tv shows library

 

See some of the most popular TV Shows and how they work behind the scenes and on the air.

Featured Article:  Inside 'Jon and Kate Plus 8'

One new baby at a time is a handful for most parents, so the thought of bringing home six infants -- when you already have twin toddlers -- is downright terrifying. But for Jon and Kate Gosselin, it was a reality. See more »

How 'Fight Quest' Works

How 'Fight Quest' Works

The first rule of Fight Quest is -- well there are no rules. Discovery puts two fighters to the test as they travel the world and learn some pretty brutal fighting techniques -- and try them out on each other.

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How 'Junkyard Wars' Works

How 'Junkyard Wars' Works

TLC's "Junkyard Wars" puts two teams head to head in a race to build a specific complicated working machine out of random trash. Take a look behind the scenes of the "Junkyard Wars" game show, how it started, and how you can get on.

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How 'Planet Earth' Works

How 'Planet Earth' Works

Planet Earth captures images of the Earth that no one has ever seen before, from a super slow-motion shot of a great white shark killing a seal, to footage of the deepest cave in the world. Go behind the cameras to find out how you make a show about the entire planet.

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How did they make the Toyota Tundra 'Killer Heat' commercial?

How did they make the Toyota Tundra 'Killer Heat' commercial?

The pickup truck in this commercial climbs an 80-foot steel corkscrew to the sky, then drives through a tunnel of fire. Is this for real, or is your TV playing tricks on you?

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How Getting Your Show on TV Works

How Getting Your Show on TV Works

You've read How TV Writing Works and now it's time for step two -- pitching your new show to the television networks. We'll tell you how to get a meeting, how to prepare your pitch, and how to sell it to the executives who make the final decision.

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How Reality TV Works

How Reality TV Works

The term "reality tv" may be new but the concept dates back for decades. Where did it begin and how did it come to captivate so many viewers? Get the history and low down on this incredibly popular television phenomenon.

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How Sitcoms Work

How Sitcoms Work

We've all seen sitcoms, laughed with them and probably even sung along to their theme songs. But why are we so partial to these half-hour television shows and what is their history?

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How the DHARMA Initiative Works

How the DHARMA Initiative Works

If you're a big fan of "LOST," you're probably full of theories about the DHARMA Initiative and its relationship to other elements of the show. Learn about the DHARMA Initiative, its history and what might be going on at its island research center. Warning: Spoilers within.

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How the Emmy Awards Work

How the Emmy Awards Work

The Emmys -- from the glitz and glamour of red-carpet fashions to too-long award speeches, this award show is not to be missed. But what does it take to get the Emmys off the ground?

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How TV Production Works

How TV Production Works

Jackpot! A network has bought the TV show script we've been following. Now it needs producers, directors, writers, actors and a production crew ... and to actually make it into the fall lineup.

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How Unsolved History Works

How Unsolved History Works

What really happened at the Boston Massacre? Are the conspiracy theories about JFK's death even possible? See how the crew of "Unsolved History" gets to the bottom of some the lingering mysteries of our past.

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How Writing a TV Show Works

How Writing a TV Show Works

TV and film writers may be on strike, but there's no reason you can't go ahead and prepare your great idea for production. Learn all about how to write a TV show, including understanding characters, treatments, and loglines.

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If Only 'Lost' Were Real -- Wait, Is It?

If Only 'Lost' Were Real -- Wait, Is It?

Is the line between fiction and reality getting fuzzier? During commercial breaks in episodes of the science-fiction drama "LOST," ABC ran advertisements for the Hanso Foundation, a fictional (or is it?) organization tied to the show’s plotline.

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Inside "Drive"

Inside "Drive"

In Hollywood shorthand, what "Lost" is to "Survivor," "Drive" is to the "Amazing Race," but with much higher stakes. Learn about this new series that follows a diverse group of people coerced into competing in a secret, illegal cross-country road race.

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Inside 'Battlestar Galactica'

Inside 'Battlestar Galactica'

Splashy, stylish and very expensive for 1978, Battlestar Galactica was TV's answer to Star Wars. In 2005, Galactica came back with a re-imagining of the highly popular original. Find out what the cast and crew had to say about it.

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Inside 'Deadliest Catch'

Inside 'Deadliest Catch'

Don't think the cameramen who film "Deadliest Catch" aren't as gritty and daring as the show's subjects. When 800-pound crab pots are swinging onto a tilting and slippery deck, there's no time to baby-sit the Hollywood rookie.

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Inside 'Heroes'

Inside 'Heroes'

"Heroes" got Americans -- and fans in nearly 150 countries -- hooked on the adventures of an indestructible cheerleader, a Japanese time-traveler and an exotic dancer with a very split personality. And that was just the first season.

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Inside 'Jon and Kate Plus 8'

Inside 'Jon and Kate Plus 8'

One new baby at a time is a handful for most parents, so the thought of bringing home six infants -- when you already have twin toddlers -- is downright terrifying. But for Jon and Kate Gosselin, it was a reality.

See more »
Inside 'Knight Rider'

Inside 'Knight Rider'

When "Knight Rider" premiered 26 years ago, the idea of a talking car was preposterous, outrageous and completely cool. Now "Knight Rider" is back with a new star, a new car and a new set of stunts to blow you away.

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