For shark fans the world over, it's finally arrived! The eagerly anticipated Shark Week 2013 kicked off Sunday, Aug. 4 and with it, plenty of controversy.
The most talked-about Shark Week selection thus far is a documentary that premiered Sunday night, "Megalodon: The Monster Shark." Although a brief disclaimer at the beginning of the show effectively told viewers that the program was a "mockumentary," viewers still bought into it - at first, at least.
According to TheVerge.com, Discovery's online poll, which was captured by Discover Magazine before being altered, convinced nearly three-quarters of viewers that the long-extinct mega shark is still alive.
But Discovery Magazine reportedly ripped into the documentary, informing readers of faked evidence and actors playing actual scientists.
Shark Week viewers became enraged over "Megalodon" and took to Twitter to take a bite out of the Discovery Channel for showing pseudo-shark content during their beloved Shark Week.
Shark Week Facebook fans were frenzied and furious as well, leaving even more intense messages.
Hallie Seiwell: "why would you show a fake special? THIS is what you think Shark Week should be about? And while the Megalodon may, in fact, exist, you just made a mockery of it.
Roger A. Strong: "very disappointed with the Megalodon BS. It was like watching the stupid "Blair Witch Project."
R. Troy Peterson: "I want an explanation from Discovery as to why Shark Week opened with such asinine, pseudoscientific rubbish."
Rodrigo Loureiro: "Better switch to Nat geo if you want real shark shows...Tonight show was so bad we switched to #Sharkfest after 5 minutes. Shame on you discovery channel!"
Brett Duvall: "Thank the shark gods for NAT GEO...I needed then to wash the bad 'megalodon' taste from my mouth."
Grafton Todd Eliason: "Headed to Nat geo - they would not face a documentary!"
James Patrick Darby II: "Why has Shark Week distanced itself from the original intent to educate the general public about shark conservation?"
Nick Palermo: "WTF was that all about. What's next bigfoot. I expect a lot more from Discovery not some fake show that wasted my time. I won't be watching anymore of their programming this week."
Well, it looks like Shark Week started off mega weak, but here's a look at the rest of the shows Discovery has put together for Shark Week Fanatics:
LINEUP
Each night of Shark Week at 11:00 p.m. Discovery will show "Shark After Dark," a first-ever late night talk show on the topic. Comedian Josh Wolf will host the show that's what Discovery describes as "a celebration of all things shark-related." It will include celebrity guests, shark experts, shark attack survivors, highlights from the past 26 Shark Weeks and sneak peaks at the next day's programming. Viewers will also be able to interact through on-air with tweets, questions for shark experts and more.
On Monday, Aug. 5 at 9:00 p.m. Discovery will air "Return Of Jaws," which will feature a first for this year - the Shark Cam, a robot submarine used to track sharks that will offer viewers footage of Great White Sharks hunting and living off the coast of Cape Code, the original setting for the movie "Jaws."
On Monday at 10:00 p.m. Discovery will premiere "Voodoo Sharks." The show is an investigation into Bull Shark populations that have moved beyond oceans, through U.S. coasts and into the bayous of Louisiana. Local fishermen have nicknamed the hundreds of sharks overtaking their bayous voodoo sharks, as they show off their ability to live in both fresh and salt water.
On Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 9:00 p.m. "I Escaped Jaws" premieres. Another Shark Week first, the program shows real shark attack footage captured by eyewitnesses and firsthand stories told by shark attack survivors.
Then at 10:00 p.m. Discovery will air its "Spawn Of Jaws" special. The special follows a team of scientists that are reportedly "on the brink of a revolutionary breakthrough" that will allow people to understand the life cycle of the Great White Shark.
On Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 9:00 p.m. is the "Top 10 Sharkdown." This special is a 21st century update of international shark attacks and will introduce viewers to all different types of sharks from the "weird" to the "macabre" to the "infamous."
Then at 10:00 p.m. Discovery premieres "Great White Serial Killer." Emmy-nominated natural history producer Jeff Kurr examines two fatal shark attacks near an Air Force base in California and looks at evidence to determine if both deaths were caused by the same shark.
On Thursday, Aug. 8 at 9:00 is "Sharkopalypse." This show will look at the increasing trend of sharks moving in closer to shorelines and will discuss a possible connection between declining shark populations and increases in shark attacks.
Next at 10:00 p.m. is "Alien Sharks Of The Deep." This special features both American and Japanese scientists who travel into the deepest, unexplored depths of the ocean to find the world's most elusive sharks.
Finally on Friday, Aug. 9 at 8:00 p.m. Discovery will air "Great White Gauntlet." The Great White Gauntlet is a stretch of waters off South Australia that is home to the lucrative abalone sea snail that goes for thousands of dollars on the international fish market. It's also one of the deadliest shark feeding grounds in the world, particularly for Great Whites. This show will look at the dangers divers face roving through the waters.
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