in the 19th century and COVID-19 today.

Episode Two: "Data" looks at how the emergence of fact-based research, data mapping and analysis has improved public health. The practice evolved out of the 19th century science of epidemiology and cholera mortality reports in the 1840s, where the now ubiquitous "curve" of an epidemic was first documented.

Episode Three: "Medicine" focuses on the more recent medical inventions that combat illness directly, particularly antibiotics, and the development of antiviral drugs for HIV. Knowledge of how to produce safe, effective drugs and distribute them quickly around the globe now underpins work to find treatments for COVID-19.

Episode Four: "Behavior" examines the importance of public engagement during a health crisis, from the discovery that the simple act of handwashing could save lives in a 19th Century Viennese maternity hospital - to facemasks and lockdowns used to combat the Spanish flu 100 years ago, along with what we are experiencing today.

EXTRA LIFE: A SHORT HISTORY OF LIVING LONGER is a multiplatform collaboration. The series will be accompanied by an extensive education outreach component in partnership with The Pulitzer Center, which will distribute resources to schools and colleges.

The New York Times Magazine will publish a special issue, featuring a lead article by Johnson, that will delve into the larger history of science, medicine and public health. The issue will also feature data visualizations and articles by historians and other science writers.

Timed to the series premiere, Riverhead will publish a book authored by Johnson titled EXTRA LIFE: A Short History of Living Longer (Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House; on sale May 11, 2021). Johnson is the best-selling author of 12 books, including The Ghost Map, one of the seminal books on epidemics.

EXTRA LIFE: A SHORT HISTORY OF LIVING LONGER will stream simultaneously with broadcast and be available on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video app, available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV and Chromecast.

EXTRA LIFE: A SHORT HISTORY OF LIVING LONGER is a production of Nutopia for PBS. The series is executive produced by Jane Root, Nicola Moody, Fiona Caldwell and Steven Johnson, and directed by Duncan Singh, Helen Sage, Tristan Quinn, David Alvarado and Jason Sussberg. Bill Gardner is the Executive in Charge for PBS.

Funding for EXTRA LIFE: A SHORT HISTORY OF LIVING LONGER is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, the New Venture Fund and PBS.

About Nutopia

Nutopia is an award-winning television production company known for creating acclaimed, non-scripted series on a global scale. The UK and US based company is credited with creating the television genre known as the "mega-doc," combining epic, motion picture-quality cinematography, action-driven content and prominent Hollywood actors to produce and star in the projects. The company, which was founded in 2008 by Jane Root, former President of Discovery Channel US and Controller of BBC2, and co-founder of Wall to Wall TV, has become synonymous with creating high-quality, notable content for buyers that include Netflix, Disney+, CNN, National Geographic, BBC, PBS, HBO Max and A+E Networks. Recent projects include "A World of Calm," based on the meditation and sleep app from the billion-dollar tech company Calm, "Babies," exploring the key developmental years in life, and Emmy Award-nominated "The World According to Jeff Goldblum." Nutopia also produced, the much-honored National Geographic series "One Strange Rock"; the BBC/PBS co-production "Civilizations"; interactive series "The Great American Read"; and Emmy Award-winning series "How We Got to Now" and "America: The Story of the US." Upcoming projects include "Limitless," with Chris Hemsworth, and "Welcome to the Earth (working title)" with Will Smith for Disney+, and "Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer" for PBS.

About PBS

PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS's broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS's premier children's media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV - including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.





  [february 2021]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· EXTRA LIFE: A SHORT HISTORY OF LIVING LONGER (PBS)





[03/28/24 - 11:07 AM]
HBO Original Documentary "Brandy Hellville & The Cult of Fast Fashion" Debuts April 9
The film uncovers the toxic culture of the teen brand Brandy Melville and the global ramifications of mass-produced clothing known as fast fashion.

[03/28/24 - 11:02 AM]
FX's "Welcome to Wrexham" Shifts Season Three Premiere Date
The May 2 premiere will include the first two episodes of the eight-episode season, with a new episode available each following Thursday.

[03/28/24 - 10:36 AM]
Claire Danes Will Reunite with "Homeland" Showrunner & Executive Producer Howard Gordon on the Netflix Limited Series "The Beast in Me"
A grieving author finds a new subject in a real estate mogul who was once the prime suspect in his wife's disappearance. Her investigation spirals into a game of cat and mouse that might turn deadly.

[03/28/24 - 10:32 AM]
Roku Originals Reunites "The Real Bros of Simi Valley" for New Movie; Directed by Jimmy Tatro
"The Real Bros of Simi Valley: High School Reunion" is a continuation of the beloved original series, co-created by Jimmy Tatro and Christian Pierce, which became a social media phenomenon generating over a billion views across video platforms.

[03/28/24 - 10:04 AM]
Bravo Reveals Returning Cast for "The Real Housewives of New York City" Season 15
After a successful first bite out of the Big Apple, all six ladies of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of New York City" will return for season 15, including Sai De Silva, Ubah Hassan, Erin Lichy, Jenna Lyons, Jessel Taank and Brynn Whitfield.

[03/28/24 - 10:03 AM]
Matt Barnes and Anansa Sims Give a Close-Up Look at Navigating Love, Co-Parenting, Fame and More in New Series, "The Barnes Bunch," Premiering Friday, April 19 at 10PM ET on WE tv
This endearing new series follows NBA champion and successful Podcaster, Matt Barnes, alongside his fiancée, model and reality personality, Anansa Sims, as they navigate love, forgiveness, and personal growth while reconciling their past.

[03/28/24 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Dan Da Dan" - Official Trailer - Netflix Anime
This is the story of Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult freak.

[03/28/24 - 10:01 AM]
"Karamo" Renewed for Third Season in National Syndication
"Karamo" is hosted by reality television personality, author, actor, producer and activist Karamo.

[03/28/24 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Neal Brennan: Crazy Good" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Comedian Neal Brennan riffs in this stand-up special on crypto, social media flexes, sex compliments and the link between greatness and mental health.

[03/28/24 - 09:03 AM]
ESPN+ Unveils Major League Baseball Game Schedule for March and April
ESPN+ will stream a game every day in April, featuring all thirty Major League Baseball Clubs.

[03/28/24 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Jurassic World: Chaos Theory" - Teaser Trailer - Netflix After School
Set six years after the events at Camp Cretaceous, members of "The Nublar Six" are struggling to find their footing off the islands, navigating a world now filled with dinosaurs and people who want to hurt them.

[03/28/24 - 09:01 AM]
WWE on A&E Continues with Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias Joining "WWE Rivals" & More "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures" & "Biography: WWE Legends"
Kicking off on Sunday, April 14, "WWE's Most Wanted Treasures" will feature WWE Hall of Famers Booker T, Mick Foley, and Lita as they hunt for iconic memorabilia and share the history behind some of the most famous items in WWE history.

[03/28/24 - 09:00 AM]
"The Omen" Complete Franchise, Streaming Now on Hulu
To celebrate the new theatrical release, catch up on the supernatural saga with all five films available to stream on Hulu!

[03/28/24 - 08:29 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases the Official Trailer for Horror Anthology Series "THEM: THE SCARE" Starring Deborah Ayorinde, Luke James, Pam Grier, and More!
This second installment will consist of eight episodes and premieres on Thursday, April 25, in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

[03/28/24 - 08:16 AM]
Netflix Lights Up the Sky with 1,000 Drones to Reveal May 1 Launch Date for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Epic Saga, "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar"
In the series, arch nemeses Mallikajaan and Fareedan are locked in a battle for succession of Heeramandi, where courtesans reign as queens.